5 tips to help senior family members adjust to the quarantine life

Photo by Alex Boyd

As the number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the Philippines continues to rise, it’s important to remember that older adults are at higher risk of severe illness.

How do we keep our elderly loved ones out of harm’s way and at the same time help them adjust to the quarantine life?

READ: Dancing senior citizens take TikTok by storm amid quarantine

GMA News Online asked Dr. Anna York Bondoc, a psychologist and a pulmonary specialist from the UP College of Medicine, for some tips.

1. Make sure they’re safe

With the enhanced community quarantine being implemented, there are more family members at home to assist them and make sure they take their meds.

But if an elderly family member is staying at another house, try to make sure they stay indoors and limit visits from other people.

Dr. Bondoc also reminds the family to give them plenty of physical and emotional support through online conversations, sending food, buying medicines, and keeping in touch with their doctors.

2. A healthy diet

Dr. Bondoc would advise a healthy diet of fruits and vegetables for seniors “if possible,” as several families may be facing limited food options due to the ECQ.

The doctor also advises family members to respectfully communicate with seniors about food restrictions due to high blood pressure, diabetes and other conditions. “Hindi kayo food police,” Dr. Bondoc says.

3. Help them stay active

There are several tools available online that can help people stay active and fit at home as a family.

“You can do yoga, stretching, music, etc as family bonding. There's also family board games,” Dr. Bondoc suggests.

4. Talk about COVID-19 as a family

With no school and work, there’s plenty of time for the family to discuss the COVID-19 situation, including preventive measures, travel restrictions, and what’s going on in hospitals.

Dr. Bondoc reminds us to make sure our elderly are part of this conversation. “Talk about it as a family,” she says.

5. Be respectful

While there’s nothing wrong with being concerned for their health, we should always keep in mind that giving elderly people constant reminders and assistance could impact them emotionally.

“Seniors are not children,” Dr. Bondoc says.

“Alam nila limitations and abilities nila. ‘Yung kaya at hindi kaya.  Matanda na sila, they realize that they could be very sick.  But, like it or not, we have to respect mga desisyon nila,” she says. —MGP, GMA News