Why Are Seniors More Susceptible to Coronavirus?
Why Are Seniors More Susceptible to Coronavirus?
With the coronavirus epidemic in full force, the question often is, why are seniors more susceptible? There are two reasons, one is physical, and one is social.
Physical reasons
Seniors don't have the robust immune system that they once did when they were younger. This makes a senior more vulnerable to heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, or lung disease. All of these diseases weaken a senior's body immune systems to fight off infectious diseases, such as the coronavirus.
Seniors are more likely to develop acute respiratory distress syndrome. This is the lung injury, which is the cause of so many deaths. But the virus is also affecting the heart more than other viruses have in the past. So, people are even dying from heart attacks that have been diagnosed with the coronavirus.
Social reasons
In some situations, seniors are living in nursing homes where close quarters spread the disease quickly. Or, they are living with family members in a crowded household with family members coming and going.
Plus, if the senior has mobility challenges, just getting to the store to get needed items can be a hazard. Not only having to take public transportation or a Lyft to get back and forth, but there is more prolonged exposure because of not being able to walk as fast.
Seeing grandchildren can be dangerous because even though most children aren’t becoming sick, they can be carriers. So, bringing those groceries to grandma’s house with mom isn’t always the best idea.
The Best Ways to Stay Safe
- The best route to stay safe is to stock up on supplies whenever possible. There are many supplies that are difficult to get right now. However, some grocery stores have senior hours and only allow seniors in the store at that time. Many times, the shelves are stocked with hard to get items for seniors.
- Take the necessary precautions to keep the distance between people. Most stores have markings on the floors for proper spacing. Stay between the markings for safe distancing. Also, avoid crowds as much as possible unless it’s absolutely necessary.
- Stay home as much as possible and try to go to the pharmacy and grocery store only every two weeks. It may not always be possible, depending on how paydays fall but try.
- Avoid touching mouth, nose, and hands if hands are unwashed. Wash hands with soap and water as soon as returning home. Plus, clean and disinfect the surfaces in the home that are touched daily, including light switches and doorknobs.
- If medication is being taken for health issues, see if prescriptions can be filled in three-month increments. It saves going into the pharmacy once a month and one fewer places to be exposed.
- When going out because of a reason of need, wear a face mask to protect the face. When people wear face masks, it protects the person from someone's germs and that person from the other person's germs. Wearing a face mask isn't fail-proof, but it is a deterrent.
- When returning back home from being outside, remove shoes before entering the home. Shoes will carry germs from where the person has been to where the person is ending up. It’s one less chance for the virus to enter a home.
- If a senior can have family members shop for groceries and pick up medication, it will keep the senior safer. The key is for a senior to have as little exposure to other people or public situations as possible.
Keeping safe for seniors in these times is difficult but not impossible. Stay inside as much as possible, and have someone else pick up necessary items if doable.
If home care is needed, we here at Right at Home can supply that need. Call us today.
