Elderly and Their Cares

3) Keeping in touch with technology

2) Loneliness and the risks of isolation

1) Feeling lost in the new normal

4) Comfort and familiarity

5) Unable to connect

Boredom

Elderly used to gather at void decks for interaction with neighbours, but now outlawed

More active seniors

activities TOUCH had to cease

Loneliness

Loss of routine, not used to it

Some have little or no family support

Children have started raising their own families/busy with work, school

Started to forget about parents

Feel negative emotions

Disrupt mental health during circuit breaker

Technology is beneficial to the elderly

Lions Befrienders (community) replaced physical visits with telephone calls + online resources of excercises/activities

Making regular check-ins on the mental well-being of the elderly, ensure emotional stability


Ease their feelings of isolation

This different generation is intensified by circuit breaker

Beneficial applications to ensure connection and entertainment

Social medias

e.g. Instagram, Facebook, Youtube

Messaging apps

e.g. Telegram, Whatsapp, SMS

Video calling platforms

e.g. Skype, Google Duo

To engage digitally-savvy seniors

Loneliness is a perception

Definition of loneliness: level of satisfaction with their connectedness w others (or lac thereof)

Even if senior lives alone, not lonely!

Younger residents who are already comfortable with the elderly continue to connect with them

E.g. Help buy groceries

Relief to seniors because they are reliable people to ask for help from when in need

Can be battled in comforts of own home if loneliness has always been a struggle (before circuit breaker)

e.g. Younger persons can message elderly neibours/relatives

Younger persons: younger residents, the elderly's family members

To chat with them, listen to them, reassure them during circuit breaker

Disconnection with own family members

e.g. Elderly being unable to continue engaging relationship with family members

Some have other ways to express care and concern loved ones, difficult if circuit breaker restricts these actions

Cannot connect with them in ways they usually do

Younger persons should instead engage with elderly themselves

E.g. Sit with them in living room and make conversation/watch television together

At least not alone