If you live with parents, grandparents who are elderly, you must give extra attention and care to them in the midst of this COVID-19 pandemic. Because they are more at risk of contracting the Corona virus.
Corona virus or SARS-CoV-2 is a virus that attacks the respiratory system. This virus is easier to attack people with weak immune systems. One of them is the elderly (elderly), namely a group of people who are more than 60 years old.
Tips for Caring for the Elderly During the COVID-19 Pandemic
In addition to being more susceptible to being infected with the Corona virus, the elderly can also experience a dangerous impact when exposed to COVID-19, especially the elderly who have heart, lung, or diabetes disease.
This is because the immune system of the elderly has weakened and the work of their organs is also generally not optimal, it may even have been disturbed. Under these conditions, the virus will be easier to multiply and cause damage, as well as exacerbate existing disorders.
Now, To care for the elderly at home and prevent them from contracting COVID-19, do the following tips:
1. Take care of yourself
As a person who cares for or has direct contact with the elderly, you yourself must be more careful in protecting yourself from the Corona virus. This is to reduce your risk of transmitting the Corona virus to the elderly you care for.
Wash your hands often with soap and running water, and increase your immune system by eating healthy foods and exercising regularly. In addition, reduce traveling outside the house if there is no urgent need. When you have to go out of the house, wear a mask and apply physical distancing.
2. Minimize the risk of the elderly being exposed to the Corona virus
Make sure you always wash your hands before and after helping the elderly with activities. If you are still active outside the home, change all your clothes before meeting or caring for the elderly. If necessary, use a cloth mask while you are near the elderly.
In addition, often clean items in the house that are often touched by residents of the house, especially the elderly, such as doorknobs or telephones.
3. Take care of the health of the elderly
Take care of the health of the elderly by providing healthy and hygienic food. Choose foods with balanced nutrition that contain protein, good fats, complex carbohydrates, fiber, and vitamins and minerals.
Apart from being a source of energy, healthy food can also strengthen the immune system of the elderly. Therefore, this step is very important, especially for the elderly who are recovering from illness.
Encourage the elderly to do light physical exercise or muscle stretching for at least 20-30 minutes every day. This is important to maintain muscle strength and balance in the elderly so they are not easily injured. It would be even better if the physical exercise is done while basking in the morning sun.
If possible, do regular checks at home, such as checking blood pressure, temperature, blood sugar levels, or blood cholesterol levels. Ask if there are complaints that bother him, especially if the elderly do have a history of chronic diseases, such as diabetes or stroke.
If the elderly experience symptoms of Corona virus infection, immediately self-isolate and contact hotline COVID-19 at 119 Ext. 9 for further directions.
4. Limit traveling outside the house
During the current COVID-19 pandemic, everyone is advised to stay at home except to buy groceries or there are urgent needs, such as seeking emergency medical help.
Even though the elderly at home are still fit and active, still limit them from traveling, let alone gathering with other people. The reason is that the risk of getting infected in a place with a lot of people is much greater than at home.
If the elderly at home have a disease that needs to take medicine regularly and check with the doctor, don't forget to remind them to take medicine regularly as recommended by the doctor. However, as long as the situation is fine, postpone regular check-ups with the doctor for a while.
If you really need to consult a doctor, do it on line through a health application that has features chat directly with the doctor, for example the ALODOKTER application.
5. Apply physical distancing
While in the house, physical distancing still important to implement. Limit visits to people who usually come to the house to meet the elderly. In addition, fellow residents of the house should also keep their distance while meeting the elderly, especially when they are sick.
However, you also need to remember, don't let this make the elderly feel shunned and isolated from other people, okay? They can still do social interaction, how come. Socializing and communicating with other people is important to maintain mood seniors are always good at home, but there need to be limits.
6. Teach the elderly how to use gadgets or device
Being at home every day can make anyone bored, including the elderly. So that they don't feel bored, teach them how to use gadgets or device. Through gadgets, they can make video calls with family who do not live in the same house or relatives, without the need to meet face to face.
Not only that, they can also be entertained by a wide selection of games that can be downloaded easily and watch as many movies or videos as they like.
7. Give activities at home
The elderly are usually advised not to do too much activity, especially those that are exhausting or the risk of injury is high. However, that doesn't mean they can't do anything.
Precisely so that the elderly do not get bored, you need to give them activities while at home. If they like to cook, invite them to cook together. But, make sure the task they do is light and harmless, okay?
If they like knitting, painting, or caring for flowers, cater to their hobby needs and let them stay creative. In addition to making them active, doing hobbies can also make their mood better and less grumpy while staying at home.
Living with the elderly in the midst of a COVID-19 pandemic like this requires you to be more careful, both in maintaining their health and yourself. You also have to be patient because caring for an elderly person in this condition is not easy.
If there is something you want to ask about the health of the elderly or how to care for the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic, you can use a health application that offers telemedicine facilities, such as ALODOKTER.
Through the ALODOKTER application, you can chat directly with the doctor. And if an immediate examination is needed, you can also make an appointment for a consultation with a doctor at the hospital through this application.
