You may have guessed that this morning’s post is at least partly a survey of the marked changes in focus on ‘learned studies’ being published in legitimate scientific journals. You’d be right. But it’s also a spotlight of sorts on what is actually happening as folks’ resistance to the pressures of isolation wears down…
Older folks do much better when they have friends their own age available,
effective supervision of their nutritional and activity needs, and close
but not intrusive monitoring of their Alcohol consumption.
Apparently, one of the first things that happens is that scientific researchers shift their attention to the issues that they perceive affect and afflict those trapped in stressful circumstances and environments. Diet gets its share of consideration, as do social issues and emotional stress. Economies are receiving continual microscopic examination as observers watch for price gouging, product shortages (especially food), job losses and other predictable effects of the pandemic.
But more than any other obvious topic, it appears that issues surrounding Alcohol consumption are topping the publication frequency charts. I thought I saw a recent upward trend, since the re-imposition of intense lock down protocols in some particularly hard-hit jurisdictions, in study reports (couched in warning tones) about various negative effects of Alcohol consumption and abuse.
Turns out I was right.
Already rolling; just accelerating
I’ve spotlighted a few booze-related study findings here on the FFB over the past several weeks, but the frequency of such reports is exploding – with at least 3 in just the past week. Stress-focused mainstream and scientific research articles over the past month have also overwhelmingly listed Alcohol consumption as worrying issue.
You’d think people would be getting the message by now. Apparently not. The overarching question, then remains, “Why not?”
The long river in Egypt
I once used the phrase, ‘the long river in Egypt’ as a metaphor and play-on-words f0r ‘denile’ (‘The Nile’). Record numbers of readers asked me what I was talking about. Point taken. Lesson learned. Employ the ‘just the facts’ approach, as Sgt. Friday used to ask witnesses on Dragnet.
In the simplest words, many folks are ignoring reason, logic and healthy advice in favour of comfort and convenience. more and more since the start of the pandemic mitigation effort back in March. At the same time, use of the words ‘stress’ (as mentioned) ‘binge’ and inactivity’ has increased hundreds of times-fold.
Even in my little family…
Even in my little household, we’re falling into bad habits and old, comfortable ruts we should have been smart – or alert – enough to avoid as they came along.
Yesterday, Mother complained that she was feeling more and more tired, physically weaker and mentally dulled lately. We looked at her daily routines and immediately saw the problem. Exercise and activity regimes have fallen off. Dietary practices have suffered in a situation where doing less has left in being less hungry and eating less. Meanwhile, increased stress due to isolation and general ‘Fear of COVID’ have contributed to consumption of junk food and Alcohol. We agreed to start doing something about it right away.
So, this morning, we’ve instituted a new regime: A bottle of BOOST protein- vitamin- and mineral-reinforced ‘meal replacement’ beverage is on the table along with the morning pills first thing every day. Nobody misses lunch or just ‘junks out’. We’ll have a complete, balanced, healthy meal every night at Supper time – all like we used to, before COVID arrived.
And then, there’s the Booze
The start of Happy Hour has crept forward toward midday, gradually but constantly, since the pandemic lock down resulted in schedule and behaviour changes (i.e.- sitting around). Now, we’ve agreed that 4 p.m. is plenty-early enough to have a first glass of wine most if not all days. We’ve vowed to nurse that one through supper into the evening with only a half-glass refill to follow, if that.
No more evening snacks or bedtime fridge raids, either. But we will allow Mom 2 -3 old fashioned Scottish-style Butterscotch candies to suck on, to help combat stress and encourage the moments pass until bed time. Bed time will remain 9 p.m., since Mother is used to that and seems genuinely tired by then after a day without naps.
Worse than infants
But, as we’re all aware (either directly or through stories related by others), that older folks – particularly the very old (i.e. especially those over 90 with physical or emotional challenges) are often worse than infants when you try to engage them in discussions about issues like ‘bed time’ and mealtimes.
All of a sudden, they’re ‘hard of hearing’ (more likely ‘selectively listening’) and ‘confused’ – if it suits them. They’ll refuse foods that they need for proper nutrition and demand stuff that provides nothing but empty calories (simply because they want it) to the point that they’ll be screaming at you in protest. Part of that is the growing fear of their own mortality, their loneliness since all their friends and family of their own generation have died, and their sheer boredom, unable in many cases to read by themselves anymore. Not to mention the inevitable mobility challenges that ‘trap’ some of them in their recliners from 9-to-5.
Anyway, it was Mom who asked to open up the above mentioned lifestyle issues to discussion after seeing a persuasive report on a News Channel she respects yesterday afternoon. We did have meaningful discussions, and we did come to some important agreements. Which I’ll enforce.
The result…
We’ll feel better if she plays ball. And that, in turn, will reduce all-round stress in our little lock down chamber considerably.
Have you considered a formal discussion on changing the old rituals that don’t work any more, in order to save your family’s sanity and medical health in line with the markedly different challenges that COVID-19 living demands? Do it today, and get buy-in from everyone affected!
~ Maggie J.