Elderly at home? Maintain social distancing

Elderly at home? Maintain social distancing

Saranya.Chakrapani@timesgroup.com

09.06.2020

There’s one ritual city-based media professional Ashwin S has been following for two decades. Come home from school, college or office, head straight to the kitchen, and give his mother a tight hug before even heading to change. However, for the first time in these years, the 35-year-old has had to break the tradition.

With his mom now touching 70, he ensures she’s at a safe distance when he returns home from work in the evening and reserves the hug for later. “Ever since I got back to work, I consciously avoid groups of people inside the office, don’t use the canteen,” says Ashwin.

Living with elderly parents and grandparents calls for extreme caution as they are susceptible to infection due to old age and comorbidities. Meenu S, a Pallikaranai resident, has downloaded every app she could find to drop home the day’s milk, vegetables and provisions at a low cost without the need for physical contact. “I ensure the produce we get is thoroughly cleaned in a mixture of turmeric and neem leaves before it enters the kitchen,” she says.

Dr Abdul Ghafur, infectious diseases specialist, says youngsters stepping out for work or otherwise may try to keep a safe distance from elderly family members. “If you have symptoms like a running nose, cough or fever, stay away,” he says.

Geriatrician Dr V S Natarajan emphasizes that it is as important to keep seniors at home in good spirits during this period. “Many of them watch the news extensively and may get anxious. They may even miss physical activity like going for walks and meeting neighbours. Keep them engaged, dine with them and let them know they are safe,” he says