With the emergence of the new epidemic of the Coronavirus, one of the most vulnerable age groups, the elderly, has remained largely untouched.

The director of a nursing home in the southwestern town of Böblingen, Cosmina Halmagiano, says the panic and panic that seemed to dominate the rest of the world has no place here, and she explains that "inmates (in the home of the elderly) are very calm, and I have no fear" .

She points out that these elderly people have a lot of life experience, as many of them lived in conditions worse than those we are currently experiencing, including war, and the virus seems to them a trivial matter compared to what they lived through, even if they are more vulnerable, and in reality usually Relatives are anxious.

Siegfried K, 89, who lives in an elderly home in Stuttgart, summarizes the general feeling of this group, adding: “I am too old to be afraid of death, but I feel sorry for others who suffer physically or financially.”

Another 80-year-old woman living in a nursing home in Taunus in central Germany sees things the same way. Grandmother says: “In my view, I am not afraid, I have lived my life, but I am happy to refrain from receiving visitors, because I do not want anyone to bring this virus Get here because of me. ”

Most people with the emerging coronavirus have symptoms similar to mild cold, yet about 15 out of every 100 people experience serious symptoms, especially the elderly, and those who already have health conditions.

In Boblingen, prevention is at the forefront, as the communication between "outside and inside" has been reduced to a minimum, and this applies to parties and other activities that involve guests, as well as relatives, who should avoid visits as possible.

According to Halmagiano, the scarcity of personal protective equipment is a cause for concern, explaining: “We need face masks for our workers, to use when inmates return from the hospital with germs of multiple resistance.” And it fears that the length of time spent consuming these items may become a problem for the long term.

In the event of an outbreak of the disease, it is important to distinguish between important and non-essential services, according to the Federal Association for the Care of the Elderly and People with Special Needs, especially if the workers fall ill and stay in their homes, which will lead to a shortage in their numbers, in addition to making sure to provide food for inmates, and from It is necessary to maintain the fluid quantities that inmates drink, get their treatment, and in the cases of patients who are in bed, inmates need someone who helps them wake up and wash, and the less important services include, for example, caring for the feet and bathing, and writing reports about care cases. In the event that the shortage in the number of employees becomes too great, the homes for the elderly will study scenarios such as the need to cancel vacations, and part-time workers must convert to full-time, and external assistance is requested.

Procedures

Although inmates in elderly homes in Germany may not feel anxious, those responsible for the role have taken measures to prevent the spread of the virus, including offering more courses for staff to explain ways to take care of hygiene, closing public cafes for the home, and ensuring that workers do not pose a danger to the place.

The panic that controls many has no place in the nursing home.

Siegfried K

"I reached an age when I no longer fear death, but I feel sorry for others who suffer physically or financially."