Social News
Written by: Zhang Jiamin
2020-03-23 00:00
Last updated: 2020-03-23 00:00The haze of the epidemic has not retreated, and many social welfare agencies have continued to close the center and suspended group activities to avoid crowds. For the elderly with cognitive impairment, failure to participate in daily skills training will lead to worsening of the condition. Nearly ninety-year-old "Yeyou Po" is a mild patient. In response to the epidemic, not only did she not participate in the event, but she did not fall into the street for nearly a month. The daughter in charge of the care, Ms. Chen, said her mother's memory and physical fitness had deteriorated.
The "Smart Living Memory and Cognitive Training Center" of the Christian Family Service Center has been providing training for patients with cognitive impairment. Since the beginning of March, the center has provided online skills training for patients in the center. Tang Caiying, the director of service of the center, pointed out that some patients lost their ability to take care of themselves again because of the suspension of training, and the disguise increased the pressure on the caregivers. She hopes that the government can expand the use of service vouchers in response to the epidemic and provide guidance for day centers.
In order to cooperate with online courses, the design of treasure bags provides physical materials. (Photo by Zhang Jiamin)
The Smart Living Memory and Cognitive Training Center of the Christian Family Service Center mainly provides training for the elderly with mild to moderate cognitive impairment, and trains the elderly's cognitive ability through group or one-on-one activities. In response to the outbreak, the center was closed after the Lunar New Year and all group activities were suspended.
Patients with memory decline in recent 90 years
The 87-year-old "Yu You Po" suffers from mild cognitive impairment and started participating in group training at the center before the Lunar New Year. She also realized that many friends have improved her mood and memory. However, since the outbreak of pneumonia, Ms. Youyou has not had a baby for almost a month. Her daughter, Ms. Chen, has admitted that her physical fitness and memory have receded. Certain pressure.
Ms. Chen (pictured left) and "Yu You Po" took courses through online software. (Photo by Zhang Jiamin)
Mild patient deterioration in understanding
In the past, people with mild cognitive impairment, in addition to going to the center to go to church, also go out to drink tea from time to time. However, due to the epidemic situation, she was unable to go out. Her daughter, Ms. Chen (pseudonym), said that the physical condition of Shunhe had not deteriorated significantly, but she asked from time to time when the class would be resumed. Her daughter company earlier implemented work from home, and she admits that work is also affected by her mother's situation.
Tang Caiying (left), Director of Services, Christian Family Service Center. (Photo by Zhang Jiamin)
Some patients lack training and lose self-care ability
Tang Caiying, director of service of the Christian Family Service Center, said that recently many carers have been asking for help, saying that patients' cognitive situation has deteriorated due to lack of training at home. "I knew I would go to the toilet and use diapers according to my family; I would recognize A lot of people in the housing company, according to their family members, sometimes even all the housing companies are wrong. "Even the caregivers are also under pressure." It will happen because (patients) will be noisy all day. "
In order to improve the situation, the center has launched an online training course since the beginning of this month. Classes are provided through the ZOOM program and through video. The courses include training for memory, current affairs elements, and handcrafting in response to the epidemic situation. The "treasure bag" of the course design is equipped with physical teaching materials. Tang Caiying said that online training fails to stimulate patients with sensory training such as touch, which is only an “excessive measure”. It can not only improve the mood of patients, but also reduce the pressure on caregivers. For the elderly, the carer has time to relax easily. "
Only three adults participate in online courses
At present, about 40 to 50 people participate in the courses, of which only 12 have participated in online learning. Tang Caiying said that some elders may not have technology products in their homes, coupled with lack of relevant knowledge, they are not able to participate. She also mentioned that the existing community service care vouchers could not be applied to online learning, increasing the financial burden of the elderly in disguise. She hoped that the government could respond to the epidemic and expand the use of care vouchers to online learning so that more elderly people could benefit. As for the future, she hopes to re-open the center to provide limited services in the short term. For example, she will decentralize classes. She hopes that the government will consider the needs of carers and provide more detailed guidelines for the day center to provide assistance for cases in need. In addition, she also said that there are only one to two months of masks left in the center, and she hopes that the government can provide epidemic prevention supplies for the reopened center.
[New Crown Pneumonia] The Department of Health is free to test elders over 65 years of age who can return to Hong Kong overseas to participate
[New Coronary Pneumonia] The LCSD's bathroom is closed. The homeless person only wipes his body with towels: such as stray bacteria
[New Crown Pneumonia] Liang Zichao: Overseas returnees have a high proportion of illnesses. Home quarantine is prone to cross infection.
New coronary pneumonia cognitive impairment