Every day at noon, the Indiana State Department of Health updates statewide COVID-19 counts through an online dashboard.
While those numbers give the public an indication as to where Hoosiers stand in the fight against the virus, it doesn’t reveal all of the health issues indirectly caused by the pandemic.
Most of the precautions in place are necessary in slowing the spread, but they also have unintended consequences — especially for the community’s senior population.
The Mill Race Center, a Columbus nonprofit facility for active residents aged 50-plus, helps locals stay active mentally, physically, and socially.
Staff from Mill Race say their own anecdotal evidence and national statistics shows that extended isolation and loneliness are linked with major health risks: a 50% increased risk of dementia, 3% increased risk of stroke, and a nearly fourfold risk of early death for patients with heart disease.
Since the start of the pandemic, Mill Race staff have tried to keep close track of their members.
What they’ve seen is a significant decline in health.
Mill Race had five member deaths in May and June of 2019. This year, there were 20 deaths during that same period when the center and a range of other avenues for activities were closed. From July to August there were five member deaths last year as opposed to 18 in 2020.
Staff at Just Friends Adult Day Services have noticed similar trends this summer, including seeing declines in cognitive skills with their clients, mostly considered the frail, older population.
Not every senior is involved in a health program, so the actual impact is likely far greater than the small sample size provided by local organizations.
Since it reopened on June 15, Mill Race has seen a decline in participation despite not having any cases of COVID-19. Staff say that many members won’t take the risk of coming into the facility since they have underlying health conditions.
While some programs have gone digital, providing classes and social gatherings, senior isolation is still a major problem.
It’s difficult to know where the line is when it comes to COVID-19 precautions, but it has been proven that too much isolation can prove harmful.
The recent trends are worrisome, and need to be continued to be monitored as lockdowns continue into the colder months.
