This archive report was first published on 7 August 2020.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, elderly people in Kenya are finding creative ways to stay connected with their loved ones and combat loneliness.
With many care homes shutting their gates and enforcing strict rules to prevent the spread of the virus, elderly residents are turning to technology to stay in touch with family and friends.
According to James Kinuthia, CEO of Fourshifts Home Care Centre, the elderly in care facilities are at high risk of contracting the virus due to their age and underlying health conditions.
“Any wrong move, and you might end up killing this entire population,” Kinuthia warned.
Many elderly people rely on donations and visits from family and friends to survive, but with the pandemic, these interactions have come to a halt.
Robert Jagero, a resident of Kano, Kisumu County, shared his concerns about his elderly neighbour who is struggling to cope with the isolation.
“My neighbour who is old has been depending on donations and people going to his home to clean. Now he is alone because of coronavirus. People cannot visit him because they might make him sick,” Jagero said.
Organisations such as Little Sisters of the Poor (Nyumba ya Wazee) are doing their best to protect the elderly, but it's not easy.
Sister Agnes Wachieni explained that some residents are battling end-stage Alzheimer’s disease and can barely remember their names, let alone why they need to sanitise and wear masks.
World leaders, including Pope Francis, have added their voices to the often-ignored population, emphasising the need to care for the elderly.
“Use the inventiveness of love, make phone calls, video calls, send messages, listen to them and, where possible, in compliance with healthcare regulations, visit them, too. Send them a hug,” Pope Francis said during a sermon.
As the pandemic continues to spread, it's clear that technology will play a crucial role in keeping the elderly connected and combatting loneliness.
