What the spectacularly abysmal year 2020 has been. Covid-19, police shootings and the response to them, and now the US election fiasco. A lot of pressure has been placed on many people and somewhere along the line, we managed to get through it.
But there are some people who may have suffered more than others:
- The hard of hearing community
- Mental health sufferers
- The vulnerable elderly
- Out front line staff
- Ourselves and each other
Something that’s easy to forget is the real power of looking after each other. A friendly nod, saying good morning or socially distanced conversations can go a long way for some people who might be feeling lonely through all of this..
The Hearing Impaired
Most of us take our hearing for granted and lack of support for the hard of hearing is no big secret.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, this marginalized group of people has suffered unnecessarily because of a basic lack of communication. Even though we live in an age of information, most TV news networks still do not have certified sign language professionals conveying current events such as the pandemic on their programs.
Social distancing measures and restrictions have made it much more difficult for the hearing impaired to gauge what someone is saying by lip-reading alone since people are wearing masks.
While a lot of TV and news networks offer closed captions, they can become out of sync or stream too quickly making it a negative experience for many of the hearing impaired. Some of the most popular hearing aids can help, but TV news networks could do more for the deaf community through these troubling times.
Those with Mental Health Issues
Probably the most fringe society right now is the poor souls suffering from various mental health conditions. A recent study by the National Alliance on Mental Illness found that more than 50 million Americans suffered from mental health issues in 2019.
Many of these conditions, including the anxiety disorders which are the most common were found to have been greatly increased or exacerbated during 2020’s Covid-19 pandemic.
The isolation because of restrictions is thought to be a major contributing factor, so, if you know somebody who suffers from mental health issues, talking to them on the phone as much as possible might help them with their issues. Encouraging hobbies and setting routines has also been suggested as an effective solution that can help with taking the mind off current world events.
The Elderly and Care Home Residents
Elderly people are often overlooked but are among some of the most vulnerable individuals in our modern society. Many elderly people depend on others to help them with daily tasks such as shopping, getting around the house, or even conversation.
The virus pandemic has obviously put a halt on most social interactions and many elderly people have declined because of this while care home residents have been hit particularly hard because of the high transmission rate of Covid between older people.
Many elderly care home residents also suffer from dementia and similar issues where it can be difficult for them to understand exactly what is happening. Having to explain to a loved one with Alzheimer’s every day, for example, must be heartbreaking.
Luckily, vaccines have begun to roll out all over the world and care homes, as well as those particularly at risk, are set to receive them first.
Front Line Staff and Key Workers
It goes without saying that front-line staff and key workers need to be at the forefront of our thoughts going into 2021. A recent study has found that over 7,000 hospital staff have died because of the virus.
All hospital staff, not just doctors and nurses, have risked their lives day in day out for almost a year now by holding the frontline against the most deadly illness in over one hundred years.
Not only hospital staff, but key workers such as store staff, bus drivers, and other emergency services have kept the world turning and making sure things still run as they should, all risking their own lives.
If you know anybody working at the frontline, just say thank you.
Each Other
One thing that we might have forgotten through all of this is that we are all in this together. No place on Earth has been untouched by Covid-19 as recent news reports that the virus has now made its way to all seven continents and has now spread to the Antarctica.
Even though we have seen a year of struggle, shocking incidents and of course the virus, one thing remains, and that is the strength of human fortitude.
Time and time again, the world has shown that it can get through anything, so, we should all look out for each other heading into 2021 because without each other, we pretty much have no one.
Please, look out for your neighbor, look out for your family and look out for yourselves.
