Ways to Engage Seniors during Pandemic

The rapid surge of COVID-19 cases during the second wave, and the increasing rate in the death toll, especially among the elderly, have deeply impacted the mental wellbeing of our senior citizens.  According to a recent survey, cases of anxiety, nightmares, depression, and weakness have crossed over 50% of seniors in this age group.

The survey, which interviewed over 5000 senior citizens, found that as many as 82% of the respondents complained about anxiety and a perpetual sense of fear due to the unprecedented rises and cases and casualties caused by COVID-19. A majority of the respondents, complained about increasing sleeplessness, various symptoms of insomnia due to the extreme stress brought by the pandemic.

The severe restrictions imposed on their movements due to the lockdown have left some feeling weak and restless. The lack of physical stimulus, which included their daily walks and exercises in the neighbourhood park has also resulted in a loss of appetite, further exacerbated other underlying health issues.

The survey concluded that COVID-19 may leave a deeper and a more prolonged impact on the mental health of an elderly person. In spite of following precautions meticulously, our seniors may escape getting infected by the virus, those same precautions may open a Pandora’s box of psychological issues, which may linger beyond the pandemic itself. . Before the pandemic, a vast majority of community-dwelling adults actively participated in a variety of social activities like exercising, going to temples and churches, attending neighbourhood get-togethers, or simply meeting up with their children and grandchildren. For older adults living alone, regular interaction with their helpers and caregivers also brought a much-needed respite from social isolation.

While younger adults who are far more comfortable with technology, find company and  are entertained  by various  recreational activities online, our elders are far more dependent on personal human contact. Some old couples are more fortunate as they still have each other for company. The severely affected individuals are those who have outlived their spouse and their children are living in distant cities. In the words of Venkateshwarya Rao, Associate President of the AP Senior Citizens Welfare Association, avoiding others is Okay, when you choose to do it out of your own volition. However, when you’re forced into shutting yourself indoors and completely shun any physical contact, it’s a sad and painful experience.

According to him, in such a crisis, just like little children in the family, our elders also need extra attention and care. If they are living by themselves they are far more prone to feeling lonely, and helpless. During these vulnerable times, long periods of forced isolation can severely impact their physical and mental wellbeing.

According to Dr Mukherji, a senior psychiatrist practising in New Delhi, there are several effective ways in which we can help our seniors cope during the lockdown:

Make them Tech- Savvy

We need to patiently help our elders – parents, grandparents, and other elderly relatives and neighbours master various voice/video calling applications and help them stay virtually connected with their friends and family. Seniors can also be encouraged to get on social media and email to reestablish contact with their old friends. Assisting them to download and use various other helpful apps like medical monitoring, emergency call services, taxi hiring, ordering groceries and other daily items etc. These steps may begin building a sense of independence and of  control in  their lives but also imbue them with a much-needed feeling of confidence and inner resilience to see through the pandemic.

Prioritize their nutrition and physical activity

As mentioned earlier, our seniors need optimum nutrition, enough sleep, and adequate physical exercise daily. The diet needs to be monitored to ensure they are getting enough protein, essential vitamins, minerals, carbs, and fiber. Including yoga, easy free exercises, gentle weight training, and aerobics helps them feel fit and overcome feelings of sluggishness, which brings about positive changes in their sleeping patterns.

Enjoy recreational activities together to keep them engaged indoors

Some effective ways of strengthening family bonds include activities watching films and TV shows together, listening to music or playing indoor games like chess, ludo, carom etc., or mind-stimulating activities like puzzles or Sudoku.  These activities can help them feel mentally engaged or have something exciting to look forward to each day.

Now one may wonder, where one can get them all active and interactive, well, then your search ends at Aurum, a luxurious senior & assisted living facility. It encapsulates activities that put loneliness and anxiety at rest. Aurum has carefully curated packages to help our seniors fight Corona together. It is a bio bubble that liberates our seniors who are most vulnerable to Coronavirus, in a safe environment. Your road to recovery is also made smooth with their care and especially designed nutritional and health plans along with activities that help you get back to your pre-Covid self.