Advisory for Senior citizens during
COVID-19 pandemic
This is an advisory for those at increased risk of severe
illness from COVID-19
This group includes those who are:
·
Age 60 and older (especially those 70 years and
above)
·
Individuals with the following medical conditions
o
Chronic (long-term) respiratory disease, such as
asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchiectasis, post
tuberculous sequelae, interstitial lung disease
o
Chronic heart disease, such as heart failure
o
Chronic kidney disease
o
Chronic liver disease, such as alcoholic, and
viral hepatitis
o
Chronic neurologic conditions, such as
Parkinson’s disease, stroke
o
Diabetes
For older adults who are mobile:
·
Avoid contact with someone who is displaying
symptoms of coronavirus.
·
Avoid moving out of the house
·
Avoid going to park for a walk, instead, consider
doing light exercise and yoga at home
·
Remain actively mobile within the house
·
Maintain hygiene by washing hand. Especially
prior to having meals and after using the washroom. This can be done by washing
hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
·
Avoid small and large gatherings at all cost
·
Avoid having visitors at home
·
Clean frequently touched objects such as
spectacles
·
If living alone, one can consider depending on
healthy neighbours for acquiring essentials for home
For older adults who are dependent for daily activities:
Advice to the care provider
·
Wash your hands prior to helping the older
individual
·
Clean the surfaces which are frequently used.
These include a walking cane, walker, wheel-chair, bedpan etc
·
Assist the older individual and help her/him in
washing hands
·
If the caregiver is symptomatic, avoid contact
with the older adult
·
Cover nose and mouth adequately using a tissue
or cloth while coughing or sneezing
·
Avoid being completely bed-bound
·
Contact help-line if the older adult has
following symptoms:
o
Fever, with or without body ache
o
New-onset, continuous cough, shortness of breath
o
Unusually poor appetite, inability to feed
o
Change in mental status, such as excessively
drowsy during the day, not responding, speaking inappropriately
o
New onset of inability to recognise relative
which he/she could before
For mental well-being
·
Avoid complete isolation
·
Do not confine oneself in a room
·
Communicate with relatives at home
·
Communicate with neighbours, provided physical
distancing is followed, and gathering of people is avoided
·
Avoid reading or watching the news on coronavirus
For queries regarding medical illness use teleconsultation
services
Telemedicine number: 9686985055
