“Mom, can I please call you back? I have heaps of assignments to complete. With online classes, postponing any of the projects has become stressful. Sorry Maa, I hope you understand. I’ll talk to you later,” said my 20-year-old son who is studying in Australia. I thought I was over-reacting when he didn’t call me for three days straight but then he mentioned about his assignments and I think I understand. My husband had called our daughter who is married and lives in the US. She too was busy with her work and she said she’ll call back later. This time I was disappointed because she always sets some time aside to talk to us. But maybe I was overreacting when I said: “What if we don’t live through this COVID and this is our last chance to talk to each other?” Ravi, my husband snapped at me when I said this. But I don’t understand why are these times making me feel so overwhelmed with everything?

Ravi too feels tired and stressed thinking about our children. What if either of them falls sick? They are oceans away from us. How will we reach them? More so, if we get afflicted by COVID, would we even get to see our children before we die?

I’ve started thinking a lot about death lately. I think it is because of the current conditions outside and the number of senior citizens dying due to the virus. We are here all by ourselves. Our maid has stopped coming as well.

When she mentioned it, I had panicked more than ever. Going out to buy groceries and vegetables seems like walking to a war field nowadays. If I have anyone crosses me within the one hand distance I start getting paranoid. I hope all this ends soon so that I can at least go out without getting worried and Ravi can meet his friends; he gets bored and starts feeling restless sitting at home. - Gayatri (a 56-year-old woman from Mumbai)

Coronavirus Pandemic has turned the world upside-down. It is especially hard on the seniors leaving  them feeling vulnerable to stress, loneliness and anxiety. As is when kids are away from home parents start feeling lost and the fear of a virus outside, which is highly dangerous for senior citizens, doesn’t make things any easier. On top of that, they are left alone to handle everything by themselves with curbs on domestic help and deliveries. 

But this is the  time for the children  to shoulder the responsibility of their parents even  more than ever.

- Keep checking on them often. Call them, do video calls, write to them actively
- Let them know about your whereabouts 
- Try to order their medicines and groceries online for them if possible. Stock the house with two month’s needs atleast
- Ask your neighbours to keep a check on them
- Try to have longer conversations with them at least once or twice a week
- Introduce them to newer apps and games that will help them focus on different things and you can stay connected on more than one platform
-Engage them in online games where you can play against each other
-If they have been wanting to learn a hobby, there is no better time now. Get them enrolled in an online class. Be actively involved with their schedules, time tables, reports etc.
-Build a relationship with their doctor so in case of an emergency you can ask for help.
-Send them positive messages and NEWS rather than any negative news about COVID. Do not scare them.