In a senior citizens life, retirement feels like a milestone. People are often used to routine life full of activities, and that is the reason post-retirement turns out to be quite challenging for the elders of the society. The sudden transition of spending 8-10 hours of their day in office to doing almost nothing at home gets quite difficult to cope with. And the “what to do now?” question never seems to end. Also, this state of mind is not only limited to the office workers, but the homemakers are also affected.
Although the homemakers never go through an official retirement phase, they often experience the sudden gap between handling all the domestic responsibilities to sitting idle and finding work to pass their time. However, what we have noticed is –people after retirement turn out to be lethargic, and this is when the importance of maintaining active life chips in. Otherwise, the consequences faced would be difficult, and the medical conditions that come up with old age will start to eat up their lives soon.
How retirement transforms one’s life?
Post-retirement is a whole new different phase, which, more often than not, is underrated and goes unnoticed. We fail to notice how retirement is affecting the lives of the senior citizens of the society. Children today are moving out to metro cities or even travelling across countries to pursue advanced studies or in search of making a career. And the parents have been left behind alone in their hometowns. Although the kids ensure the safety and other basic requirements of their parents, what the fail to notice is the loneliness that their once very active parents are going through; and the sedentary lifestyle that encases their entire future.
Usually, people after retirement become more bound to their home, feel like losing their energy, and spend most of their time sitting in front of the TV, sleep, or read books, instead of engaging in any sorts of physical activities. Lack of resources, mobility, low self-esteem or introvert personalities is often the outcome of the lack of engagement. And that is further enhanced when a person crosses the age of 60.
However, what the seniors need to understand is –no matter how old they tend to grow the minimal amount of socializing is going to keep them healthy and sane.
How has COVID-19 pandemic affected the lives of the senior citizens?
With the corona pandemic, the lives of the senior citizens have become more challenging than ever. It is not just limited to staying locked up in their houses and facing difficulties while shopping for the essentials, but the elders of the society are left more alone than ever. While the heightened risk of COVID-19 infecting the elderly is on one side, the hazards of social distancing are also affecting their lives. The seniors are growing more anxious than ever.
Especially the ones who were already struggling with loneliness are now affected by restricted mobility and even due to the lack of any financial security. Also, there are various cases where the children are stuck away from their parents in different cities and are unable to reach out too. In such a scenario, it is the cumulative responsibility of the citizens of the country to come up with a few solutions in order to take care of that 9% of the population that has been affected the most due to corona pandemic.
How can senior citizens be mentally fit?
Seniors are advised to develop a routine-habit even post-retirement to keep themselves busy and occupied. In such a situation, when we are all locked up in our homes, it is time that you people rekindled your hobbies. Engage in different communities while strictly following the norms of social distancing, or pick up some activities that can stimulate your brain. While you are restricted to your homes –try out writing, playing board games, start gardening, or reading to keep yourselves engaged and let not the loneliness consume you.
Bottom Line:
A handful of mobile apps are introduced that have come forward to fill this gap in the market. EvrCare is one such mobile application that has been designed to offer companionship to the elderly through not only the services that they have to offer but also through their presence. This app provides the provision for the senior citizens to contact personnel from EvrCare just to sit and chat with them whenever they feel lonely. This, we believe, is one of the transforming innovations introduced during the hours of need.