Coronavirus.
A single word that not only spreads disease and death, but fear, anger, and
even panic. All over the world countries have had to place strict
measures in place to try and manage the outbreak of the virus and hopefully
curb the spread to save the lives of people. South Africa is no
different.
We are amid
an ongoing lockdown of which the rules change from time to time; currently, we
are allowed some movement, the economy is partly open, and people have started
to return to the workplace. Social gatherings are still not allowed, and the
sale of tobacco and alcohol continues to be prohibited.
One of the
most noticeable changes in the lockdown regulations currently is the
opportunity to see other people. We are allowed to go back to work where we can
interact with co-workers, we are allowed to go to a mall and eat at a
restaurant, exercise outside of our own homes, attend religious gatherings, and
even though it is strictly not allowed - people have friends and family over.
There are,
however, some people who are still very isolated from the rest of society,
specifically our elderly living in old aged homes and retirement
villages. These institutions are under very strict instructions from the
government, and as a result, almost no visitors are allowed to enter these
facilities.
According
to research and information given by various sources, it is believed that the
elderly are at greater risk of contracting the virus and it possibly being
fatal. This is the driving force behind the extreme measures being taken
when it comes to the elderly.
Sadly these
restrictions are having a negative effect on the mental wellbeing and even
physical wellbeing of our elderly. Being isolated for an extended period
with no definitive end in sight is taking its toll. We are seeing an
increase in suicide numbers in these facilities, people who are passing away
with family members unable to visit, and general health deteriorating due to
the psychological strain isolation in taking on the elderly.
We at
Retire At Home understand the need to protect our elderly from a potentially
life-threatening virus, and that an outbreak in one of these facilities could
be catastrophic. However, we believe that we need to look after the
physical as well as the mental and emotional wellbeing of our elderly.
There are
many ways we can minimise the opportunity for infection while still allowing
our elderly to interact with their loved ones and friends. Virtual meetings are
a great option for most. Still, it is not always accessible for all. Some are
in frail care or even sickbay due to sickness unrelated to Covid-19 and denying
them the opportunity to see a loved one is heartbreaking. Most of these
facilities have well-trained care workers and medical staff that can ensure all
safety precautions are adhered to if a family member needs to visit a sick
patient. The compulsory wearing of a provided mask and
"overcoat", extreme sanitisation and minimal physical
interactions are just some of the precautions that can be taken to make these
visits possible.
Ensuring
that the residents keep active is vitally important and entirely possible
within the rules and restrictions. Interaction in various forms can be
extremely beneficial in this time, and it is the responsibility of each
facilities management team to explore safe ways to do so.
The
wellbeing of our loved ones rely on our adaptability and willingness to
understand the needs that come with the elderly. Let us look at this time
as an opportunity to re-evaluate and learn. Everyone deserves care and
comfort in their old days, let us not deny them this due to current
circumstances, but instead look at new ways of making this possible while still
taking into consideration the rules and regulations.