Proceed with caution
As the nation enters the recovery phase in its fight against Covid-19, seniors are stepping outside, masks on of course.
ADIB Noh started cycling with a few friends when the conditional movement control order was announced in early May after being largely homebound for more than two months. It felt great to be outdoors again with the fresh air and sunshine after being cooped up at home for such a long time.
“We stay at least two metres away – more than the required one metre distance – to be extra safe. We also limit the group to about 10 people,” he says.
“For me, each person should be at least three bicycles away from each other – more than the usual requirement – it’s like being on a solo ride while still being part of a group,” he explains.
Adib reckons that many senior citizens may still be fearful of going out even during the recovery phase of the movement control order. But the 67-year-old is determined to take “small steps” to return to the outside world, following all the health and safety guidelines offered by the Health Ministry.
While he doesn’t wear a mask when cycling, he makes sure to put it on again once he’s done his route.
“It isn’t advisable to wear a mask while exercising as it impedes breathing but when we regroup, we all wear our masks. We also don’t eat together but just pack our food and go home immediately after cycling,” adds Adib, a business consultant and part-time lecturer at the International Centre for Education in Islamic Finance (INCEIF) in Petaling Jaya.
Lower immunity levels and co-morbidities put senior citizens at a higher risk for Covid-19 infection. Consultant geriatrician at University Malaya Medical Centre Dr Tan Maw Pin says that those over 60 have a higher risk of succumbing to infection: the risk of dying from Covid-19 for individuals over 75 is 14% compared to just 1% for those below the age of 60.
However, despite the higher risk of infection, keeping seniors indoors for long periods of time may not be the best idea, opines Dr Tan.
“We could say that we want all of them to be safe, stay home and don’t go out yet even even though it’s now the recovery MCO. But, there are also problems with them not going out. They may get physically weaker or start feeling increasingly isolated,” Dr Tan says.
Loneliness and isolation, research has found, are two of the biggest risk factors for death among the elderly even in the best of times. So, while the risk of contracting the virus is very real, telling senior citizens to remain put may not necessarily be the best thing.
“There needs to be some sort of balance. Going out for a walk in pairs or small groups where you can practise good social distancing and there’s ventilation is ok, but don’t go to places where it is very crowded. You need to be aware of where it’s safe to go and where it isn’t,” she adds.
Enclosed spaces, she says, like shopping malls, should be avoided for now, Dr Tan advises.
The decision on whether to go out or not during the recovery MCO, she stresses, should be something seniors make for themselves.
Many, she says, went through a period of “shock” when the MCO was first enforced.
“They worried about how the pandemic would affect them and how their lives had changed so much, having to stay indoors. Some were even depressed and had trouble sleeping because they relied a great deal on their social network daily,” she explains.
With the relaxation on movement now, senior citizens can heave a sigh of relief. But Dr Tan advises caution as they venture out.
“As much as possible, I would advise reducing physical contact with other people because that can potentially lead to transmission of the infection,” she says.
Many ways to stay active
Indoors or out, there are many ways seniors can make sure they remain active, says Dr Tan. Being up and about and even exercising doesn’t just have to be outdoors or in large groups.
Staying active and physically fit helped retiree Ceciy Lee “stay sane” during the MCO.
Going through the past three months has not been easy, she says.
“Initially, it felt like self-imprisonment at home but after awhile, I just got used to it.”
The active 59-year-old admits it has been difficult not being able to work out at the gym or hang out with her friends, something she used to do regularly before the MCO was implemented.
“Fortunately, my gym instructors have been hosting virtual workouts on Zoom,” she says.
Lee has been doing virtual workouts for TRX (total body resistance exercise), floating yoga and dance.
Although eagerly awaiting the reopening of gyms next week, she says that it will take some time to get used to working out at the gym again.
“We’ve to pre-book our slots, there are limited participants per class and also other procedures that we need to follow,” she says.
“I usually do high intensity workouts at the gym (before the MCO) and I’m still practising my headstand and splits and have set body flexibility goals to achieve,” she enthuses.
Like Ceciy, many seniors have learnt to adapt during the MCO, using online platforms for exercise, socialising and learning new things, says Dr Tan.
“Many have been doing exercises regularly using online video conferencing platforms. Although they were not able to do Tai Chi, Chi Kong or aerobics in the park, they could still do online workouts together - whether rain or shine,” Dr Tan says, adding that the possibilities of the “online world” are many.
Throughout the MCO, Adib exercised by riding a stationery bike at home.
But, staying home doesn’t mean being idle, he says.
“I stay home because I believe that’s the best for me since I’m in the high-risk category,” he says.
Adib keeps himself busy: reading, blogging, listening to and producing podcasts, and following the news.
He admits to being a heavy user of social media and technology. While he lives with his wife and son in Bangi, Selangor, he has two other married sons living in Kota Baru, Kelantan, and Bukit Jalil, KL.
“I set up Zoom for my family so that we can talk to each other. I just wanted to make sure that as a grandfather, I get to see my six grandchildren!” he enthuses.
Adib is also administrator of two Facebook groups for cycling and photography.
“In my photography group, we use Google Meet, Zoom and Cisco Webex to keep in touch,” he says.
Like Adib, retired businessman and part-time cycling tour guide Sin Tai Lim has used his time during the MCO to learn new things - especially Internet-related - to keep up with the times.
When the Covid-19 pandemic first hit, Sin admits that it was “scary, imagining the worst-case scenarios, especially because of global news reports”.
But after that, “life goes on as (new) normal” for Sin.
“I’ve been spending most of my time with home repairs, including painting, as well as searching online for and fiddling with new gadgets. I keep in touch with my friends, but through Whatsapp chats, Facebook groups and messenger, and Zoom,” he says.
The technology-savvy 62-year-old is always trying something new.
“Before the pandemic, I already used Facebook and Instagram a lot. But during the MCO, I started using Tiktok,” he says, adding that it’s fun and entertaining.
Sin, who lives with his wife and three sons in KL, is glad that he is able to go out cycling now.
“The new normal is here to stay and we just have to accept it. I believe it’s ok to go out when necessary, as long as we comply with the guidelines of social distancing, masking and proper hand hygiene,” the practical Sin says.
But it’s important to avoid the three C’s (crowded places, confined spaces and close contact) as advised, he adds.
Resilience in focus
If anything, the pandemic has shown how resilient seniors can be in adapting to change. From shopping, to keeping in touch with family and staying fit, seniors have turned to technology to get them through the past few months.
At 68, Yvonne Chow admits to being “unsavvy” when it comes to technology and all it’s many applications.
“(Before this) I had bought flight tickets online before but that too with the help of my son,” shares Chow, who lives in Subang Jaya with her husband. “I’m not (tech-) savvy at all.”
However, like many of her peers, the rules imposed to contain the pandemic changed things for Chow, who has started to order her groceries online so that she doesn’t have to contend with crowds of shoppers at supermarkets.
“My husband is 75 years old and I’m 68, so we’re especially vulnerable (to this virus). Going out grocery shopping became very stressful for me because of a few bad experiences with other shoppers who do not practise social distancing while doing their shopping ... some come right up to you and take their own sweet time choosing their vegetables and fruits.
“This isn’t the time to linger and choose your vegetables leisurely. For people my age, all this can be very stressful.
“Thankfully, I found Aeon Big’s drive-thru service which allows me to select my groceries online and then just drive through to the supermarket car park to pick up my groceries. I don’t have an online banking account, so this service is very
useful because we can pay for our groceries, with our credit card, upon collection. It’s really a very good service for seniors like us,” says Chow.
Although she sometimes made blunders when placing her online orders – “I’ve had to call the store’s customer service quickly to make sure I didn’t submit my order twice” – Chow has gotten more confident using technology as the days go by.
“It’s not easy but at least it has eliminated the anxiety of being in close contact with other shoppers,” says Chow.
Adib notes with amusement that there are some good effects of the pandemic.
“Malaysians have actually learnt how to queue properly and I hope it lasts!” he laughs, reminiscing about how he queued for the mini bus when he first returned from his studies overseas many, many years ago and almost got stampeded.
“Also, restaurants and supermarkets are cleaner now and I hope they maintain this,” he says, adding that he’s has lost 7kg and improved his blood pressure by maintaining a low-carbohydrate diet (with less or no rice during meals) throughout the MCO.