LETTER | Seniors unduly affected, but see greater help during pandemic

LETTER | The Covid-19 outbreak has placed all of us in the midst of uncharted territories. Social distancing and the loss of lives have profoundly impacted our society. Indeed, when this is done and dusted, we as a society will have to adapt to new ways of managing our lives.

As the pandemic unfolded, we have often been made painfully aware that not all of us are in it together. Older people have been more affected by the pandemic than most. The inability to have meaningful quality time with loved ones at close proximity has affected the elderly tremendously.

March 18 marked a historic moment in Malaysia when the government initiated the movement control order (MCO) to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. This had an immediate major impact on our older Malaysians, whether they were at their own homes or care institutions.

Due to lockdown measures, the lifestyle of older Malaysians had changed dramatically. All their social activities were paused and under the impact of quarantine, some of the issues they deal with daily included isolation, stress, anxiety, trauma, and grief.

Those who are living alone like my mother, for instance, must deal with the loneliness of not being able to be in touch with society. Besides struggling to obtain their daily needs such as food and groceries, in which they had to compete with the younger generation and with hoarders, they also feel alienated in this new world of the digital norm.

Visiting places of worship, haggling with their favourite meat or vegetable seller, having a cup of coffee after marketing - these were their precious moments of being a part of the society. Having that taken away from them leaves them feeling socially isolated and causing a big void in their daily lives. Many are not technology savvy to switch to the new mode of socialization. Researchers globally had proven that social isolation heavily affects the emotional, physical, and mental well-being of the elderly.

Similarly, those staying in aged care facilities also faced much turmoil, with facilities closing their doors to outside visitors, limiting personnel, and cancelling nearly all social gatherings. For the residents who were already struggling with loneliness, the complete ban on visits from loved ones, attending outside events and functions, and religious services had a profound impact on their wellbeing and a huge shock to their constitution. It rocked the foundation of their belief in wholesome family dynamics.

Compounding this loneliness is the uncertainty that spouses and children have of the health of their elderly family members. They have not been allowed to visit their loved ones only until an end-of-life event. We all know how much it hurts to be kept apart from those we care about during a crisis. These were really trying times for thousands of seniors and their families.

Still, it is of great comfort to know that many Malaysians stepped up during these trying times.

Benevolence, generosity, and heroism came to the fore and rallied the spirit of human kindness. There were many heartening stories around. Almost immediately, there were individuals and organisations that shone through in ways that brought us hope. Some delivered food. Some shops delivered fresh produce directly to the homes of the elderly. Some opened their shops earlier only to cater to the elderly. Some offered to go grocery shopping for the elderly and disabled persons.

It is also heartwarming to note that many groups – informal and formal – have emerged to provide support for those whose isolation has been compounded by Covid-19. We saw NGOs working closely with government departments in delivering services and help to the residents of aged care facilities. We saw young university students lending a hand in providing relief to the residents. We saw the various faith groups teaming up to deliver food and essential needs to our elderly.

The spectre of the coronavirus helped Malaysians to realize that we do share a common humanity that unites us in times like these. Ironically, our social “distancing” is, paradoxically, a kind of unity – an altruistic form of collective action aimed at stopping the spread.

So, perhaps the coronavirus isn’t the only contagion – we are also infected by kindness, hope, and charity too.

The writer is vice president of the Association for Residential Aged Care Operators of Malaysia (AGECOPE).

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.