ISRRT_COVID-19_book
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Staying‐home kids, tele‐education and both working parents<br />
Another issue that arose during the pandemic lockdowns was children staying at home, due<br />
to the interruption of school and extracurricular activities. This worried the parents of younger<br />
children, who need constant supervision at home, when they normally should be at school.<br />
Thus, if both parents were working, one parent would either work remotely from home, if<br />
possible, or be absent from work on special leave to supervise the child or children. Of course,<br />
this becomes impossible if both parents are HCPs and their physical presence in the workplace<br />
is required. In this case, several parents either received special leave, if this was possible, or<br />
worked in different shifts, so that one of them could be at home and take care of the children.<br />
Alternatively, they resorted to the help of grandparents or nannies.<br />
E‐learning was also a challenge for parents and children, as it was implemented so that<br />
students did not miss the school year. The extended stay in front of the computer or tablet<br />
screen and the lessons through a video conferencing platform, such as WebEx Meetings, was<br />
an unprecedented experience for the young students. In the end, it was a puzzle for both<br />
young students and parents, as they had to combine staying at home during winter months<br />
with online lessons, study and home activities. This caused great fatigue both to the young<br />
students and the parents, who had to help the children to fulfill their school obligations after<br />
an already tiring shift.<br />
Living with elders, chronic disease or mentally ill patients<br />
Living with an elder, cancer, chronic disease or mentally ill family member raises important<br />
emotional pressure on the family. Every person and every family are going through a period<br />
which is characterized by anxiety, fear and panic about the disease from <strong>COVID</strong>‐<strong>19</strong>, stress<br />
about their financial situation and the days following the pandemic. So, these two situations<br />
combined, increase the mental and physical exhaustion of persons who take care of patients<br />
inside the family.<br />
Many HCPs must manage the physical and mental fatigue of taking care <strong>COVID</strong>‐<strong>19</strong> patients in<br />
addition to taking care of an elder or a patient at home. Such persons are usually at high stress.<br />
Assistance from all family members is necessary, so stress and fatigue are equally shared.<br />
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