The number of people infected with the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is increasing. The risk of a severe course is particularly high for older people. A restriction has now been imposed on visits to retirement homes in order to protect the risk group. However, there are other measures to effectively reduce the risk of infection for older people.
Older people are at risk
Especially for people aged 50 and over, the risk of getting the COVID-19 disease caused by the new coronavirus increases significantly with age. According to experts, the immune system of older people is no longer as reliable as that of younger people, so infection with the dreaded virus leads to a more severe course of the disease and can be life-threatening. Seniors are the largest risk group in the current corona crisis. For this reason, it is now important to protect this group of people from the virus as well as possible.
Careful yes, panic no
However, seniors should not panic immediately because, according to Professor Hans Jürgen Heppner, they do not have to lock themselves up at home. The President of the German Society for Geriatrics (DGG) and chief physician of the clinic for geriatrics at HELIOS Clinic Schwelm, as well as chair holder for geriatrics at the University of Witten / Herdecke stated in a message that older people should only be very careful and pay close attention to their hygiene . Large crowds, such as those at the Easter fair or at big celebrations, should be avoided, but a few family members should still be allowed to visit.
The risk of infection is higher
Since the immune system also “ages”, the defense against infections is slower with age and is weaker. That is why older people are generally more susceptible to infections, especially acute respiratory infections such as influenza viruses and the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.
In addition, many senior citizens suffer from chronic pre-existing or concomitant diseases that further increase the risk of infection. They are often affected by several chronic conditions at the same time (multimorbidity), so that the risk of infection and death increases sharply. Geriatricians (geriatricians) experience this every year during the flu season. As a result, 90 percent of the deaths from influenza in the past few years were people over the age of 60. According to geriatricians, seniors also have the highest risk of developing or dying from coronavirus. Prof. Dr. Christian Drosten, chief virologist at Charité, predicted a potential death rate of up to 25 percent, according to the DGG.
Seniors need to be protected
Attention must be paid to older people at the moment. In order to protect the group of people effectively, panic is not very helpful and without reason, because nobody is locked up. A ban on contact and social isolation will not follow because they are not the solution to the problem. On the contrary: Social isolation itself can weaken the immune system and make you sick. The visitors should only be manageable, larger arrangements should actually be considered. Grandparents should not visit their grandchildren in daycare centers or schools, even if this advice hurts – in a few months the situation can have calmed down completely. Grandchildren, on the other hand, can actively reduce the risk of their grandparents, for example by going shopping for their older relatives. In this way, the seniors do not expose themselves to excessive contagion and still get valuable and low-risk society.
Vaccination can prevent
The DGG advises all older people to have a pneumococcal vaccine refreshed or to get vaccinated. General practitioners can provide information on vaccination protection against influenza and pneumococci. The Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO) advises senior citizens to complete the protection, because pneumococcal vaccination leads to weaker symptoms in the event of pneumonia and thus protects against a serious course of the disease.
As with influenza, Corona is not per se responsible for the death of the sick, but the pneumonia resulting from the virus. This can have drastic consequences for non-vaccinated patients. Pneumococcal vaccination is a recommended prophylaxis here.
This video shows you how dangerous pneumonia is and what preventive measures can look like:
The most important recommendations for action at a glance
• Regular and thorough hand washing with water and soap (disinfectants are not necessary)
• Then dry your hands properly (change towels every day)
• Avoid greetings with physical contact (hug, shake hands …)
• Keep your distance, especially if people show signs of illness
• Use disposable handkerchiefs and then wash your hands again
• Avoid large crowds (watch events on TV if necessary, only partially invite families)
• Cancel / postpone larger companies
• Go for a walk outside (fresh air and sunlight boost the immune system)
• Possibly. Carry out / refresh pneumococcal vaccination
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