My mother is an 83 yr old smoker with COPD. She lives alone. Despite the pandemic my mother continues to go out daily for food and cigarettes. My siblings and myself are asking her to stay in but she will not. I clean her apt. every 2 weeks because she is an extremely messy person. We will be bringing her some food and supplies in case she does get confined. I'm concerned about our exposure because she's exposing herself. I am 62 and my husband is 66. I am in good health. My husband is ok except when he gets cold it seems to go into his lungs.
Remind her what the government does for her -- the senior apartment -- and that we are all part of the community.
Really, she is probably stubborn and will do what she wants.
Rather than arguing about what she is doing because you probably will not get her to change, encourage her to follow safe protocol.
Wash her hands when she returns home.
Keep a safe distance from others.
Wash her hands often, and after touching objects. Carry hand sanitizer to use when she can not wash her hands.
I would also tell her that you are going to put your cleaning on hold for a while.
Drop off food and other things she needs but leave as soon as you can. Tell her that since she is putting herself at a higher risk you can not take the chance of bringing anything home to your husband.
And a side note...with the smoking and the COPD I do hope she is not on oxygen!