Covid-19 restrictions |20 January 2021

A group of elderly residents during a physical exercise

‘Residents of elderly homes are doing fine’ – Vincent Germain

According to experts, the Covid-19 pandemic is impacting the global population in drastic ways. In many countries, older people are facing the most threats and challenges at this time.

Although all age groups are at risk of contracting Covid-19, older people face significant risks of developing severe illness if they contract the disease due to physiological changes that come with ageing and potential underlying health conditions.

Seychelles is also worried for its elderly and since the last restriction period in 2020 the Ministry of Family Affairs immediately came up with some new rules and restrictions to protect the elderly in our homes. This year again, the National Council for the Elderly who look after nine elderly homes with 114 residents – 7 on Mahé, 1 on Praslin and 1 on La Digue – has come up with new restrictions. The director for the homes for the elderly, Vincent Germain, noted that the new restrictions are as follows:

• Any resident who wishes to go on vacation or a gathering at their relatives’, he/she will NOT be allowed back in the homes until the chain of community transmission has stopped;

• No gathering is allowed until further notice;

• No grouping of residents nor staff;

• All staff should wear mask on the premises (NO MASK, NO ENTRY);

• No visitors are allowed on home premises;

• Residents are allowed to go out of the home premises ONLY if they are going to a hospital appointment or emergencies and to purchase essential commodities;

• No consumption of alcohol inside home premises until further notice.

There has also been a new working arrangement for the staff, Mr Germain said. “In every home I have separated the carers into groups of 1 or 2 carers. Per day there will be only 1 group of carers to work on the home premises. Each group will work from 7am to 6pm. Carers will assist only residents who are dependent. All residents who can manage independently will have to clean/disinfect their own apartment and cook their own food to avoid close contact with carers. Any resident involved in any delinquent activity, the carer/home admin will have to alert the police for their arrest,” he explained.

Mr Germain also noted that home administrators are assisting those who have not created a bank account yet. However, almost all residents have already made the necessary arrangements to open a bank account.

We have been reassured that all our elderly are being taken care of and let’s hope the pandemic is over soon so that they can start receiving visits again.

Vidya Gappy