“Beta, according to the news I am more vulnerable to COVID than any of you. I think I will isolate myself totally in my room so that I can keep myself and you all safe,” worried a 72-year-old Sebastian. 

COVID19 pandemic has scared everyone. While we are fighting the virus by following the WHO guidelines, our elders are struggling.

Our elders are feeling scared and experiencing growing anxiety. Stress and anxiety are common responses in dangerous or uncertain situations. While it is manageable in adults, managing anxiety and stress might get trickier with senior citizens.

Ergo, it is important to understand the reasons for their anxiety in order to help them out of it.

The reasons and a few solutions for managing anxiety in the elders and seniors in our house can be as follows;

The high mortality rate amongst seniors affected by the virus—All studies on COVID point out that since senior citizens have low immunity levels and may already have some health complications, they are more vulnerable to the infection. This has created a scare amidst the elders.
Solution: It is important for us as family members to stay strong and clear the doubts and confusions our elders might have. But it is also imperative to get the correct information and not the one that is freely being shared on social media. It is best to check with  the doctor in case of any confusion. Also, reduce their consumption on news about COVID-19 as the constant stream of news reports can cause them to feel anxious or distressed.

With the lockdown and healthcare professionals being caught up in the rising COVID cases, it becomes difficult for them to manage their appointments for regular health conditions. This makes them feel extremely vulnerable, frustrated and breeds anxiety in them.
Solution: Try to keep a check on your senior’s diet and medicines if any. If the medicines are about to get over, order them in advance so that the elderly feel assured. Try and keep the doctors in loop over a call about the conditions of the elders or introduce the elders to the telehealth concept so they can keep coordinating and consulting the doctors whenever needed.

Unable to follow healthcare routine. Most of the seniors indulge in a daily walking routine as that is the only feasible way for many of them to get exercise. The virus-scare has stopped them from moving out of the house. The elders might start feeling lethargic and experience disturbed sleep cycles or trouble while trying to rest.
Solution: Introduce your elders to the online workout world. There are a number of YouTube tutorials and sessions based on meditation and yoga as well as basic workouts of elders. This way, they can exercise daily at home and feel in control of their health.

Many seniors are experiencing anxiety due to loneliness as they cannot go out of the house or have anyone walk-in either. If the seniors are staying away from you they might worry about your well-being as well as feel left out, neglected and depressed.
Solution: Stay in contact with the elders either through calls or video calls. Connect them with their friends through video calls so that they can check on them whenever they feel like. Get them their favourite authors’ books and other things that might entertain them and make them feel productive apart from just watching the TV.

If elderly people are staying alone they may be facing issues without their helpers like the cooks, maids, drivers, repairmen, etc. The absence of these people might make them feel lonely too as they are the only human contact they have the whole day. Moreover, the absence of the helpers means more household chores for them which may leave them exhausted both mentally and physically.
Solution:Keep a check on the needs of the elders. Help them with getting the groceries, vegetables or medicines. Order them online; get the society RWA’s to supply it to them; ask neighbours to pitch in.

Many elderly people worry about their finances as they do not have health insurance or savings if the situation goes out of hands. 
Solution: Keep a check on their health. Discuss their finances with them and reassure  them that they are well covered and protected and that their money, investments won’t get washed away. Talk to their portfolio manager, if any, and keep a check on their investments  for their benefit.