A news piece read as follows, “A 50-year-old male, described as being obsessed with watching Covid19 media, contracted a virus which he wrongfully interpreted as Covid19. He then quarantined himself from family and friends, threw rocks at others that approached, and hanged himself from a tree.” 

As difficult as the pandemic is for us to manage, the seniors are suffering the most due to the lockdown.

Social isolation, deteriorating health conditions, struggling with house chores, and knowing that they are vulnerable are driving feelings of panic, fear, anxiety, and depression among the elderly population. 

 With the isolation and rampant updates of saddening and scaring news from around the world, the seniors are prone to feeling fearful. Studies say that, when this fear takes control, both the nervous system and the emotional part of the brain go into an overdrive. This response further leads to impulsiveness and feeling out of control emotionally as well as physically as these situations trigger negative physical symptoms like elevated heart rate, insomnia, digestive issues, weakness fatigue and chronic stress.  

How can you manage the health of seniors around you? 

1) Look after their diet: Stick to simple, regular conventional food that you and your family is used to. Too much sugary, spicy or heavy meals are not advisable since their activity will probably be lower. Do not make any drastic changes to their diet else they may feel neglected.

2) Help them reduce mental stress: Cutting down on news intake is essential in order to manage this. The pandemic updates are stressful and elders might ruminate on the news for longer intervals. Instead, try to get them involved in other activities like reading, writing their own journals, listening to music, and meditation etc.

3) Ensure they get adequate sleep. Ask them to take an afternoon nap or sleep on time at night. If all the worry is interfering in their sleep, play some relaxing sleep music for them, show them simple yoga asanas that induce sleep, massage their legs or forehead. Also, update the doctor if there is a drastic change in sleep pattern.

4) Even if they can’t go out, let them soak in some sun in the balcony or the garden. The brightness of the sun is known to lift mood and make one feel better.

5) They can get involved in some religious routines such as chanting, reading religious scriptures, or lighting the lamp in the evening. Insist gently that they do it since it will instil a feeling of being taken care in them.

6) Ensure their medication is on time, if any. Deficiency of nutrients like Vitamin B and D are  known to induce low feelings in individuals. Check with their doctor frequently on medication.

Though the above suggestions sound easy, they might be difficult to execute if your parents or seniors are grieving due to loss or distancing from their loved ones. If not looked after right, they are also at increased risk for post-traumatic stress syndrome. If needed, one might enroll the seniors in an online therapy program to help them deal with their thoughts and emotions.