Staying healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic is extremely important for individuals older than 65. Those individuals need to be physically active, especially if they have comorbidities and chronic diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and/or chronic lung disease. If they want to exercise outdoors, they should respect social distancing, wear masks if exposed to other individuals and use sanitizer or wash hands with soap and water. A suggested goal is to go for a brisk walking at least 30 minutes daily, at least five days a week to avoid weight gain if they have been affected by staying at home more.
Meals and hydration
Incorporate a healthy diet that is low in salt, based on legumes, fruits and animal fat. Try to consume around one gram of protein per kilogram of ideal body weight per day. To obtain your body weight in kilograms, you need to divide your weight in pounds by 2.2.
It is important for individuals over age 65 to maintain adequate water intake, especially in hot weather. A good parameter is to monitor the color of your urine. In well-hydrated individuals, the urine will be as clear as water. Dark, foul-smelling urine is usually indicative of dehydration.
Safe care
As we are approaching the flu season, the flu vaccine is usually administered between October and March. A high dose flu vaccine is recommended for individuals over age 65 and is minimally more effective than the regular flu vaccine. If the high dose vaccine is not available, individuals should have a regular vaccine instead.
Maintaining oral and dental hygiene is proven to reduce pneumonia in the elderly. Oral and dental hygiene should be prioritized in individuals with chronic lung or heart conditions, especially in the era of COVID-19 when it will be difficult, at least initially, to differentiate bacterial from viral pneumonia.
If a patient is having symptoms suggestive of COVID-19, such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, they should self-quarantine for at least 10 days with the last three days being fever-free. Monitoring blood pressure and oxygen levels along with daily temperature checks at home in symptomatic patients also is helpful. If they are exposed to someone with known COVID-19, they should self-quarantine for 14 days after the date of exposure.
Patients with COVID-19 symptoms or known exposure to a case of COVID-19 should immediately seek medical attention if they experience significant shortness of breath, diarrhea and/or vomiting with inability to compensate for gastrointestinal losses, altered mental status and hypotension. It is crucial that patients with chronic conditions maintain their regular follow-up visits with their physicians. Fear of contracting the virus should not prohibit people from an office visit. If an office visit is not feasible, they should arrange for a telemedicine visit. If they are acutely ill, they need to consult with their primary care provider and he/she will decide whether an office visit is warranted.
The Louise H. and Joseph Z. Ornelas Center for Healthy Aging is dedicated to providing the most up to date care for senior patients. Through the Geriatric Assessment Program, we offer various geriatric healthcare services to patients ages 65 and older.
Board-certified internist and gerontologist Emad Shoukry, MD, works with patients to identify and reduce the challenges that may be affecting their daily lives. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 903-877-7911.