I realize that many of us baby boomers feel young and invincible, but I urge you to stay safe during this pandemic. Although anyone can get the coronavirus, we are baby boomers, specifically those over 60, who are most likely to become seriously ill from the disease. If you have underlying conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, or lung disease, you will need to be very careful.
Like many boomers, I felt young and healthy and I wasn’t overly concerned when all of this started.
After all, our generation considers itself very tough. Are we not the generation that survived by drinking water from a hose and cars without seat belts? Thinking of all the germs we were exposed to while playing in the mud looking for earthworms and eating food that had fallen to the ground before germaphobia appeared, and we were fine.
Also, look at the age of those who run the country. President Donald Trump is 73 years old, Nancy Pelosi 79, and the two remaining candidates for the Democratic nomination, Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders, are 77 and 78, respectively. They were all still strong. My 87-year-old father kept running despite all the warnings.
The cruel nickname, “Boomer Remover”, which refers to the higher death rate among older people infected with coronavirus, began to be a trend on Twitter. The Washington Post associated itself with the trend term by highlighting boomers who have ignored the CDC’s advice and refused to make lifestyle changes. On a Facebook page for “The Villages,” a Florida retirement community, most residents seemed to agree that the pandemic was “being exaggerated.”
Now, I’m not advising boomers to start panicking, but I think it’s time for an attitude adjustment for some of the skeptical boomers who have felt invincible up to this point.
They were not.
It is important to remember that this disease does not care how old you look and feel. Look at boomers Tom Hank and Rita Wilson, both 63, who certainly feel young at heart but tested positive for the virus.
Here in California, where I live, there have been more than 300 cases of coronavirus. Schools in our area have been closed. Bars and breweries have been called to close and restaurants to cut their capacity in half. Yesterday, Governor. Gavin Newson urged all residents over 65 to self-quarantine at home.
“We recognize that the social isolation of millions of Californians causes anxiety,” he said. But, “we have to face this moment head-on, support each other and own this moment … and take actions that we believe are consistent with the need to protect the most vulnerable Californians.”
Now President Donald Trump has issued guidelines urging Americans to avoid social gatherings of more than 10 people.
It feels like I’m living in an episode of Twilight Zone.
So, it’s time to start taking this seriously, my fellow boomers. My husband is 60 years old and I will be turning 60 by the end of this year, so I am paying attention to all the guidelines. Let me be clear, I am not a medical professional, but I will share some of my research on the specific precautions that older adults are recommended to take to protect their health. But remember: Recommendations for coronavirus may change as officials learn more, so check your local health department and the CDC for updates.
Here are some tips for people over 60 based on advice from the CDC:
* Stock supplies, including groceries, household items, and over-the-counter medications that you will need if you get sick. Contact your doctor for additional prescription medications to have on hand if you are quarantined.
* Social distancing is the new phrase for 2020. Stay six feet away from other people – Think about the length of an average dining table or pair of skis. Avoid crowds and non-essential travel, especially cruise ships.
* You’ve heard this before, but wash your hands frequently with soap for at least 20 seconds. Health Secretary Matt Hancock suggested washing your hands while singing Happy Birthday twice, but other songs will work too. For example, the Staying Alive chorus will do the trick: “If you are a brother or if you are a mother / You stay alive, you stay alive / Feel the city breaking and the whole world shaking / And we stay alive, we stay alive / Ah ha ha ha, we are still alive, we are still alive / Ah ha ha ha, we are still alive “. Do you prefer the country? Try the chorus of Dolly Parton’s classic country song, Jolene: “Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene / Please don’t take my man / Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene / Please don’t take him just because you you can. “If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
* Avoid touching your face and frequently touched surfaces in public places: light switches, elevator buttons, door handles, handrails, handshakes with people, etc. Use a tissue or your sleeve to cover your hand if you must touch something. At home, clean and disinfect frequently, especially surfaces that are often touched like countertops, tables, door handles, light switches, toilets, faucets, sinks, and don’t forget your cell phone.
In addition to these precautions, be on the lookout for symptoms which may include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. If you feel like you are developing symptoms, stay home and call your doctor. Make sure to let them know that you have or may have coronavirus (COVID-19) so they can protect others from getting sick. Ask your healthcare provider for medical advice. If you have mild symptoms and are not sick enough to be hospitalized, you can probably recover at home. If this is the case, the CDC recommends that you get immediate medical attention if you develop emergency warning signs such as:
* Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.
* Persistent pain or pressure in the chest.
* New confusion or inability to wake up
* Bluish lips or face
This list is not exhaustive, and the CDC recommends that you see your medical provider for any other symptoms that are “serious or concerning.”
So my fellow boomers, stay safe but stay calm and positive.
Personally, I am taking precautions, but I keep riding my bike and hiking outside while keeping my distance from others. If you are in quarantine, be sure to stay in touch with your loved ones through text messages, email, social media, Skype, or FaceTime so you don’t feel isolated.
As Tom Hanks told his fans: “Remember, despite all current events, there is no crying in baseball.”
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