Reply to How do I convince my elderly parents in the deep south to come to DC?

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Reply to "How do I convince my elderly parents in the deep south to come to DC?"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]
Nope. The travel is risky. Everyone stays where they are. They have their groceries delivered, and only go out for fresh air and essential appointments, with masks. No socializing in person.

You can guide them through everything and even order masks and gloves and hand sanitizer for them. [/quote]

"Guide them through...?" You millennials need to have a little more faith in your parents. They're in their 70s, not 2-year-olds. You are not their parents, teachers, or superiors. [/quote]

PP you replied to. DH and I are doctors and scientists and have guided our parents through the procedures to avoid viral transmission. It does actually take thought if you're going to do every gesture in a safe manner, and the majority of the public needed to be educated at the beginning of the pandemic. [/quote]

New poster. The doctor/scientist couple is right. People of all ages do need guidance and it's not condescending to say so, or to help our parents navigate this.

To the OP -- Are your parents already staying home, getting everything delivered, etc.? Or are they (like several friends' parents in their 70s and 80s) saying, "Things are reopening now so it's fine to go out" and they're eating in restaurants, going to Target and Wal-Mart and the grocery store, taking the car down to the garage and hanging out there while a it's serviced--??

If they're already doing the right things, reinforce that every day. If you need to, offer to get on the phone or FaceTime (or whatever platform they'll use) and "shop" with them virtually. It's easy now to purchase things including all groceries online in one place and have it delivered to someone many states away.

If they are doing the latter and going out and about -- they are likely to think they will do the same if they came up here to you, frankly. I hate to say it but if you have children, I would hesitate to move mom and dad to your place because they are likely to put the kids at risk as well as you. Yes, that's harsh, but it's reality right now.

It's been distressing to see my friends trying to deal with elderly parents who are FAR likelier to feel they just have to "get out of the house" than their adult children do. One friend is just waiting for her dad to end up in the hospital. He wears masks everywhere, yes, and he "distances" by staying (he thinks) six feet from maskless friends but then he's with those friends all day long some days, sitting outside and chatting for hours, then going to eat indoors at restaurants because it's allowed in their area, and then he just has to get to the garden center for something....[/quote]

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