Yes, a lot of people are dying due to coronavirus. In Italy and Spain, they are letting older people die because the hospitals don’t have enough ventilators to help them with their respiratory problems. They are sedated and let them die slowly, like putting away a loved cat or dog.
The only solution to defeating this virus is to stay home and practice physical distancing.
Cities have clamped down. Streets are empty, businesses are closed and everyone is in a state of panic.
Those who have families, they complain about being together 24/7. But those who don’t have family, are left alone, isolated, practically with no human contact.
The elder population is also dying of loneliness
The physical distancing is especially impacting the elder population. They are already the most at-risk population, they have the highest mortality, but also they are the most disconnected.
The elder population is not technically savvy. They have a hard time jumping into Zoom and having a conversation with their friends and families, taking selfies, or getting into Instagram to see what everyone else is doing.
Many of the elders find themselves in retirement homes and their most precious moments, the moment when their families come to visit them, those momenta have been taken away from them.
Government authorities have forbidden visits to elderly homes. This is with the objective of not exposing them to the coronavirus, but that loneliness can be lethal as well, just more insidious, less dramatic.
Elderly people who want companionship but now find themselves isolated from their families are very likely to experience adverse, physical, and emotional, consequences of being alone.
It is estimated that loneliness is as harmful to our health as smoking 15 cigarettes per day. People with active social relationships generally live longer than those without social relationships.
Loneliness reduces the efficiency of our immune system and thus making us more vulnerable to any kind of disease and easier victims for the coronavirus.
When you feel lonely, you also stress over finances, health, or any other problems of the day to day life.
How do we help our elder population in the time of the Coronavirus?
Right now, there is only one solution: the telephone.
If possible get into the habit of calling your elder friend or family member as often as you can.
Since the Coronavirus lockdown started, I am calling my mother every day. She is 78 years old, and she is still in good shape, but age is beginning to slow her down. I know now that by calling her just to say hello, she feels the love of her son and she doesn’t feel as lonely anymore.
Do you have a family member or a friend who might be suffering from loneliness? Give them a call, or teach them how to interact in social media, Zoom, or Skype. Your voice and companionship could be a lifesaver.
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