Guwahati: Twelve old age home residents test COVID positive amid rising concern for senior citizens

Guwahati: Tragic scenes have recently unfolded at the Mother's Old Age Home in Guwahati city's Hatigaon area where 12 of the senior citizen residents have tested positive for the dreaded coronavirus, giving rise to alarm.

Out of the 67 mothers who stay at the old age home, as many as 12 have tested positive. While 7 of the grandmothers have already been shifted to the Guwahati Medical College and Hospital and Mahendra Mohan Choudhury hospitals for their treatment, the remaining five are being taken care of in the old age home itself. This is the first instance of residents of old age homes in Guwahati getting infected by the virus.

Tensions are running high at the safe haven for elderly women, and the residents have now started praying for divine intervention. "I pray to the Lord to make them well once again. Not only them, but all the afflicted persons everywhere should also be cured of this virus. I am unable to think of anything else, so I am praying to God to protect everyone. I have been tested negative and so has the person who stays just next to me," one of the residents of the old age home said, folding her hands in prayer.

Another woman who had tested positive said that her COVID-19 positive diagnosis has made her afraid. "Even before being stricken by this virus, I used to feel unwell anyway," mumbled another grandma, also positive.

This alarming development comes against the backdrop of city hospitals running out of beds due to a massive surge in the number of coronavirus cases. Under the present circumstances, it has become very difficult to arrange beds for patients in both government as well as private hospitals.

Add to that the rise in the number of 'critical' patients in need of oxygen support in hospitals, and Assam could have a real problem on its hands if the COVID curve continues to surge upwards. Now, it has been suggested that some people are having to undergo home quarantine despite their wishes.

In a notification dated July 11, the Government of Assam had "reluctantly" agreed to let some patients undergo isolation at home. However, this was subject to several conditions.

The government notification explicitly stated that only patients who are "asymptomatic" shall be allowed to undergo home isolation. More importantly, it stated that patients who have senior citizens above the age of 60 staying in their residences cannot opt to do so.

It also stated that patients with co-morbid conditions such as kidney disease, heart disease, stroke, tuberculosis, cancer, HIV, immune-compromised conditions, etc, shall not be allowed to opt for home isolation, said the government's notice. As such, health experts caution against putting COVID-19 positive senior citizens in home isolation.

Dr. Anupol Sharma, Superintendent, Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital (MMCH), talking to The Sentinel Digital, said, "Ailments like heart conditions, diabetes, kidney or liver complications are very common among senior citizens. These are further complicated when a person is infected with COVID. Monitoring their oxygen level and other critical parameters is also very important. If the patient is at home, their family would not know when the sugar or the oxygen levels shoot up or down. This can be life-threatening. Therefore, under no circumstances we allow home isolation of senior citizens.""

Echoing a similar sentiment, Dr Abhijit Sharma, Superintendent, Guwahati Medical College and Hospital said, "Any senior citizen, even if he or she is asymptomatic, has to be hospitalised. As a rule, we do not allow any home isolation for any senior citizen because they are already in the high-risk category. Almost all senior citizen has some ailment or the other. With co-morbidities, they are extremely high-risk patients. Thus, the monitoring of of the oxygen level is very important. There are several other issues with senior COVID positive patients." 

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