A medic administers a dose of Covishield to a healthcare worker, Ajmer, January 16, 2021. Photo: PTI
New Delhi: Uncertainty and fear caused by the surge in cases of COVID-19 cases over the past few months and the resultant fatalities have had a major impact on the mental health of senior citizens, a study by NGO Agewell Foundation has revealed. There has been an increase of over 50% among the age group when it came to such mental health disorders and symptoms of this stress included anxiety, sleeplessness, nightmares, depression as also weakness and fatigue, the study said.
Basing its data on interaction with over 5,000 elderly people over the last month, the foundation said as many as 82.4% of respondents complained of health anxiety due to an increase in cases of coronavirus and the casualties owing to COVID-19.
Over 70% of respondents also complained that they had experienced sleeplessness, insomnia or nightmares due to poor quality of sleep.
During the last month, the Foundation said, it was also found that around 63% of the elderly developed symptoms of depression due to loneliness or social isolation. An almost equal number complained of unceasing stress during the second wave of COVID-19 in India, it said.
The organisation also said that around 55% of the senior citizens were left feeling with a feeling of weakness or fatigue due to the restrictions imposed on their movement, their altered lifestyles and other factors. “At the same time more than half of them, i.e. 52.2 per cent, also complained of loss of appetite during the past month,” it added.
Stating that COVID-19 has thus had a deep and long-lasting impact on the health of a majority of the elderly population, including their mental health, the foundation said that a driving factor behind this change was that “older people are afraid of the Covid-19 consequences” and fear contracting the coronavirus.
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“They seem much worried about getting a bed and proper treatment in hospital if they or any of their family members is ever in need,” said the foundation’s founder Himanshu Rath, adding that “most old people, despite having access to resources, are finding themselves helpless and vulnerable due to the fast-spreading coronavirus. It has devastated their peace of mind and life. They need urgent help in the form of counselling, useful tips and information, health care as well as emotional support.”
Rath added that lockdowns and COVID-19 induced restrictions were adding to the problems of the elderly. He said social isolation or social distancing caused by these restrictions were also leading to increased loneliness among them, “particularly for those who are living alone or forced to live alone without family support and care”.
“During the second wave of the pandemic,” Rath added, “there has been an over 50 per cent rise in the number of older people seeking counseling or help for psychological issues such as depression, anxiety, sleeplessness, fear, stress, sense of loneliness or isolation.”
The foundation said it also observed that older people with mental health disorders and disabilities were more vulnerable and more prone to being exacerbated during such a crisis. “Due to poor health conditions and a fast decreasing immune system in old age, elderly are more prone to get infection, which leaves them neglected and even unattended in many cases.”
In light of these findings, the organisation has recommended that people spend more time with the elderly wherever possible in a safe environment and that provisions are made to improve doorstep delivery of healthcare support systems for the elderly in poor health conditions or with disabilities. It has also urged that a special door-to-door vaccination drive be carried out for this vulnerable group of citizens.