Cindy Kaschula has made a deeply valid point about our mindsets and conditions throughout the lockdown and how that correlates with the global elderly crisis.
South Africa (17 June 2020) – Have you ever stopped to think that the state of lockdown may be giving us a short tour through the lives of many of our elderly? Being unable to work, having limited social connections with friends and family, spending most of your time indoors, and having limited meaningful things to do with all of your free time. The lack of quality of life that many of us are experiencing maybe for the first-time during the lockdown, maybe what our elderly are experiencing on a daily basis.
Is it fitting to say that they are feeling alone and isolated, missing time with their families and friends, with no daily purpose and lacking hope for the future? What are we doing about this??
With our most vulnerable being elderly and their need for feeling a sense of belonging, connection, love and care our therapists decided that it would only be fitting to provide care packages to our elderly during this challenging time. Something small to lift their mood and show them some love and care.
Who better to get involved than other like-minded healthcare professionals and other passionate elderly in the community! MC Occupational Therapy healthcare professionals pulled together to provide the elderly with care packages that will allow them to keep their hygiene intact as well as keep their bodies and mind fit during this difficult time of isolation.
Considering the internal need for engaging in meaningful activities and community involvement our team of elderly decided to start cutting material and sewing masks for 300 well-deserving recipients.
One of the participants shared the following:
“My experience with the project was something that made me feel proud of myself. I felt that I was part of something where I was making a difference, even though my task was cutting up the material and then handing the material over to get it sewed, I felt that it was a big step. I felt that I was playing an important part in the mask-making experience.”
As a society, we are definitely going through a challenging time together, but we can still make a difference in our elderly people’s lives and improve their quality of life.
Consider phoning your loved ones regularly, include them in what has happened in your day. Tell them about your work, family or other positive news at home. Involve them in making choices, write them a letter saying what you appreciate about them or send them care packages consisting of soaps, creams or food treats (to name a few). Our elderly long for us to show an interest in their lives and be there for them. Let’s take the initiative and be aware that our small acts of kindness and connection can make a big difference to our elderly.
Let’s go out and get connecting with our elderly!
by 