The current pandemic situation has been overwhelming for all, but it puts extra concern and fear on the elderlies as authorities indicated that this category are more likely to have severe — even deadly — coronavirus infection than other age groups. This may results in added mental stress during such times.

Being the pillar of community, the Ministry of Health has accorded the elderlies a prominent attention as it established a department for older adults’ psychological welfare at Al Masarra Hospital.

On the efforts exerted in this regard, Dr. Saleha Al Jadidi, consultant old age psychiatrist, pointed out that the hospital is proceeding according to the program and mechanisms developed to dealing with the elderly in times of crisis and epidemics such as the COVID-19 epidemic, as this group is about 20% more likely to develop mental disorders than the rest as per the world health organization’s data.

It has been noted that the most common disorders in the elderly are depression, cognitive abilities deficits (Alzheimer's) and anxiety. This percentage increases in epidemics times such as the Corona virus as a result of over-dramatizing, leading to increased rates of panic in the elderly.

Cases experiencing fear and anxiety about the COVID-19 pandemic are treated with behavioral therapies and supportive therapy (psychological support) for the elderly, where the family and caregivers are educated about the contributing factors and the cause of the condition, and ways to prevent them, some of which may require temporary drug treatments and psychological support from specialists.

One way to prevent COVID-19-Resulting- Disorders is by raising the awareness level of elderly caregiver since it is important to take into account the psychological aspect of the patient by reassuring him as much as possible during the pandemic with no  intimidation, informing him with the simplified information and urging him to maintain health fitness by eating healthy food and drinking sufficient water as well as maintaining communication with him.

Dr. Jadidi added that special programs were developed to follow up the patient and identify the problems that may be experienced through direct contact with him or his family with. Doctors are further available around the clock in case of emergency. Moreover, psychological support programs were developed and we are currently in the process of implementing tele-Psychitry program.

In case of the patient’s health is stable, we take care not to expose him to any infection of the new virus, where the drugs are dispensed in a way that takes into account the safety of patients and health workers, in coordination with his family to receive medicines by a person who does not suffer from any respiratory diseases. However, if the condition requires patient attendance, focused is made on the promptness of the examination, taking meanwhile all safety measures.

 It should be noted that the hospital administration proceeds to deal with the pandemic in accordance with the machines included in the management of crises and emergencies along with those concerned parties, and the preventive measures for the health workers and patients have been included according to the development of the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.