Dubai Health Authority stressed the need to follow several preventive measures to protect the elderly from infection with the emerging coronavirus (Covid-19), noting that those aged 65 years and over are more likely to have serious complications from the virus.

The head of the Health Promotion and Education Department at the Dubai Health Authority, Dr. Hind Al-Awadi, told «Emirates Today», 9 necessary measures to protect the elderly from HIV infection (Covid 19), which are:

1- The elderly should adhere to their homes, and avoid crowds and crowded places, in order to ensure their safety, as part of precautionary measures, precautions and advice to confront the new Corona virus «Covid-19» for all segments of society.

2- Assigning a family member to go out and buy the essential needs of the elderly, such as special items, medicines, and others.

3- All members of the family in which the elderly live among them must take all preventive measures, such as washing hands, cleaning and other things constantly, and providing a healthy environment suitable for their families.

4- Avoid kissing the elderly on hands and face.

5- Ensuring that the elderly get enough sleep and eat healthy food.

6- Follow up on the daily condition of the elderly, especially the temperature, to early detect any symptoms and take medical treatment early.

7- Staying away from the elderly from social gatherings or large gatherings and frequent family visits. To meet more people means more handshakes, more continuous communication with them and more spread of the disease, therefore the elderly should always keep in mind that although they take medications and their conditions Stable, the situation may get worse if they contract coronavirus.

8- Commitment to take their medication regularly and not to neglect it.

9- Cancel unnecessary doctor appointments, and replace them with remote consulting when needed.

Al-Awadi pointed out that despite the experts ’concern that the physical withdrawal from the elderly may lead to feelings of isolation, which is already a major concern for the mental health of the elderly, but isolation can be avoided through healthy alternatives, so the family must ensure that they do not feel lonely and help them to stay Happy using technology and smart phone apps to make video calls.

She pointed out that the elderly have a special method of feeding them according to their needs, as water is considered a necessity of a healthy food, and water can be introduced in daily food, such as different soups containing vegetables, and lentils and chickpeas contain large amounts of protein, and the meal must also contain Nutrients include vitamins and nutritional supplements to ensure strong immunity, including vitamin C in “lemons and oranges” and vitamin A in carrots, milk, leafy vegetables, and eggs, with the need to ensure good food cooking.