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COVID-19 took the world by surprise towards the end of 2019 and it continues to ravage it mercilessly. While the disease affects people of all age groups, the effects of the pandemic vary among different socio-demographic groups in society. The most vulnerable category of people is that of old people as they tend to have more severe effects of the disease, and they also have a higher death rate than any other population. These effects are worse among elders who have underlying risks as they are more prone to health issues. Let’s take a closer look at the effects of COVID-19 among seniors.
Increased Social Isolation
While many older adults have access to the internet and can connect to different people in different parts of the world, the interaction that these adults can have with real people is completely lost during the COVID-19 era. As such, it is difficult for these adults to enjoy some of the services from the younger generation. Based on the information at UpliftingMobility.com, the human connection is greatly needed when taking care of older adults. The absence of this connection to the outer world has had a significant impact on the aged. Older adults with mobility issues are the worst hit because they need extra attention. If you are reading this and you are an older adult during the pandemic, consider using comfortable toilet seats and bath lifts to make it comfortable for you even without the help of another person. Older adults with arthritis and bad knees can also benefit from these mobility devices.
Increased Chances of Developing Other Health Complications
Older adults are today more than ever more at risk of developing other health conditions like depression and anxiety. Furthermore, since most older adults already have underlying health conditions like Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases, and respiratory diseases, they are more likely to become anxious about contracting the Virus.
The truth is that older adults have a higher risk of severity if they contract COVID 19, further contributing to their chances of becoming depressed as they strive to stay home and keep safe from the pandemic. Older adults also have a weaker immune system and thus, they are more prone to failing to fight off the disease once they are infected. All these facts have contributed to fear and anxiety among older adults. Older adults also experience increased hospitalization when infected with COVID 19.
Reduced Admissions In Care Homes
In many parts of the world, it has become a trend that older people live in care homes where they can interact with fellow older adults and where they can be taken care of accordingly. Unfortunately, at the start of the pandemic, most COVID 19 related deaths occurred in the care homes and this slowed the admission of new members into the care homes. Since COVID 19 has higher chances of spreading faster in care homes, private owners and non-governmental organizations that previously supported homes for the elderly have recently stopped admissions until the COVID 19 situation is arrested worldwide. This has further increased the chances of older adults becoming lonely while others experiencing social isolation.
Exposed Gaps In Ageism
The COVID 19 pandemic has revealed how different countries treat their elderly. For instance, some countries were quick to put in place lockdowns without considering how much the older adults would be affected by the same. There are, however, countries that have more elder-friendly policies that delayed implementing lockdowns to protect the interests of the older generation.
Additionally, the ease of COVID 19 spreading in nursing homes has also exposed the way nursing homes are funded and how these facilities are maintained. This explains the higher number of deaths experienced in such institutions. Some nurses quit working in care homes because of the unfriendly policies including zero-hour contracts, poor working conditions, and low pay rates, which together make it difficult to survive during the pandemic.
COVID 19 has been unfair to the elderly than it has been to any other age group. The pandemic has exposed how different societies have a certain ageist attitude and poor policies for managing nursing homes. Older adults continue to suffer social isolation, loneliness, and abuse. Mental health is also an issue among the elderly during the pandemic as they have increased chances of suffering depression and anxiety.
The health of older adults has also deteriorated further during this pandemic. Older adults also continue to struggle with mobility challenges and are most likely physically inactive during this pandemic. If you are an older adult experiencing social isolation, you can consider mobility exercises and using mobility equipment to make your life more comfortable. Also, take advantage of technology to avoid depression and the anxiety that come with loneliness.
