Geriatric woes

There's something that I feel doesn't receive enough attention. A couple months of lockdown drove most of us crazy. To converse with just yourself can be a taxing experience for those who aren't adept at it. Imagine living in that state for years, day after day, month after month. I am talking about a typical old aged Indian who doesn't know how to use a smartphone, doesn't watch much television because of hearing issues, doesn't have enough people to talk to (thanks to COVID-19) or any hobby and spends most of the day struggling with the physical ailments.

What goes on in that mind? A typical day includes waking up, reading the newspaper, helping with the meals, telling the partner what medicines to take and repeat. It's this saddening cycle of monotony that they deal with for so long and the kin, due to one reason or the other are unable to do anything about it. This now has the added anxiety of constant fear of death of themselves or their children or grandchildren due to COVID-19.

Aren't we supposed to have a peaceful life after passing through the stress of our prime? Teaching them new hobbies seems to be intuitive but at this point, it seems as if they've lost all interest to learn anything new. The less educated geriatric Indian population needs a distraction, a sense of excitement, which they have chronically lacked. However, anything that I think of, has one common hurdle, COVID-19.