For Celia, a person from 94 years, who spent the most critical moments of the pandemic in isolation, feeling very alone at home, returning to the adult day care center Choice in Aging in the city of Pleasant Hill, it was very exciting.
“I need people and I feel happy to be surrounded by my friends. I really enjoy coming here and I am very grateful to the people who work to make our lives better”.
During the videoconference: Isolated by the pandemic – older adults recover social life with vaccines and reopen day health centers, organized by Ethnic Media Services, several medical experts on the subject of aging, spoke about how dangerous isolation was and the lack of socialization for many older adults and people with disabilities.
But they said that with the shots and boosters and the recent reopening of adult care centers, people most vulnerable to the virus, have been able to safely reconnect with their friends and communities after two years.
Debbie Toth, President and CEO of Choice in Aging, said that the last two years were incredibly difficult, particularly for older adults.
“The fear of death was real every day. We were in a situation in which older adults were dying and getting sick at extremely high and chilling levels.”
He recalled that they had to ask this population to lock themselves up, the opposite of what which had always been requested because socialization is very important for the elderly, but it was about saving lives.
“They wanted to return to the centers, but we told them that the only way to to return was to get vaccinated, everyone got vaccinated and we reached 65% of vaccination among older adults”.
He explained that day care centers are where older adults are meet, where they live together, exercise, and where disguised as fun, they receive physical, occupational and health therapy.
“They are finally meeting again in these centers, which allow them to live longer by connecting with each other to have more meaningful lives. active; and access to social and medical services”.
He said that they still wear masks, but it has been thanks to the vaccines and reinforcements that they have been able to return more safely to day care centers .
“We are providing them with the services and support they need in a safe way, knowing that the elderly are the ones most at risk of death”
California has 278 adult day health care centers. Find yours on the site: aging.ca.gov
The most vulnerable population
Internist doctor Sara Levin of the Contra Costa Regional Medical Center, said that it was logical that record a large number of elderly deaths in care facilities because they are the sickest people and some with pre-existing health conditions.
The 58% from hospitalizations and deaths from covid were older adults.
But he also said that they observed the impact of covid in multigenerational families, where older adults live with young people who are essential workers and had to go in and out of the home because they are the only source of income.
When the vaccines began, he said, the mobile vaccination clinics as well as going house to house, knocking on doors, helped a lot in the task of vaccinating older adults.
And even today he remembered that they can go to vaccinate their homes, people who for health reasons cannot leave.
Said that they are trying to carry out mobile vaccination clinics to apply the second booster.
On the other hand, he mentioned that covid treatments are free and available at pharmacies and primary care physicians.
“If you get a covid infection, the sooner you start antiviral treatments, the sooner you will minimize the degree of illness you experience; and that can make the difference between a minor cold or ending up on a ventilator and in an intensive care unit
”.
Available Services
Kim McCoy Wade, Counselor on Aging, Disability and Alzheimer’s for Governor Gavin Newsom’s Office, said services and support are available in each county.
“You can start by calling the number 768-510-2020 to be related to the services and supports they need” .
Noted that in the 29 counties, there is a partner network with individuals willing to connect them to services such as day health care or services adult daycare, senior centers, potlucks, potlucks, and nutrition.
“Therefore, we will work where a person is, and we will put them in contact with support by phone or virtual; and we will educate them about what is available in the community”.
He added that they work to provide them with access to the Internet so that they can have social activity through technology.
“It is important that all those eligible for MediCal update their contact information so that their benefits are not interrupted.”
And he recalled that in the coming months, those older than 50 years that are undocumented and eligible for Medicare, they will have access to all MediCal services, for which they should call 1-768-510-2020.
The number for family caregivers is 1-800-445-070617 which corresponds to the Caregiver Resource Centers.
Also for those who want to have emotional support in any language through a warm conversation, they can call the friendship line at 888-670-1201, 7 days a week, the 24 hours.