Covid Awareness

ELDERLY CARE DURING COVID

Ask questions, listen reflectively and communicate: Despite the urgency you might feel, it’s important to avoid pressuring or badgering family members into a certain course of action. The following step simply means a better communication strategy which involves that you ask your parents questions regarding what they know about the pandemic and how have they thought to tackle it. To get a baseline assessment of how your parents feel about the pandemic, you should open the door with questions, rather than jump in with facts. Share with them authorized news, call up their doctor and get personalized advice, remember trusted messengers matter when conveying public health messaging. Convey why isolation is very important at this point and let them know you are there for them.

Take a stock of their medicines and essentials:   be aware of what their essential requirement for medicines is and take note of the stock at home and assess future requirement of needs specific to them.

Maintain their daily routine and have a healthy diet together: it is important for them to be agile and comply with their daily routine but strictly without outside activities. Along with this convey the necessity to eat nutritious and wholesome foods. This may include citrus fruits, broccoli, spinach, garlic, ginger, yoghurt, almonds and walnuts. Increase the intake of the above-mentioned foods. Take suggestions from to make dishes with the mentioned ingredients and cook together!

Filter their received information: the long cycle of myths and false information that spreads like a wildfire can increase panic and anxiety. Since, our elders are exposed to technology and it is easy to believe anything and everything forwarded, it becomes necessary to bust the myths and encourage them to access only reliable sources. Ask them to turn off some notifications and alerts so that they are hooked up with moderate and relevant news.

Maintain an Exercise Routine: since the outdoor activity time has reduced, design a routine for them during the day to exercise. Indoor exercises can help a great deal to keep your parents active and motivated. These exercises include chair squats, wall-pushups, single foot stand etc.

Let them take the sunshine and positivity in: since we are entering summers, the sunshine right now is waiting to be absorbed. Encourage your parents to soak up the sun and take up the goodness. Let them take their favorite books or music to keep them company.

Make them join an online support group: these times can get lonely and your parents will miss out on events and gatherings with their groups. You can make a personal support group for them to reach out to their friends and make new ones. These groups can range from religious to casual. Online group chanting and meditating can make them feel spiritually connected. A virtual friend circle is an interesting avenue to keep busy and feel supported.

Time to develop stronger bonds with the elderly:  utilize the time to catch up and reminisce on childhood stories and experiences. Watch tv shows and movies together, initiate deep conversations and make them feel loved during the crises.