Echuca Moama Family Medical Practice’s Sue Harrison has been a GP in Echuca for more than 35 years and said the most important thing to help people maintain their health as they aged was to eat well and exercise regularly.
“There are the people who haven’t done much and haven’t left their houses; which is COVID-19-safe, but we know how important it is for physical and mental health to be exercising regularly,” she said.
Despite restrictions remaining on gyms and indoor pools, Dr Harrison said there were still lots things people could do, including walking and using light weights at home.
But the physical restrictions have also kept people separated from their loved ones and disconnected socially.
“It is a big challenge and I think it’s starting to be quite telling for people psychologically, missing out on that social contact as well as feeling their physical health is deteriorating,” Dr Harrison said.
“For older people with serious illness there’s the feeling that their limited time is being wasted by not being able to see the people they want to see and do the things they want to do.
“I think many people do utilise technology but it’s not quite the same as seeing your grandchild.”
Dr Harrison said people had been dealing with the restrictions in different ways.
“One group are very happy filling in their own time and not necessarily missing their company, but there are a great group of people who are missing their family, friends and their normal social activities,” she said.
“That’s having a big impact on them not just mentally but also with their physical health, not being able to participate in some of the exercise programs they would routinely do.”
Now with COVID-19 restrictions easing, Dr Harrison encouraged people to continue to visit their GP and make sure they do not miss their routine check-up.
“There are things that were put off, especially during that first lockdown, that probably need to be dealt with now,” she said.
“I think making sure you’re up-to-date with immunisations is really important, especially influenza and pneumococcal.
“Now we’ve got this beautiful spring weather, get out and about in the sunshine, because it’s really important for your mental health as well as your physical health.”
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