How to Help Seniors in Isolation During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Imagine that you need special care, and now… how would you like to be cared for? You must quickly learn how to help the elderly. What treatment is really effective? First of all, this is a question to ask yourself.

So, how can we help the elderly during the pandemic?

First off, here are some tips for taking good care of the elderly. To know how to help the elderly, we don't need much, just a little attention.

• Make it stop being a prison and create a space for good things and activities at home.
• Show them movies.
• Call them and talk via video calls.
• Read to them and show them videos, as well as beautiful things. 
• Emanate love.

The greatest risk group for Coronavirus is the elderly, since the first reported deaths are of people over 80 years old. In fact, the most serious cases are still among those people who gave us life, our grandparents.

So there are many reasons to stay home if you are over 60 or have a family member over 60.

This means that it is up to us, the younger ones, to help the elderly during the pandemic. After all, they are in social isolation, more stubborn and bored. 

The first tip for helping the elderly is to encourage them to exercise and avoid watching television. This can provide existential protection and help them survive images that scare people of any age. 

The elderly are already living with the reality of death knocking on their doors, which are useless and even a burden for society or families. To be optimistic, vaccines may arrive in up to 1 year and a half. That is, it will still take some time. 

Elderly people, because they have a weaker immune system, may not be able to deal with the virus on their own. However, in fact, elderly people are seen socially as harmful, as hindering or as people who need to be eliminated. 

Some are even experiencing a symbolic death. They are practically invisible socially. We see many absurd things related to them.

What if mortality was attributed to both children and adults?

The media often says that only old people will die, and many speeches and memes are circulating on social media. This comes from a mindset that needs to change. Our society lives around values associated with beauty, youthfulness, productivity and love, but these are not attributed to older people. 

In Brazil, support for the elderly is much lower. The idea is for everyone to reflect that they are old today or will be one day. Imagine yourself as an older person. Would you like to be disposable?

What can companies do and how can they help the elderly to avoid losing their profits?

Some supermarkets are already adopting systems in which people order their groceries by phone or online. People who are already prepared for the task choose fruits as if they were for themselves, choose products and these are sent to their homes through delivery. 

It is important to sanitize everything and employees must wear masks and gloves. Some questions may arise, such as whether people who provide sewing services, for example, can continue to provide services. 

And our answer is that they can, if they take the necessary precautions to use alcohol and protection. Many young people are volunteering to perform these supermarket services in buildings and condominiums throughout Brazil. 

And why is isolation considered a risk for the elderly?

They want to get out and be active because it gives them a sense of purpose. They go to the pharmacy, exercise and chat with neighbors. This is freedom, but they are aware that they have to stay at home and this can make them vulnerable, depressed and scared. 

It is difficult for them to understand this reality, since they are at the end of their lives and want to enjoy what little they have left. Many have difficulty respecting this and continue to go out on the streets. 

The behavior of belonging

It's not just about stubbornness, but about seeking acceptance and the intrinsic instinct to belong. After all, we are social beings. In fact, the vast majority of us are at home and being the butt of jokes is not very nice.

Mandatory isolation for the elderly is almost a symbolic death for them. They watch TV and are terrified by the situation. And there is no point in trying to force them to stay at home. They know what is right and wrong.

The key is to understand and care for them, just as they cared for us. Many of our elderly are diabetic, elderly and have heart problems, which means that their condition will worsen if they become infected with the disease.

Change in Routine

Let's be smart in these tragic weeks and fight the disease through small efforts with our families. Therefore, keep the risk groups isolated and, in addition, very supported, reassured and united.

The best way to overcome this big problem is to allow everything to be healed and resolved. We are fine, the worst is over.

And so, we are always looking for ways to adapt to the new reality we are living in during quarantine, in addition to knowing how to help the elderly.

* Research Source: https://g1.globo.com/fique-em-casa/noticia/2020/03/26/como-ajudar-idosos-durante-a-pandemia-do-coronavirus.ghtml