Go out for walks, avoid crowded places, PGI doctors tell elderly

Shimona.Kanwar@timesgroup.com

Chandigarh:  23.05.2020

Making elders coop up inside homes to save them from the coronavirus can disturb their mental health and it is OK to allow them to go for walks while taking precaution, according to doctors.

Under the fourth leg of the lockdown, the government has recommended that children below the age of 10 and people above the age of 60 should stay at home. “This can only make them go under depression as they already are ailing. So, the best practice is to allow the elderly to go for walks and exercise outside with face masks,” said a geriatric medicine specialist in PGI. Those suffering from diabetes, lung or heart disease or any immunocompromised illness, should avoid crowded public places, doctors said.

“The elderly can go out but not in crowded places. They must cover their face with a cotton mask, follow hand hygiene and follow social distancing of at least two arm’s length,” said a doctor at the PGI’s internal medicine department.

Will immunity boosters help? “There are no such recommendations. They must eat well and have lots of fluids during the summer,” doctors said. Those with caregivers must ensure that they are not having any infection or flu. “Proper hand washing for 20 minutes with soap and water for both the elderly and the caregivers is important,” said a doctor.

Usually most of the elderly are follow0up cases and have to a doctor after a few months. “Hypertension patients can avoid frequent hospital visits by stocking up on supply of prescribed anti-hypertensive drugs. They must not stop taking medicines,” said Prof Yashpaul Sharma, head of the cardiology department, PGI.

For children under 10 years of age, they should be taught life skills. Dr Bhavneet Bharti, a paediatrician at PGI, said, “Make structured routine for children. If parents are depressed, it will be passed on to the children. So, parents need to stay happy. Also, this is the time to learn life skills at home.” “We do not advise any particular food as these days all are having home-made food which is healthy.”