The cruelty of coronavirus quarantine on the elderly

This seems like a time to remain on the subject of politics, as the Democratic National Convention took place last week, but I will pass on going that route. Though I stayed aware, I didn’t watch one second of it. I have a more pressing issue to discuss (although, honestly, I believe it may have politics at its root also), such as the ongoing response to the coronavirus and, specifically, the disservice it is doing to the elderly.

This pandemic is a nightmare for many reasons, but at the top of the list is its effect on the most vulnerable among us. While various places across the country are opening up with safety plans in place, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and many hospitals remain in a state of quarantine. I am witnessing firsthand the impact this is having on the morale and well-being of those who, more than anyone else, need the human interaction that is being denied them.

We all can agree that our elderly need to be protected. We all want them to remain healthy, but we need to better determine how best to do that. That’s what we’re doing for other places.

The economy has taken a hit during this alternate reality we’ve all been living in for too long, so plans have surfaced to figure out the best way to open up.

I noticed last week that starting Aug. 24, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo gave the go-ahead for gyms to open in the state with 33% capacity and the mask mandate in place. Physical fitness is important. Mental fitness is also important, and exercise is a part of that. Many reports show that depression, suicide and an overall sense of helplessness have become symptoms of this sickness. I’m all for allowing what will help.

But think about it: If the 25-year-old who needs to go to the gym is suffering because she cannot, imagine what the 75-year-old who cannot spend quality time with family is dealing with. So my question is this: Why can’t we put as much effort into creating a plan for these facilities taking care of our parents, grandparents, aunties and uncles?

Yes, I know many allow video chats once or twice a week or window visits. A few are allowing short outdoor visits, but it’s not enough. I’m personally observing and hearing from others that there’s got to be a better way, more time allowed, just increased compassion.

It takes effort to come up with a compassionate, feasible, safe plan, but these folks deserve that. If we can create a plan for the gym, why not for the assisted living facility? If we can monitor the local Walmart and count the number coming and going, if we can have specific times to visit any other place so staff can sanitize during the off-times, why aren’t our senior citizens deserving of the same?

Instead of allowing no visits or making them sit at a scorching window for only 30 minutes with no touch and so far away they can barely hear their visitors, why can’t they require temperature checks for visitors at the door, allow a certain number to come in and visit for maybe two-hour scheduled increments, enforce so-called social distancing with the wearing of the dreaded masks, and when that time slot is over and visitors leave, sanitize the areas? Then open it up for another two-hour increment and repeat? What a difference this would make to the mental health and spirit of the people who need it most!

It’s bad enough that when new residents are admitted into one of these facilities, they have to quarantine for 14 days before they can be around other residents, and it’s horrible that they are not even allowed to see their own primary doctors without being quarantined 14 days upon return from their appointment — if allow at all — but they cannot even sit in the same room with the people they love most, and it’s taking a toll. I know it is. I see it. I hear it. And there’s a better way. I can’t even go to New York to see my loved one without sitting in a room for two weeks before being allowed to go anywhere, much less see the family member I traveled to New York to see — and not many of us can travel 1,000-plus miles from home and hang out in a room for that long before we can even do what we went to the state to do.

People aren’t purposely being cruel, I guess. I get it: They want to keep everyone safe. I’m saying there are wiser ways to do so that are better than what we’re doing now, and as much as I believe in fitness and banking and shopping, I believe more in loving those who desperately need that love. If we can devise a plan to do these other things, we can devise a plan to take into consideration those who need us and long for our presence. I don’t know when all of this will end, but I do know something has to give. We cannot continue like this. Our loved ones deserve better.