Coronavirus disease or COVID-19 is an infectious viral disease that causes respiratory illness with symptoms such as fever, tiredness, dry cough and difficulty in breathing. This disease affects people of all ages, but recent data of COVID-19 cases show that adults with the age of 60 years old and older are more vulnerable to acquire the virus especially those with pre-existing serious health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer or lungs diseases.

As the number of COVID-19 cases arises worldwide, it is alarming to know that more of the senior population are being affected. This is because when a person gets older, the immune system weakens and the body may develop age-related diseases. If you are caring for an elder loved one, you may be worried on how to protect them against the threat of the virus. Here are some precautions that you and other members of your household need to do to protect the elderly in your family:

• Make sure to wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20-30 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand rub or sanitizer especially after coughing, sneezing or been in a public place to kill the virus that may be on your hands before approaching an elderly in your household.
• Maintain social distancing and avoid close contact with people who are sick. Keep at least 1-meter distance between yourself or anyone with flu-like symptoms especially those who are sneezing and coughing. You may catch the virus from the small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may infect the elderly of your home during your close contact with them. Avoid crowded areas and limit visitors in your home to prevent entering of the virus in your household.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth because your hand may touch surfaces that are contaminated with the virus. Avoid also touching the elderly of your household without making sure that your hands are clean.
• Ensure that each member of your family practices good respiratory hygiene. Make sure to cover your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when sneezing or coughing to prevent the spread of the virus from the liquid droplets. Wash your hands and elbow after and throw the tissue immediately. If any member of your household is sick, prevent them from getting close with the elderly and ask them to seek prompt medical attention.
• Practice living a healthy lifestyle and consume a healthy diet at your home. Eat nutritious foods such as citrus fruits and green leafy vegetables to help boost the immune system of your family members especially the elders and avoid smoking and drinking as it weakens the body’s immune system. Do some home exercises with your whole family like stretching and breathing exercises to keep the respiratory and circulatory system healthy and to improve the overall fitness of the body. A strong body and immune system are great protection against the virus.

As  caretakers of the elderly at home, you have to keep yourself well and healthy. Take all the necessary precautions to avoid being infected and to protect your loved ones from the virus. Spend some quality time with your whole family while staying at home to prevent the elderly from getting bored. Practice proper hygiene, maintain social distancing, live a healthy lifestyle and boost the body’s immune system. With these, you can not only protect the elderly from the virus but also your family and the community.

NO I Angelica O. Pajulas