As I read Governor Cooper’s “guidelines for reopening” three-phase plan earlier this week, I noticed one point that remained the same throughout the time period of at least six more weeks. 

• Continue rigorous restrictions on nursing homes and other congregant care settings.

I can only imagine how difficult this guideline is for the residents and their families.

Everyone needs to be touched – especially the elderly. The consequences of the lack of meaningful touch for these folk may be devastating. There is even a medical term for this condition – touch deprivation. 

How ironic that the benefits of human touch are needed now more than ever but are in many instances forbidden. In general, a person who receives adequate (or abundant) human touch recovers from illnesses faster and even has a longer life expectancy than those who are deprived. Meaningful human touch has been shown to help fight stress-induced diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, asthma, GERD, IBS and others. Receiving consistent and positive touch can balance the nervous system, lessen pain, give a boost to the immune system and lower blood pressure.

One’s emotional health is also directly related to human touch. A tender hug or gentle hand massage can lessen anxiety and erase feelings of loneliness. Going without meaningful physical contact for an extended period of time can lead to depression. Feelings of anger or aggression may even rear their ugly head when a person is deprived of loving touch.

Patients with dementia are especially vulnerable to the negative effects of touch deprivation. Not only do they miss personal contact but they also may not understand the rationale behind the restrictions. Some may even feel as if they are being purposefully isolated or even punished.

Sadly, the only touch most of those living in facilities are receiving now takes place during personal care when the staff bathes, dresses and assists with other activities the patient is no longer able to do. In most long term care facilities, keeping enough staff is always a struggle. During this pandemic, the situation is probably dire. How can the personnel possibly take care of physical needs and minister to emotional needs as well? 

We are all feeling socially isolated to some extent…how much more those in nursing homes must feel lonely, discouraged or depressed.

A few minutes ago, I took a break from putting my thoughts in writing to eat lunch. Turning on the “snippet news channel” – where short headline news stories are available for review, my interest was piqued by one with the caption: “Governor on new ways to protect seniors during Covid.” The governor of another state was being interviewed and I was thinking how nice it would be to hear someone address this topic – touch deprivation in the elderly. Unfortunately, his comments sounded more like political talking points. He offered no new remedies to improve the current situation of seniors. He did confess that he had refrained from hugging his own eighty-something year old mother for two months in keeping with the guidelines and in order to protect her.

I am hopeful that in the weeks to come, those in authority who make the guidelines will consider every facet of “protecting” those who live in nursing homes. Restricting all familial visits for extended times seems cruel and unusual. Certainly, a family member who is not sick could don protective gear and visit while still maintaining safety measures.

Emotional as well as physical health must be taken into account and addressed during these difficult times. 

Caring Quote: Human touch helps the aging population to feel connected, acknowledged and valued. They rely on human touch for survival and their overall well-being. – Aging Our Way by Meika Loe, Ph.D. 

Note: When I sent this to my daughter Amy (also a nurse who has worked in long-term care) to proofread, she added this comment: “A lady in the homeschool group has been collecting pictures, notes, cards, drawings from people and delivering them to be distributed at nursing homes. I know it doesn’t make up for visitors and touch, but the girls (Amy’s four daughters) have been making them.”