Expert Helps Senior Citizens Find Out Ways Of Protecting Their Mental Health During Covid-19 Lockdown

Silver Talkies had organised a webinar on April 10 to make senior citizens aware of how to protect their mental health during COVID-19. 

The outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the lockdown has been stressful for most of us. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions especially in older adults and people with underlying health conditions. The instructions to stay at home and the current lockdown may also add to these factors. Making wise use of technology, Silver Talkies organised a webinar on HOW TO PROTECT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH DURING COVID-19 on April 10.

Dr Soumya Hegde, Consultant Geriatric Psychiatrist with over 18 years of experience managing mental illness and related issues among seniors addressed concerns of over 50 senior citizens who were a part of the webinar over Zoom, the video calling app. Here are some key points of the discussion for those who were unable to join us Here’s how to take care of your mental health during these unprecedented times.

What could be some of the mental and emotional wellbeing issues that seniors, especially those staying alone, face?

Anxiety, depression and exaggerated Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) could be the three major issues that the seniors may face. The anxiety and depression could be due to the fear of contracting the infection, long-term uncertainty about social isolation and depletion of essential resources. The constant advisory of handwashing could make symptoms worse among those already suffering from OCDs.

Media channels and social media are always emphasising the fact that senior citizens are at a greater risk. With the fake news related to Coronavirus getting viral on WhatsApp and other social media platforms, the situation is getting even worst. Those with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) are getting disoriented about how often to wash their hands. With the groceries and medicines running out and nobody to reach out for help around, those with underlying anxiety disorders are often having panic attacks. To know more about the mental issues affecting older adults during the lockdown, click here. 

In case one is facing such issues, they can reach out to psychiatrists from the Indian Psychiatric Society (Karnataka Chapter) offering free counseling over the phone to address issues during the crisis time. NIMHANS has also come up with its telemedicine service to offer help to those facing a wide variety of mental disturbances due to the coronavirus outbreak and the lockdown. To know more about these services, click here.

How would you identify the mental issues among seniors?

Level of anxiety may disrupt one’s daily routine and one may start showing a lack of interest in activities that they enjoyed earlier. Increased stress may result in a disturbance in one’s sleeping pattern and appetite. In extreme conditions, one may experience weight loss as well.

Do some gardening to keep yourself engaged at home

What would be your advice to keep an active lifestyle even while being homebound?

It is ideal to not disrupt the diurnal clock during the lockdown and stick to the usual routine of going to bed and waking up. Have healthy meals and cook fresh food in small quantities every day. That way you get to eat healthy fresh meals and also you have something to do every day to keep yourselves engaged. Try on new recipes and experiment. Even if it may not be as good as a walk in fresh air, try and do activities at home that you were doing outdoors earlier. Learn to use technology and find out online sessions and classes. You may not get the exact results but it is better than doing nothing. Join online yoga classes, look out for online sessions on simple exercise and stretches.

Cooking healthy meals every day can keep you engaged

Divide the day and allot time for different activities. Keep separate time slots for cleaning cupboards, watering the plants, watching television or video calling friends and family. Remember to set a structure to your daily life. In case one is struggling to keep oneself engaged, it is always good to get in touch with social engagement platforms like Silver Talkies and have access to several online activities that will keep you engaged and not feel lonely or isolated. Click here to know about the various volunteering communities helping out senior citizens during the lockdown.

Many are struggling to manage their daily chores in the absence of their house helps. This has led to increased stress and anxiety amongst them, even impacting their physical health. What would your suggestion be in this situation?

In a way, it is good to do household chores as it helps one to remain engaged throughout the day. However, it is essential to not overburden oneself. You do not need to mop the entire house at the same time. You can divide the work and take up one room every day. Also, try out ways to curtail your work. If you have three bathrooms in the house, stick to using only one and do not use the other two. That way, you will have to clean only one bathroom that you use.

We often come across a wide spectrum of behaviour. One where people are still taking the situation lightly and want their newspaper and regular walks and another where people are having rising anxiety or OCD due to the advisories about constant sanitizing. What would be your advice to these opposite ends of the spectrum?

There has to be a middle line to it. A lot of people are becoming complacent about the situation as nothing has happened to them or to the people around them. But that way you may be wrong. Nothing has happened because we are under lockdown. However, the number of positive cases is only increasing and gradually people will come inside and start following the basic safety measures. The other end of the spectrum who are going overboard with the washing will not be able to continue that for too long. At some point, they will get fed up and will relax a little. However, if it does not get better and reaches a point of development of OCD, they need to reach out and seek clinical help.

Some seniors may worry about being the most vulnerable group as is commonly believed. As a medical professional what would be your advice to them? How should they deal with all this without adding to stress?

There is nothing to be stressed about it. Following simple safety measures are enough. Avoid going outdoors unless it is needed. When you go out, come back and wash your hands. Make sure there are separate bags to get groceries from outside, wash the packets and the veggies before storing them, wear a mask when you go out. If you abide by these measures, there will be no such risk.

What should one be prepared for if one does need to visit the hospital during this phase for any physical emergency?

For seeking help related to hospitalisation and medical emergency, you can call 108. 1091, the elder specific helpline is also available. You may also call 100, the police central line and if you tell them you want to get connected to the elders’ helpline, they will connect you.

The webinar was of great help for the senior participants who got enough ideas on how to tackle the crisis situation and keep their mental health intact while following social distancing.