Anyone thinking through a plan for preparing our elder folks for COVID-19?

[JudyM]

The fatality rate is quite high for seniors who contract the virus. I’ve been thinking through what the options are for prevention and care, wondering if others are going through this too.

[lapfog_1]

1. One corona Virus specialist

has said that Zinc laden throat lozenges are good at preventing infection. Corona virus only infects the lungs to enter the body, and, apparently these sorts of throat lozenges are helpful.

Could be bullshit... but I went out and bought a few boxes of Cold-Eze.

[fierywoman]

2. You live somewhere where you can find any boxes of Cold-Eze?

[lapfog_1]

5. I went to my local store here in central California

They had no masks (didn't bother even asking), and no surgical gloves ( But I bought some dish washing gloves... going to look ridiculous when I go out shopping after the number of confirmed cases reaches a few dozen here ). completely out of hand sanitizer... but they did have isopropel alcohol and aloe vera gel (sun burn medication) and I made my own hand sanitizer out of that. They had 4 boxes of cold-eze (three orange and 1 raspberry) so I got 3 of them... I know... I'm hording...but I am also older with a number of pre-existing conditions.

I will check a few other stores as well.

I saw a report from a british epidemiologist via a video link on DU. He outlined everything that has happened.. and predicted things to happen... Said the 1st wave of infections wouldnt peak until late spring / early summer. That has me a bit worried because I was thinking to self isolate (I can WFH) as soon as a week from now when I am certain there will be at least 100 cases near me (CA Bay Area)... but I will have to risk going out for more supplies in like 2 months (beginning of May) right when this person, who seemed knowledgeable, was saying the infection rate would peak. So maybe I need another 60 days of canned and dry food. hmmm...

I know, I am going full prep-per here... But it's not crazy people telling me "we are all going to die" but sane scientists saying "containment is lost, prepare for up to 40% of humanity becoming infected over the next year to year and a half" and remember the stories about the Spanish Flu coming in three distinct waves around the world.

[customerserviceguy]

3. My plan

is to hunker down like crazy. We did a Costco run today to pick up stuff to get us through the duration. My lady is not fond of the lack of social contact, but I hope I can convince her that living is worth it.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. Pneumonia in any form is tough on older people because

their immune systems are less efficient so they don't resist infections as well as they used to; ailments like heart disease and diabetes that are more common in older people increase the risk of pneumonia; and they are less likely to be able to produce a strong cough as a result of a stroke or general frailty. Elderly and other sedentary people have less lung capacity because they don't take deep breaths. Maybe one way to help an older relative (or your old self, if that's the case) is to encourage exercise if they can do it, or at least deep breathing exercises so their lungs work better. They should also get the pneumonia vaccination even though it protects only against bacterial pneumonia because bacterial pneumonia can be a secondary infection on top of a coronavirus or other viral pneumonia.

[Trueblue Texan]

6. soap and water and paper towels