How To Stay Safe during The Outbreak Of COVID19 If You Are A Senior Citizen?

Many people are aware of the outbreaks that have plagued the world in early 2020, forcing the World Health Organization to classify the outbreak as a pandemic. COVID-19 is a species of coronavirus that has a profound impact on human health because of its severe complications that can lead to death. The world economy was also affected by the outbreak and it had a devastating effect on anything you could think of, no matter what time, which place or country and most of all, on human health and life. It doesn’t matter what race, gender, or even age any human being is infected and affected by the outbreak.

After thousands of people have been killed as a result of the outbreak, statistics show that the elderly are at greater risk of developing severe infection and complications which can lead to death if infected by this virus. There are a lot of risk factors that cause people in the age group above 50 years old to be more vulnerable. As we get older, our immune system couldn’t fight as hard as before, these people also often have chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease and so on which weaken their body and immune system further. Therefore, it is very important for them to be protected and to protect themselves from this. 

“As You Get Older, Get Wiser”

Social isolation and distancing are one of the most effective measures in the fight against the outbreak. Other than self-quarantine and limiting movement, it is very important to keep our distance from others especially when outdoors and in public. The health ministry's recommendation is that we should have stayed at least 2 meters from another person when meeting or passing someone. To protect the elderly who are more vulnerable towards this infection, it is recommended for them to avoid going out to public places unless urgent. If you are staying with your parents during this MCO, be an angel and do the grocery shopping for them.

For now, avoid going out or visiting other places unnecessarily. Cancel any plans to visit relatives, traveling, and vacations. With the advance of current technology we still can get connected with other family members and close friends all at our fingertips. Don't worry about your absence at public gatherings such as places of worship, schools, universities and so on as we all know the dangers still plague us all today.

In our country, we have updates on this pandemic every day, the government especially the Ministry of Health has released guidelines and instructions that should be followed by every Malaysian. One of them is the movement control order, guidelines of hand washing, as well as etiquette when coughing and sneezing. This is very important especially in the elderly. Therefore, it is important for youngsters to follow these orders and safety precautions as not to be the medium that spreads the virus especially towards them.

Elderlies are synonymous with chronic diseases. If you have any condition and need to take regular medication for it, please comply. Take it on time and make sure you have enough supply. If you are worried about traveling, you can now get your medication online.

Quarantine does not mean you can just relax at home and be sedentary. Maintain a healthy routine such as doing housekeeping, cooking, and gardening. Make sure to eat a balanced diet, and choose nutritious and healthy food. At the same time, take care of your mental health, do things that you like, and keep in touch with your loved ones via phone or video calls.