Coronavirus（中國武漢肺炎病毒） in Argentina: What should those over 65 years of age do during isolation? +01

Coronavirus（中國武漢肺炎病毒） in Argentina: What should those over 65 years of age do during isolation?

The Ministry of Health recommended that adults over 65 should be isolated because they are part of the Covid-19. risk group.
The Ministry of Health recommended that adults over 65 should be isolated because they are part of the Covid-19 risk group.
Being the main risk group for the new coronavirus, older adults were the first to quarantine. Over six million people over 65 years old live in the country, representing 15 per cent of the population. But what does this social isolation mean? Can you go out shopping, get visits from grandkids or be in charge of carers? What about domestic staff?

Specialists consulted by the nation divide this population into two groups: those who have to perform "social isolation" and can do minimal activities and those who must keep quarantine, without contact with other people. Above all, they recommend that the family perform an active accompaniment during this period, both to prevent them from being depressed or disoriented by staying in a virtual lockdown and to enter rebellion and go out on the street.

Measures
If they live with others, they should be able to have a room just for themselves and, if possible, an exclusive bathroom. And when they interact with other family members, they have to do it meters away. " We observe that people keep measures away and hygiene outside the home and relax them inside the house. It should be like this ", warns Julián Bustín, head of the Gerontopsychiatry Clinic and Ineco Memory.

In addition, the older adult living with others must have their belongings separated from those of the rest of the family. Your dish, silverware, glass or cup, towel, among other personal use items should be kept hygienized and without contact with other members.

Mauro is an architect and makes home office Mauro is an architect and makes home office Credit: kindness
Luis Camera, head of the Geriatric Medicine Section of the Italian Hospital, explains that among those over 65 there are two groups: the robust, who are generally those who live alone and are self-valid, and the fragile, living with family or with caregivers. " The two groups have to be taken care of. The fragile ones are more likely to respiratory infections. But the robust, often have other pathologies, such as hypertension or heart problems and should not feel less exposed than fragile ones. Everyone has to be taken care ", aim.

The robust
The robust are usually the most rebels, the ones who want to stay home least. " They have a feeling that ' nothing will happen to us ', that ' we are strong '. This group does not need a quarantine, but social isolation. It's different ", says Camera. They need to make the least amount of exits possible. Except the essentials. They can go to the bank, go out and buy the food, some event of no more than 4 or 5 people. No social outings. They must have contact with the boys, which is very difficult because, for many of them, the role of grandparents is important. They need to channel their demand for socialization and entertainment through the networks. Children and friends can and should visit them. Must be short and frequent visits. "Because maybe this group won't get depressed, but if it feels alone will decide to leave", Camera explains. The role of children, "so that they do not exceed and exit only what is necessary", is fundamental, he says.

Celia and Juan Carlos, from Villa Devoted Celia and Juan Carlos, from Villa Devoted Credit: Catalina Distefano
The quarantine of the most fragile
Within the fragile group, measures must be much more extreme. How to identify them? For example, whether they can move themselves by their means or not, illustrates Camera. Specialists recommend assembling small networks in buildings to help keep these people out of their homes, because this group needs to be extremely controlled. "Their contact with the outside must be almost zero", Camera says. Yes you can visit them, but with all the care. Wash your hands before entering, avoid physical and oral contact meters away. You must share mate or tableware. Make short visits. And make sure you sanitize surfaces like table and doorknob on the way out.

The Caregivers
What happens when the adult doesn't live with the family and has a caregiver who accompanies him at night? What if he does kinesiological treatment? Is it necessary to move the older adult to the children's house to monitor him?

If the person lives alone and is self-valid, their isolation conditions need to be improved. But you can receive visits, the minimum indispensable, always keeping the distance of two meters and with the right hygiene. No boys. People who enter this area should be as little as possible. In the case of domestic staff, we must ensure that it is not a risk factor and we must be sure that this is an essential service, as it is recommended to minimize contacts. The same applies to caregivers, healthcare professionals and treatments that perform them.

" There are medical checks and treatments that are not essential and can be postponed without problem. The doctor should be consulted if necessary or should be postponed. In any case, drive over the phone and avoid taking the older adult to a medical center ", Camera points.

And remember that all people have to take extreme hygiene measures when they come into contact with older adults with more fragile health, especially when they moved on public transportation. "Some of the measures that caregivers or domestic staff can do is to change clothes, maintain distance and hygiene conditions, washing their hands and hygienising contact surfaces", he explains.

Demonstrations of affection
During the time of isolation, kisses and hugs are advised, although other demonstrations of affection are vital for seniors not feeling excluded and depressed.

" As the days of isolation go by, they feel more isolated and more boring. It makes it harder for them to maintain absolute isolation. Starting to suffer loneliness can increase depression, anxiety and cognitive impairment ", Bustín warns.

" During isolation, it is important that routines are respected and these must include intellectual challenges, physical exercise, maintaining sleep rhythms. It is also important to keep the person socially active as much as possible ", says Bustín.

For those living alone, it is important that family takes the habit of calling them on the phone and texting them. Ideally they interact with at least three people in the day, to maintain cognitive stimulation, explains the specialist. During the call, it's important for family and friends to ask them what they did today, what they ate, if they did any physical exercise, if they read anything. Tell them the next day they will call them back to talk.

" We must neglect sleep routines. If the day is too quiet, if the environments are not ventilated and illuminated, night and day do not divide and sleep alterations begin that contribute to depression. It's important to take care of this aspect too ", Bustín adds.