IT'S MORE THAN WHAT YOU EAT

MOVE IT, EVEN FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR LIVING ROOM “Physical distancing is important, but exercise is also really important,” says Dawn Bowdish. an immunity and infectious disease expert at Hamilton's McMaster University. If you are able to go out and take a walk, and also get some of that vitamin D naturally, do it because being sedentary is particularly problematic for older health, she adds. “So, although it's a huge challenge to social distance, especially if you live in an apartment where getting down on the elevator might be a real challenge, work exercise into your life, even if it's just doing weights [even while seated] or squats at home.”

Marching on the spot while watching TV – and chores around the house count, too. Garden, keep up, spring cleaning into summer, washing the windows – you get the picture.

A WORD ON VACCINES Although experts are not sure if older adults will respond to a COVID-19 vaccine the same way as everyone else, there are other known ways to protect older adults from viral epidemics.

“For example, if it's an influenza outbreak, one of the most effective strategies for preventing it is to vaccinate children because children tend to transmit that infection.”

So even if older adults are only partially protected by a vaccine she adds, “If everybody else in the community, the younger people, the kids, get vaccinated, then there are fewer people that the virus can infect and, indirectly, this will protect older adults.” TL