State officials preach a new normal for healthy seniors as South Carolina reopens

CHARLESTON, SC (WCIV) — The numbers, the isolation, the concern. It's hard for anyone, even more if you're older.

“I’m pretty much semi-retired. I have a lot of free time on my hands,” says active senior and West Ashley resident Art Liberman.

Nowadays, the 67-year-old is blazing his own path these days.

“Now with this pandemic, of course, you know, I run, I ride my bike, I’ve been doing all this outside. I take online yoga classes, but I I have missed the gym a lot,” said Liberman.

He, along with 52 million other Americans, are deemed high risk as seniors.

But now with the reopening, Liberman said that it's "kinda scary, you know?”

Dr. Mark Newbrough does know. He is the MUSC Associate Professor and Section Head for Geriatrics.

“We are social beings and need some human interaction,” said Newbrough.

However, he added that seniors need to weigh the risk versus reward of venturing out.

“We have to make decisions of which activities are the most important and how long can I go without doing this, or how long can I go without doing that,” said Newbrough.

And that decision will affect the risk to your friends in your social circle, too.

“About a month ago, people were very considerate, cautious, everyone gave everyone space in the sidewalks, and now it feels like everyone is forgetting about it,” said Liberman.

Art thinks more senior hours would be a good idea, along with masks for everyone in stores. New rules for a new normal? That's what SC State Epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell said in today's AARP Telephone Town Hall with seniors in South Carolina.

“We are looking to a new normal of how we can conduct our lives in a different way. It’s a period of time (that's) important to practice social distancing, face coverings whenever in public, and good hygiene,” says Bell.

One of the most important things to do is check up on hand hygiene like washing your hands before you touch your face.

“This virus, it can linger on surfaces for a couple of days and still be viable,” said Newbrough.

And if it means waiting it out, Art's years behind him might make that ride ahead a little smoother.

“It’s all about gratitude, you know? Good comes out of everything and what’s kept me going through the entire thing,” says Liberman.