Take care of your elderly during COVID-19

Here are a few tips that we should consider for keeping our elders healthy not only physically but also mentally.

• • Have a regular telephonic conversation with them to ensure adequate emotional support. This will keep them happy.
  • Supervise whether their hand and respiratory hygiene is proper.
  • Try online consultation as much as possible for any of their health issues. Avoid taking them to the hospital until and unless it is an emergency.
  • If any of their elective surgeries like cataract, hernia or knee-replacements were scheduled please postpone them unless it is a complicated case.
  • Try and ensure that they have an adequate amount of nutrition, and add immune boosters like food with vitamin C and D to their diet.
  • Please ask them to avoid self-medication and not to try out any unproven medications. If you feel any discomfort or symptoms please contact the doctor immediately.
  • People living with elders should also wash their hands before and after providing care, preparing food, using the bathroom, or touching surfaces in public places.
  • If your elders need to step out please ask them to use a mask and tell them to sanitize their hands frequently with an alcohol-based sanitizer.
  • If you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth with the bend of your elbow or use disposable tissue.
  • Please clean the touched surfaces in your home often, including mobility and medical equipment used by your loved one, such as a walker, medicine box, remote, etc.
  • If you are living with your elders and you cough or sneeze or aren't feeling well please isolate yourself from them.
  • Ensure their medical supplies are stocked adequately.
  • Help them stay connected with friends and close family members. Make use of technology.
  • Suggest on cutting down on listening to news all the time which is only COVID related.

Dr Shilpa Aralikar

Consultant Physician, Continental Hospitals

Disclaimer: : The views and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author. They do not reflect the opinions or views of the organization.