Seniors, Stay Healthy During The Coronavirus Epidemic

By Miranda J. Chivers

After suffering with an auto-immune disease for the past twenty years, I’ve taught myself how to stay safe from annual flus and colds. I still get those things because others keep working and socializing when they’re sick and don’t think of the vulnerable like me. I’ve contracted pneumonia more than once. Trust me, there is nothing scarier than being unable to breathe.

I’m writing this blog both to share my concerns and also to tell you what I’m doing to stay out of harm’s way. I’m begging you. Please keep yourself safe because by doing so, you will keep me alive.

Social distancing and self-isolation are crucial for senior citizens right now. We are in the most vulnerable category for contracting all viruses, and this CV-19 is potentially deadly. By now you know — if you’ve been following the news updates and social media posts — this bug infects the lungs with an incurable sticky pneumonia treatable only with oxygen via a ventilator. The weaker the immune system, the less chance of survival. At this writing, there is no known cure and there are no antibiotics to treat this or reverse it. Once you’ve got it, you have to wait it out.

YOU AND I MAY DIE. This is not a scare tactic or fear mongering. This is reality right now. We need to protect ourselves and each other.

So, what can you do to stay safe and healthy during this worrisome time?

First, let’s clarify social distancing and self-isolation.

SOCIAL DISTANCING means staying at least two metres (or six feet) away from all human contact.

Example: Grocery Shopping.

First, please wipe the buggy handles and sides with antiseptic wipes before you shop. Surfaces are full of all kinds of germs. I hope you’ve practised this habit regularly before the epidemic. If you haven’t, now is the time to start. You can also wear gloves, preferably those that are disposable or can be washed in the washing machine after using.

(Remember the 1960s when washable gloves were fashionable? Maybe it’s time to revive this fashion accessory. Just a thought.)

In the grocery store, keep a two buggy length between you and the other person ahead and behind you both when shopping, and in the check-out line.

When shopping, face the product shelf and turn away from the person passing you on the other side. Don’t squeeze the person ahead of you by pushing into them. Wait patiently for those slow people — who take forever to make up their minds which product brand to buy — to get out of the way. It’s better to take a little longer in the grocery aisle than to be unsafe and get sick.

Don’t manhandle those fruits and vegetables. Other people — who may be sick or taking care of a sick person — are examining them, too. If you are not wearing gloves, invert a plastic bag around your hand to pick up the produce.

Meat juices sometimes drip out of the packaging. Molds and viruses love to breed in this environment, especially after a hacker coughs when picking it up and then changes their mind and puts it back down. The plastic bag around your hand and double bagging the meat helps to protect yourself when touching any item.

At the check-out, don’t make unnecessary chit-chat with the cashier. This virus spreads by droplets. You may not see them, but they are in the area when someone speaks. Turn your face away when they talk to you. Answer without facing them.

I know this sounds unfriendly, but now is not the time to make new friends. It’s time to reign in your social circle.

Get to the bagging area quickly. Also, pay by tapping when possible. Those keyboards are probably contaminated, so avoid them.

Physically, dodge as much human contact or interaction as possible. To put it another way, pretend everyone in the store is your arch-enemy.

I know this is difficult for you touchy, feely extroverts who want to talk to and hug everyone. Instead, share telephone numbers and social media info. If you’re really stressed, reach out to us introverts and ask us how to do this without going insane. We’ve got the social experience and would love to teach you.

SELF-ISOLATION is not the same as a quarantine. A quarantine is when you don’t leave your home, period. You only need to quarantine if you or someone in your household is sick. Otherwise, practice self-isolation.

Safe self-isolation means you can still go for a walk around the neighborhood, take a drive to the park to feed the ducks, cycling, or enjoy your back yard. Plant that garden. You can do anything that keeps you out of contact with other humans not living with you.

Self-isolation is not babysitting your grandchildren.

If your children are working and they need a babysitter, you are taking a huge risk by helping. This is not isolation, and it is not a safe situation. Young people can carry this virus and not show symptoms. That’s means your grandchildren can give it to you, even if they don’t feel sick. Don’t put yourself in danger. Be smart and say no to babysitting. Those kids need you to stay alive.

Here’s a suggestion for those working parents on the front lines who are reading this. Babysit your coworkers kids on your days off. Organize a schedule at work to do this effectively. Please don’t involve your parents or grandparents or neighbors who are not living with you. If you or your kids get sick, they can die. I’m not exaggerating. Do you want that responsibility on your soul?

Stay Active And Mentally Fit.

Don’t veg out in front of the TV or computer. The more oxygen you have in your body, the better you can fight any bug. Get moving.

It’s imperative to remain active for both physical and mental reasons. Inactivity kills more than a virus does. So get out of the house and go for a walk or a drive. Dust off those exercise balls and do some stretches and gentle weight-bearing in your living room. Canned beans or water bottles are great alternatives to weighted exercise balls.

Keep your mind active. Read a good book or play online games with friends. If you live with someone, get out those playing cards and board games and enjoy a few laughs with some competition. It’s a healthy way to destress.

Sing. Music stimulates the brain and helps to prevent dementia. It’s also a great stress reliever. Singing exercises the lungs and pushes more oxygen to your blood.

Worship with an online church. Spirituality connects us with others and gives us hope during dark times. It also helps us to maintain a positive focus. If you don’t have a home church that offers online services, just go to YouTube and find one.

Read scripture for good mental and spiritual health. The Holy Bible is full of life-giving encouragement. I suffered for many years with debilitating depression. Reading the Bible helped inspire me and lift my spirits. If you don’t have one, you can access them for free online. I use www.BibleGateway.com or the YouVersion app.

Eat Right. Good food doesn’t come in a tin can. You need to take time to create a good meal and build nutrition. Don’t sacrifice in this critical area. I know it’s hard to cook for one person, but it’s very doable.

If cooking for one is overwhelming, then cook for four or six. Package up the rest and freeze it, or deliver a care package to your neighbors. Leave a note outside their door or on the bag to evade physical contact. But please only share if you’ve been in isolation for fourteen days and have no symptoms. Otherwise you risk transporting potential germs via product.

Keep taking your vitamins and other supplements. To avoid social contact, call the health food store or pharmacy to deliver.

If you have access to on-line grocery shopping and delivery, use it. Order those fresh fruits and vegetables. Now is not the time to be worrying about those extra few dollars. Unlike the rest of the population, your pension helps to pay the bills. Yes, your investments are tanking right now. We can’t do anything about that. Control what you can.

Produce ages quickly, and it may seem wasteful to buy it fresh. I cook soups and stews and freeze them into individual portions. These make nutritious meals to pop into the microwave later. Rotisserie chicken carcasses make a fabulous broth simply done in the instant pot or a dutch oven. If you’re feeling lost because you’ve ditched those old recipe books or can’t think of how to throw random food together, check out the internet. Sites like Pinterest and YouTube are a bounty of free information.

Now is also a great time to share your own recipes or maybe write that book you’ve been planning for the last few decades. Also, organize your photos and declutter that closet.

There’s no reason to be bored, inactive, or eat junk food. You can survive this epidemic of loneliness and stay healthy, too.

I realize that in a few weeks we will all be suffering from cabin fever and missing that friendly hug from our family and friends, and those amazing meals at our favorite restaurants. But if we practice social distancing and self-isolation, we’ll still be alive in a few months to connect more intimately again.

This is temporary pain for long-term gain. Please, fellow seniors, be smart and play it safe.