Social distance in the COVID-19 pandemic in mental health, eating habits and physical capacity in the elderly: reflective essay
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.23925/2176-901X.2020v23i0p265-285Keywords:
Aging, Quality of life, Social isolation, Mental health, Feeding behavior, Physical fitness, COVID-19.Abstract
The new coronavirus, named by the World Health Organization (WHO) as COVID-19, was notified in December in China. In March 2020, the World Pandemic was declared by the WHO, due to the rapid power of dissemination and mortality caused by the virus, responsible for more than 5,519,528 confirmed cases and 159,562 deaths in Brazil until the date of October 31, 2020. Before from this scenario, measures of social distancing were recommended by the WHO, in order to contain the rapid progression of the spread of the virus and, consequently, overburden the health systems. The objective of this study was to carry out a reflexive analysis regarding the social distance in the elderly, resulting from COVID-19, in the aspects of mental health, nutrition and physical capacity, developed in the Graduate Program in Aging Science at Universidade São Judas Tadeu, SP, Brazil. In this period of social distance, it is important, especially for the elderly population, to maintain a daily routine that contemplates promoting attention to aspects related to mental health, eating habits and physical capacity.