Governments around the world have responded to stop the spread of the coronavirus pandemic and social distancing has been one of the main measures implemented.
However, social distancing can have big repercussions within extended families, especially for seniors, who are at greater risk of falling seriously ill if they catch the virus.
It's a new experience for Poyaniben who is visiting her son in Sydney on a visitor visa. Her son, daughter-in-law and grandsons are all working or being schooled from home.
"We love having everyone at home," she told SBS Gujarati. "We get to spend time together while maintaining social distance. Watching our grandchildren learn on Google classrooms has been a new experience for us.”
Victoria Police officer speak to a man at St Kilda beach, Melbourne, April 13, 2020 amid Covid-19 social distancing measures. Source: AAP
Using new technologies to stay in touch
There are a wide range of options to talk to family members and friends during the current restrictive pandemic situation. Australian citizen Hemlataben uses these technologies to stay in touch with her grandsons and daughter.
“I love to spend time with my grandsons, but now it is not possible to meet them in person, so we are connecting with each other by Facetime."
"When my daughter visited last, she and my grandchildren did not even come inside, she stayed in her car and we talked from the balcony," she added.
“I have seen many changes in my life in last few days, but the biggest change is staying away from my grandchildren due to coronavirus,” says Australian citizen Hamida Bhatt, who has lived in Perth for last 30 years.
“I used to pick and drop them from school which I can no longer continue to do. I only meet them on Facetime, but I still cook for them and send it to them,” she said.
Grandparents shares their experience of social distancing amid coronavirus outbreak. Source: Supplied
'A lot of cooking requests'
Senior citizens are also trying their hands at making different dishes for family members who are doing their respective jobs from home.
Living with her daughter and son-in-law, Pratiksha Mehta, a permanent resident of Australia for the last few years describes how she spends her day.
“I spend my time cooking, gardening, listening to music and doing Yoga. Having everyone at home means I am getting a lot of cooking requests. I have the opportunity to cook my granddaughter’s favourite dishes.”
“Having my teenage granddaughters at home keeps us company,” says Neeta Desai, a permanent resident of Australia, who along with her husband, live with their son and daughter-in-law.
"They spend a lot of time on online classes, but I also get to see them many times during the day now. Since both of us are in our 80s we have started using separate washrooms which no other family members use."
Many Hindu temples in Australia have asked devotees and visitors not to attend weekly ceremonies Source: Supplied
Group activities on hold
Harshadbhai Thakkar lives in Harris Park in Sydney’s west. He manages a group of senior citizens who regularly hold prayers, get-togethers and picnics. But now, with government restrictions, they're resorting to community-based activities in their respective homes instead.
“The Coronavirus pandemic has changed our daily routine,” says Harshadbhai.
Our senior citizen group was regularly organising various religious and fun activities in the garden but now we cannot meet each other.
We pray at our home and keep ourselves connected with relatives back home in India and ask them about their wellbeing, Harshadbhai said.
US citizen Babubhai, currently visiting his daughter, says he was lucky to have visited much of Sydney in the first two weeks of their visit to Australia.
“I think I was lucky enough as it is now impossible to go to any public places due to the restrictions. We are now spending time watching television with our family members.”
