Posted: Jan 13, 2021 4:00 AM ET | Last Updated: January 13
For people with dementia, losing something as simple as human touch can spark a rapid decline in their health.(Jessica Phelps/Associated Press)
Every morning, Maria Zachariou, 83, sits patiently by her front door, dressed and ready for her day of programs at her local seniors centre. Then her daughter reminds her she has to stay home because of COVID-19.
Zachariou has dementia, and her family says they re more concerned about the impact of that missing social interaction conversations, activities and simple human touch than they are about the coronavirus. Since the pandemic, her decline has been rapid, said Christia Zachariou, Maria s daughter. She said her mother has been having trouble sleeping, bathes less frequently and has lost interest in things she used to enjoy.