The outbreak of COVID-19 brings tremendous challenges to senior population across the globe. Apart from the high risk of sickness and death, the disease disrupts the routine home-based medical care, which can be potentially devastating for elders.

With the health care system being heavily stretched by the influx of people with COVID-19 diagnosis, it is getting challenging for elderly people to continue receive regular medical advice and care at home. Due to high vulnerability of seniors to the new virus, healthcare and medical workers prefer to minimize physical contacts with their patients who remain at home. In this situation many seniors may also need to visit doctors in polyclinics and hospitals and mix with people who potentially may carry the virus and be contagious to others. For seniors staying inside and staying healthy are the crucial ways to make through the outbreak.

Before COVID-19 outbreak UNDP Belarus in the partnership with the EU and the Ministry of Health supported a new community initiative to empower elderly people to continue their daily health checks without physical contact with healthcare workers or paying a visit to nearby healthcare institution. The initiative was implemented by BELMED project in partnership with the Smarhon district veterans organisation, Center for social care “Warm House” and Smarhon district hospital.

More than 600 seniors living in Smarhon region of Belarus took the course in basic healthcare and wellness check. They're part of a group that was at high risk for being socially isolated before COVID-19. Assisted by 25 social care workers and 41 volunteers the seniors learnt how to do blood pressure readings, measure blood sugar levels and develop and enjoy healthier and balanced diets.

In anticipation of traditional services becoming overwhelmed, the ability of elderly people to take care of their wellbeing and conduct key health checks can be lifesaving and help local healthcare system to be more efficient in coping with new challenges.