IMPACT OF COVID 19 IN GERIATRIC CARE

V. Vidhya

Asst. Professor

Department of MBA

Sankara college of Science and Commerce

“You can’t help getting older but you don’t have to get old” – George Burns

Around the world the rate of death occurred due to COVID 19 is high in case of senior community. It is said that reduction of immunity in the senior age people has become an entrant for the virus to create worse health effects for old age senior citizens community.

India has nearly 110 million of Senior citizens who were looked after either in joint families or in care centers. They are the vulnerable population to get easily into various health issues. About 75% of senior care has the incidence of non – communicable diseases which is a risk factor for the new infections to spread on to the community.

Even before Covid it was tiresome to look after the elderly people as their dear and nears will be away to search their own future. Without help of a care taker it will be difficult to assist the elderly patients. Now after Covid the situation has become worse. The virus has affected disproportionately too many of the elderly people that they couldn’t find way to cope up in their life. Covid has highlighted some of the issues which has become a challenge to the current and future senior citizens:

1. Less socialization during lock down
2. Impact of Mental health and self esteem
3. Lack of Knowledge on online platforms available for elderly people
4. Helplessness in the crisis situation

Geriatric care is mostly undervalued by the healthcare system. The specialist doctors can advise the senior people on a particular disease or disablement. But holistic health approach is always a question mark for the elderly people. In recent times it has proven that elderly people has affected more mentally than through any microorganism. A separate department called Geriatric care is gaining its importance slowly in the healthcare system. This department gives a holistic health review for the elderly people where they can share their feelings and emotions. A branch of science that deals with the elderly care patients is called as Geriatric care.

It is observed that elderly people who were under professional care centers have been largely safe and healthy in this pandemic period. As that the case the home care demand has grown up high at the expense of hospital based care. This has proven that home care companies can reduce the hospitalization, prevent fall accidents, and can provide immediate emergency care.

It has been said that in later years in India only elderly population will be more and it becomes a mandatory to enhance the elderly care. Many of the hospitals today will be replaced by cheaper, better, tech supported home based care platforms. This will be a best outcome for families, governments and the elderly themselves.