The world is currently facing a pandemic of a new corona virus commonly known as COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019). The outbreak of this highly infectious and fatal novel virus has been regarded as a threat to the survival of the global elderly population. Amongst the most robust consensus related to the COVID-19 disease is that the elderly are by far the most vulnerable population group. Epidemiologists are crystal clear that age is the most important factor in diminishing one’s chances to survive the COVID-19, especially after 65 years of age. A particularly high-risk group is constituted by those aged 80 or more.
Hence, Governments strategy around the world has notably focused on targeting elderly people and trying to convince them to comply with the public health preventive measures. There is a dire need to counter the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic for older people particularly living in low- and middle-income countries such as Pakistan. The composition of the world population has changed dramatically in recent decades. Between 1950 and 2010, life expectancy worldwide rose from 46 to 68 years. Globally Pakistan is one of 15 countries with over ten million older people. It is estimated that currently 7 percent of the population is over 60 years old.
The elderly, especially those with underlying diseases, such as asthma, chronic respiratory diseases diabetes, and heart disease appear to be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with the virus. Older people are known to have poor immune system thus largely susceptible to the infection. Proper sleep, getting proper food and exercise may help to maintain the immunity in old age and prevent frailty.
There may be several reasons why older people in Pakistan require special services. It is often difficult for older people to self-quarantine due to extended family system. This is challenging in urban low-income settings and particularly in rural areas where large families live in small dwellings. Their movement to separate quarantine facilities will also require extra diligence as they are often illiterate and heavily dependent on their younger family members.
Even in normal times, our public health system faces capacity constraints in providing specialized geriatric care. It is more difficult to provide respiratory support and proper care of the elderly in the outbreak of the pandemic from Coronavirus.
COVID-19 is changing older people’s daily routines by requirements to spend more time at home, lack of physical contact with, friends and colleagues, temporary cessation of employment, collapse in social contact that leads to anxiety, depression and fear of illness and death, their own and of others. Being mentally resilient one can avoid such mental problems during a crisis. It is therefore important to create opportunities to foster healthy ageing during the pandemic. Another way of keeping a healthy mental status is by keeping constant social interaction through means of communication such as telephone calls, video calls, and use of internet and other media tools
These facts require strengthening of specialized public health and clinical settings for the elderly.
Public health effort involves population`s health issues with specific focus on prevention and spread of diseases. Due to lack of information, education and access means corona virus is spreading rapidly. Yet, the specific guidance has been not made available for this high-risk group. Neither any specific health education campaign has been launched for the elderly. We should also not forget that a large number of older people are illiterate. Thus, awareness campaign may not be equally effective to target older people unless designed exclusively for them.
It is generally observed that either the elderly people are not using mask or not wearing it properly. Furthermore, they are not observing social distancing because they don`t know the root cause of the disease.
The main route of transmission of COVID-19 is through respiratory droplets generated when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Transmission can occur from hands contacting contaminated surfaces and then coming into contact with the person’s mucosa such as nose, mouth and eyes. The best way to protect against COVID-19 is to maintain physical distance of at least 1 meter from others. Medical or fabric masks should be worn over the nose and mouth properly. Masks are especially important when it is difficult to stay at least 6 feet apart from others or when people are indoors to help protect each other.
Everyone should wash their hands for at least 20 seconds whenever they think their hands may have become contaminated. Sanitize if water and soap is not available. Cover all surfaces of your hands with sanitizer and rub them together until they feel dry.
Try to avoid close contact with your visitors. For instance, don’t shake hands or hug. Instead wave and verbally greet them. Limit your interactions with other people as much as possible.
Consider keeping a list of people you visited or who visited you and when the visit occurred. This will help if someone becomes sick.
There is currently no licensed medication to cure COVID-19. Most people who get COVID-19 have mild or moderate symptoms and can recover with supportive care. If you have symptoms like dry cough, fever and difficulty in breathing, fatigue, loss of smell or taste, sore throat or other call your health care provider or COVID-19 hotline for assistance without delay.
Avoid self-medication more over WHO does not recommend self-medication with any medicines, including antibiotics, as a prevention or cure for COVID-19.
Community workers, family members and caregivers of elderly can support them in different ways in this hard time. Simply saying Hello can make the difference in this continuous state of loneliness.
Frequently disinfect the surfaces and surroundings of the room of elderly.
Last but not the least people of all ages can protect themselves from the virus by strictly observing the SOPs.