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