YES: It shows Britain cares and is trying to protect us
SAYS ESTHER RANTZEN, 79
WHeN it comes to attacking ageism, and defending older people’s rights, I defy anyone to have a record more militant than mine.
Over the years I have signed petitions demanding better treatment for pensioners, drawn attention to the loneliness of isolated elderly people, and even taken on my one-time employer, the mighty BBC, over plans to scrap free licences for the elderly.
To be honest, I’ve whinged on so much on behalf of older people that I’ve even bored myself at times. But right now, when the whole world is in crisis, I simply cannot understand the clamour from some grumpy oldies, 70-plus like me, who are complaining about being locked down longer than anyone else.
Don’t they realise that it’s proof that we are valued, that the nation is trying to protect us and keep us safe? Why on earth are they complaining? Surely by our age they should have more sense.
Yes of course there is currently a rampant ageism against old people. But it’s not the Government to blame, nor the health professionals, it’s this vile virus itself. Tragically, this illness has culled the frail elderly in our care homes, hospitals and throughout our communities.
It’s been obvious from the moment we first heard of Covid-19 that, while many of the young get away with a comparatively mild version of the virus, for us old people it is all too often agonising and lethal.
I am incredibly lucky, because I am one of the ‘active elderly’, as we are known. There are thousands of us, busy as little old bees, helping with childcare, keeping charities going, proving that we are still useful at our advanced age. But even so, this pandemic has targeted us and thousands of us have been mown down. Hence the health experts decided that we should be ‘shielded’.
I have actually locked myself down since March 14, and did so gratefully and obediently.
Not that it’s easy for any of us to distance ourselves and stay at home day after day.
Callers to our Silver Line helpline, most of whom have lived isolated and alone for years, point out that this pandemic has taught the rest of the world what isolation really feels like.
It’s heartbreaking. Like all grandmothers, I desperately miss the hugs and cuddles from my five grandchildren, who are aged two to seven.
Those of us who are privileged and had treats to look forward to have had to clear our diaries completely, perhaps for the whole year.
My 80th birthday was due to be celebrated in June in various merry ways, with children on bouncy castles, and grownups eating at The Ivy. Not any more, all cancelled.
My son had invited me to his wedding in August, and I was looking forward to a fabulous party. Now it looks as if it’ll be a trip to a beach for him and his lovely partner, or a quietly formal process in a register office.
But I’m not complaining. How can I, when the whole country is making far bigger sacrifices to try to save lives – and with businesses going bust and young people on the breadline, can we oldies really claim to be hard done by?
Just imagine if our Government had decided differently. Suppose they had quietly resolved to let the virus do its worse and allow the illness to rampage through all the irritating oldies who, according to the ageist calumnies aren’t much use to society anyway.
AfTer all, they might callously argue, the country would be much better off without them. When lockdown is eased for the rest of the nation, they might say to us pensioners, out you come, no worries. And we would either be killed off in our droves or struggle for life in hospital wards, using up all the spare capacity in ICUs and ventilators. Surely this isn’t really what we want?
It is precisely because we are such a stoical generation – many of us having lived through war, rationing and all manner of national crises – that we must now show the snowflake generation how tough we really are.
We need to stop complaining. During our extended lockdown we must use our time well.
We must look to my generation’s new poster boy, Colonel Tom Moore, who has raised £33million for the NHS by walking round his garden. His wonderful daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore said she always knew he was ‘a gem’ but has been astounded by his efforts.
Well, let’s all astound our children and grandchildren with our determination not to make them anxious by risking our own health and safety by breaking the lockdown.
Now’s the time for us to behave so well, so uncomplainingly, that when we emerge safely – as we pray we will – our grandchildren and greatgrandchildren will say, this was our finest hour.