COVID-19 compounds loneliness of the elderly

He stood on the hallway of a hospital with a history of two episodes of fever. He was 79 years old. “I live alone. I usually visit my neighborhood friends and spend time with them. I’d frequently attend political group meetings.” he said. After the announcement of nationwide lockdown in Mid-March, he claims he has not visited any religious or political gatherings. He has not mingled with his peers in the Sun. Unidentifiable alien-like people with white gowns, masks and head gears asked him if he had any other symptom. The long hallway of the hospital was filled with people of his age. Some of them were coughing while others just waited for their turn to see the doctor. While he sat there alone, waiting for his test report, he recapped 79 years of his life. His report confirmed that he was negative for SARS-COV-2. But he was not happy. He was still nervous, socially isolated, and lonely.

Since December 2019, cases of viral pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus have been reported all over the world. Even though most of the younger population are affected, the adverse outcomes of COVID-19 have been observed in advanced age. Eight out of ten deaths reported have been in adults over 65 years. COVID-19 undoubtedly affects those with chronic medical conditions such as coronary artery disease, obstructive lung disease or malignancy. The disease usually becomes rampant in care home facilities with old age residents. But, the impact of COVID-19 on the psychology of older adults is under-rated, under-diagnosed and under-treated as the iceberg phenomenon goes.