Mirembe Campbell with Mia Armitage
Spare a thought for our seniors in these so-called ‘unprecedented times’.
Global Health Ageing Research Professor, Bei Wu, at New York University, says mental health problems caused by isolation and loneliness are magnified for seniors and exacerbated by lockdowns and other restrictions.
Meanwhile, Professor of Geriatrics Lina Ma at Xuanwu Hospital says the mental health of seniors during the pandemic is particularly concerning, because research shows correlations between poor mental health and declining cognitive functioning, as well as increased risks for Alzheimer’s Disease.
We heard a lot about aged Australians when the pandemic was first declared nationally, for all the worst reasons: they were dying of COVID-19 in aged care.
But what’s it like when you’re a senior living in a regional community, under increasing travel restrictions and more recently, an extended lockdown?
COVID-19: a senior’s crash course in digital comms
Before the pandemic, governments were funding tech 101 classes for seniors to help them learn basics as email, social media, and how to set up a MyGov account.
Now, our seniors are expected to fill out border pass applications online, use QR codes on smartphones and in some cases, see a doctor via telehealth.
Bay FM Community Newsroom reporter Mirembe Campbell spoke to three Byron Shire seniors to find out how they were coping.
‘The pandemic’s changed things forever,’ retired Mullumbimby Primary School Principal, volunteer firefighter and theatre enthusiast Alex Benham said.
Mr Benham has lived in the Byron Shire for 35 years, and said he used to have meetups after golfing tournaments where he’d have a drink and chat.
‘But that hasn’t happened for two years, and theatre is non-existent,’ Mr Benham said.
President of Drill Hall Theatre Company, Michael Borenstein, has lived in the Shire for 40 years, and said he was used to organising numerous social events, including a local dance group called ‘Old Men Dancing’.
Mr Borenstein said the effects of COVID-19 were ‘especially frightening’ for seniors with underlying medical conditions, but for everyone it’s about ‘isolation and the impacts on mental health’.
Recently retired Byron Community Centre’s Seniors Program Co-ordinator, Pippy Wardell, has lived in the shire for 15 years and agreed social activities were important for senior mental health.
‘Seniors in Byron Shire are mostly very active; they’re professionals who’ve been very successful and moved up here when downsizing from cities, or they’re here to live better and be more creative’, Ms Wardell said.
‘Lockdowns and other restrictions feel absolutely atrocious’, she said, ‘I know some seniors are staying indoors trembling with fear but most of us are in shock, no one knows what to do’.
Isolated from family
‘The worst thing for seniors is isolation, especially not being able to see children and grandchildren’, Ms Wardell said, with Mr Borenstein proving her point by saying the most difficult thing for him was an inability to see his grandchildren.
‘It’s really affecting me’, Mr Borenstein said.
Mr Benham shared a similar lamentation.
‘It’s very hard, we’ve got a daughter in Melbourne and a son in Sydney, but we’ve not seen them for almost two years’, Mr Benham said, adding his sympathy for families separated by global travel restrictions.
‘People need to stop thinking they’re more important than everyone else, thinking they can do whatever they like’, Mr Benham said. ‘These recently extended lockdowns are causing more problems for everyone’.
Goverment led confusion
Professor Thespina Yemanis, of Global Health at American University School of International Service, says inconsistent, vague or unrealistic health messaging from governments creates confusion.
Confusion has been an ongoing complaint in Australia’s pandemic, with the Byron Shire no exception.
Mr Borenstein accused the NSW government of having ‘too many loopholes’ in its recent travel restrictions for Sydneysiders.
‘They should have been in hard lockdown, when the virus was first detected’, Mr Borenstein said. ‘Look what happened recently with the person coming up from Sydney to ostensibly check out real-estate’.
Mr Benham and Ms Wardell both agreed.
‘They could have put checkpoints on the two roads out of Sydney coming North, but they didn’t’, Ms Wardell said. ‘They left us wide open, I’m disgusted and upset’.
As if worrying about health and social isolation wasn’t enough, financial stress was also impacting Byron’s seniors.
‘Lockdowns are exhausting my funds,’ Ms Wardell said, ‘many of us are afraid of losing our homes, not having enough to eat and not being able to survive’.
Mirembe Campbell and Mia Armitage are Bay FM members. To listen to the interviews, visit bayfm.org.au and look for Community Newsroom.
Recent stories, information and updates regarding COVID-19
Let’s not forget that Covid-19 is still a big issue in our community with 31,935 cases reported across Australia in the last week – an average of 4,562 cases per day. The Global Carbon Budget is about to be refreshed, giving the world a critical insight into how efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are (or are not) progressing. Masks will no longer be mandatory on public transport from tomorrow, Wednesday 21 September. SW Police are urging festival-goers at this weekend’s music festival to celebrate in a safe and responsible manner, whilst also being aware of COVID-Safety measures. The Northern NSW Local Health District reports that to 4pm yesterday, Sunday May 22, there were 40 COVID-19 positive patients in hospital in Northern NSW, with one of these in ICU. The AEC says that voters who have recently tested positive for COVID-19 will be able to phone in their vote in the federal election. The Northern NSW Local Health District says that to 4pm yesterday, 15 May, 384 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in the District, including 82 positive PCR tests and 302 positive rapid antigen tests. Volunteering Australia says volleys are the backbone of the country in times of crisis and emergency. Today there are 41 COVID-19 positive patients in hospital in Northern NSW, with none of these in ICU. The Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) reports that there are 37 COVID-19 positive patients in hospital in Northern NSW, with one of these in ICU.
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Something terribly First World about this problem. Pull you grey heads in and grow up.
Not quite a compasionate, empathetic view Nerida.
Par for the dis-course it seems.
As a senior who is retired and prioritised for vaccination access I have to agree, Nerida. Lockdown is hard on everyone and different demographics will experience the hardship differently but not exclusively. But please be civil or we’ll start carrying on about wars and depressions and having to walk 20 miles to school barefoot!
I have sympathy with many of my contemporaries who are absolutely challenged by online transaction but I think lots of the challenge comes from a preconceived belief that it will be beyond them and scary. Can I appeal to everyone, oldies included, to accept that being old doesn’t mean being stupid, doddery or unable to learn new skills and technologies. Such beliefs from whatever quarter are self perpetuating.
I love the convenience and connectedness that technology gives me but it doesn’t compensate for not knowing in what decade I’m likely to see my grandchildren in Victoria again. They don’t sit still long enough to do FaceTime well.