Taking care of family during the pandemic
Older adults were impacted by the COVID-19 virus from the beginning of the pandemic. During this time they faced barriers to healthcare and isolation.
Dr. Preeti Malani serves as the chief health officer and professor of medicine for the University of Michigan’s Division of Infectious Diseases. She says the pandemic created challenges and opportunities for older adults. One of the opportunities was telehealth options for people who are at higher risk with exposure to COVID-19.
While some older adults faced isolation, others lived with older adults in intergenerational homes which also came with unique challenges to keep them safe.
Dr. Malani says with vaccinations and taking proper precautions, there is a benefit in gathering safely with older adults to prevent them from feeling lonely.
“There’s a risk in not finding ways to get together and to get together safely. Especially as we move into this next holiday season, for families that are fully vaccinated, that are following good practices. Because this has been uniquely difficult for older adults and for certain communities more than others. And that the risk won’t be zero, but we can all work together to manage that risk to make it very acceptable.”
Bangladeshi student becomes primary breadwinner while completing education
Mohammed Uddin, 21, is one of many students who had to make the difficult choice between taking care of his family or attending school during the pandemic.
Uddin had to take on the family’s financial responsibility when his father lost his job. After taking a short break, Uddin was able to go back to college and complete his bachelor’s degree in information systems management from Wayne State University.
“It's a scary feeling, having to take care of your family and worry about your own future,” Uddin told Today@Wayne, a Wayne State publication.
Uddin says being able to take classes online provided an opportunity for him to take care of his family and complete his education. He’s a first-generation student who says that the sacrifice to get an education was worth it. (Today@Wayne)