Fully vaccinated elderly people continue to isolate themselves from the outside world because they still fear being infected with the corona virus. Clinical geriatricians see the elderly becoming lonely, malnourished and more often fractured by falls. The geriatricians see isolation becoming more dangerous than the virus. This is reported by the Algemeen Dagblad.
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Doctors in institutions understand the fear, but see the elderly deteriorate rapidly. Elderly people with early dementia suddenly have to accelerate to a nursing home because their well-being deteriorates rapidly. There are elderly people who break bones faster due to less movement. The Dutch Association for Clinical Geriatrics (NVKG) now sees isolation as a greater danger than the corona virus. Chairman Arend Arends and his colleagues call on the elderly to resume their daily activities. “I understand that the elderly do not go to large-scale events, but it is responsible to do more.”
Serious illness from isolation
Incidentally, the clinical geriatricians remain alert to corona. That remains unchanged. Keeping distance is still necessary, but serious illness now also arises because the elderly remain in isolation. They no longer take walks or have no meaning in life because they are so lonely, sees Karen Keijsers of the Jeroen Bosch Hospital. The elderly can still get sick from corona, but a cup of coffee on the terrace or a walk should be possible. “The risk of a serious course of corona has become a lot smaller due to the vaccinations,” says clinical geriatrician Jeroen Krijnsen.
By: National Care Guide
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