Prolonged post Covid care proving to be a challenge both financially and emotionally

No Formal study done yet to assess post COVID Sequelae 

Post COVID Rehab now in city, on a non-profit basis (O2 therapy, Chest & General Physio, Nutri Rehab, Counselling) 

Hyderabad, September 10, 2020: Some COVID patients post recovery particularly the elderly above 60 years of age discharged from government and private hospitals are requiring long term care & rehabilitation.

 Majority of such cases spend a high out of pocket expenses for Covid treatment and prolonged care in hospital is proving to be a challenge both financially and emotionally. Such patients who require long term post Covid care are in need of cost-effective Rehab. Given the situation Rehab services are also now expensive and beyond the reach of many.

City Based NGO, Helping Hand Foundation, has come up with Not for Profit Rehab to fill this gap by offering Rehab services for Post COVID cases, at its 25 bedded state of the art, facility it runs in association with SEED, USA at Rajendranagar.

Unlike in the west where COVID emerged earlier there is no formal study done in India to check for post COVID sequalae in patients  – However, from a small sub-set of patients requiring extended care after recovery it is observed that about  25% of recovered  patients have found to be in  need of prolonged oxygen support, about 50% need basic medical care and nutrition for generalised weakness along with physiotherapy and 15% are complaining of mental disorders and require professional  counselling, in about 10% of the cases the families are refusing to accept the recovered patients back particularly the elderly due to fear and stigma and such cases need basic shelter and care.

According to doctors treating COVID patients, the SAR COV2, virus is causing lung tissue damage and also pulmonary fibrosis in a small sub set of patients, in some there is a cardiac involvement and both these conditions are requiring long oxygen therapy along with basic nursing care, as such patients are complaining of SOB that requires long term O2 therapy and respiratory physiotherapy.

Clinical Physcologist, believe that due to isolation during treatment, fear, stigma and anxiety many patients who have recovered from COVID are likely to have post-traumatic stress disorder which requires a lot of professional counselling to help them come out of the problem.

This apart, some of the family’s members are showing hostility and reluctance to take back their own kith and kin even after fully recovery due to stigma and fear of the infection, leaving in lurch such patient mainly the elderly. Elderly Patients discharged from hospitals after recovery need basic shelter with food and lodging until their families accept them back.

The Post COVID Care Rehabilitation launched by the NGO, will have following key components – Oxygen therapy and respiratory physiotherapy, Mental health counselling, Nutritional Rehab to tackle prolonged weakness, improving general fitness including increased mobility, prevent loss of function along with basic nursing and bed side care all this under medical supervision & if needed specialist consultations.

Special focus under a dietician will be given to improve nutritional health of the patient with COVID specific diet. Millets based cereals, rotis, upma, sprouts, dry fruits, turmeric, whole grain dhaliya, dry fruits will be made part of the COVID diet.

COVID patients or for that matter Critical Care patients are spending lacs for first line treatment in hospitals and long-term care post recovery at a nominal cost with good quality will be a boon for such patients said Mr. Mujtaba Hasan Askari of Helping Hand Foundation.

The centre also provides inpatient Neuro Rehabilitation, tracheostomy care, and other rehabilitation services for the adults and elders at most affordable cost and has round the clock services from a professional team of care givers, counsellors, and medical officer in a highly hygienic, clean and a home like environment so that patients feel comfortable with the pricing and closer to home adds Askari.

For admissions the patients or their attenders will have to share their latest RT-PCR report along with the discharge summary of the patient and interested may contact Tel # 7702005827.

Corporate Comm India (CCI Newswire)