Protecting seniors from Covid? Create an envelop of Care, but be wary of another killer!

Today, as I read the news of the Covid Lockdown being extended in India for another 2 weeks, I am worried. And while I am worried about the economy, the loss of jobs, and the multitude of hungry migrant labour, the most I am worried about is our senior citizens and the elderly.

I help run Tribeca Care, a senior and eldercare company in Kolkata, which has grown to be one of the largest in Eastern India. And my learning has been is that loneliness is a silent killer that plagues the elderly. They are usually alone at home, with access to very few people, especially with many of their loved ones busy in other cities or even countries.

Loneliness is a silent killer. Its like smoking cigarettes. And the elderly have always been alone and often lonely

This is why we introduced the social arm of Tribeca Care a couple of years back – just to provide an opportunity to the infirm and the elderly to venture out of their homes. We organised local cha addas or tea parties, short day trips and cultural programs. Our members loved it, and their children, many of them far away, thanked us separately when they received the happy pictures of their parents. The seniors and elders enjoy activity as much as younger people, but often they are unable to venture outside by themselves.

And today, this plan of increasing social engagement is shelved – not for a couple of months, but for a long time – or so  I envisage. Yes, the economy will restart, and the migrant labour will find work. But till an effective vaccine is found, life for seniors will be absolutely different. I had co-authored an article where we had laid down how things will change – and while I reflect on it, I am even more scared.

63% of Corona deaths in India are seniors! 

For seniors (70-80 years) the mortality from Covid-19 is 1 in 15, and for elders (80+) the mortality is 1 in 7. For men its worse, and in India it’s the men who are the ones who go out and do the shopping.

Putting this in perspective, every time a senior citizen ventures out, or comes in contact with someone from the outside, maybe even a loved one, there will always be the fear of getting infected. And once infected, the mortality ratios kick in. Seniors will live in fear. Their loved ones will live in fear. In the UK, a nursing home has had 13 deaths due to Covid 19. A newspaper there has called this ‘importing death from the outside’

Aristotle had said, “Fear is pain arising from the anticipation of evil”. Can we imagine the pain and the anxiety that this fear, with no immediate respite, can cause? The elderly do not have a good life – they are dependent on others – to help in household chores, buy groceries, get help in going to the doctor and so many of the daily tasks that people who are younger take for granted. And now there is the added fear that the people who are helping them may be carriers of a deadly virus.

For seniors, the lockdown will not be dictated by the government. It will be dictated by the seniors themselves. It will be self-imposed – when their minds go into a tailspin of fear and anxiety. Physical wellbeing will be impacted by mental wellbeing. And once a senior gets home bound, things go downhill. Invariably so.

Yes, in the immediate near term I believe that the ‘Envelop of Care’ is important – creating a layer around those who are older and have pre-existing conditions.

Create an 'Envelop of Care' - only a few people who follow guidelines are allowed near the seniors.

But what do we do in the longer term. The answer isn’t easy. Helen Keller had said. “Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold”.

The fearful are caught as often as the bold

So, there are times when we need miracles. We need the corona warriors (#coronawarriors - as we call our care providers in Tribeca) who are braving it on the outside taking care of the needs of the elderly and infirm. We need the angels who are in the hospitals taking care of those patients who are infected. And now we need the help of giants too, giants in their field of biotechnology and genetic medicine, who can come up with a vaccine.

And you, you need to call your parents everyday. Find out how things are, and find solutions to their issues, which they may have missed.

Make calling your parents a habit. Once a day for 5 mins...

This infection is not going to go away, true. But once the vaccine comes in play, it'll not be the undefeatable monster that we all feel it is. It happened with other infection and diseases before, from polio to malaria to tuberculosis to pneumonia. We will come out of this stronger than ever. In the meantime, we all do the best we can for those we love.

Right now, the world needs the help of warriors, angels and giants working together. Ordinary people, extraordinary lives!

Warriors, Angels, Giants & You.

Standing together for the Seniors and Elders