As the number of people testing positive for novel Coronavirus increases around the world, it’s normal to worry about your senior loved one. Seniors are at greater risk for becoming seriously ill from COVID-19 due to their weaker immune systems. Families who care for aging loved ones need to take precautions to help them stay safe.
1. Stock Up On Essentials
Social distancing is the best way to keep your loved one safe. Consider stocking up on groceries for your parent to keep him or her from going to the store. Other options include helping your loved one shop during store hours dedicated to seniors or having the groceries delivered.
2. Talk With Your Loved One’s Doctor
If you have any concerns or questions about your loved one’s risk of COVID-19 or your parent has any underlying health conditions, get in touch with his or her doctor. Many doctors are answering questions by email or during virtual appointments to keep seniors from being exposed. Talk about when your loved one should seek medical care if he or she displays symptoms and what precautions can be taken.
If your loved one needs help following healthy habits that can boost his or her immune system, a home caregiver can be a wonderful source of support. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of senior home care. Families can rely on Generation Solutions to provide individualized care plans to meet your elderly loved one’s unique care needs. Our care plans are designed to help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties.
3. Visit The Pharmacy
Make sure your loved one has enough of his or her prescription medications. This is especially necessary if your loved one has a chronic lung condition, such as asthma or COPD. Your loved one needs to take all medications on schedule. Ask your loved one’s doctor about a three-month prescription or switching the prescriptions to a mail-order pharmacy to ensure your loved one doesn’t run out if there’s a shortage.
4. Create A Communication Schedule
Without being able to leave the home or have regular visits from friends and family, your loved one may feel isolated, which could lead to feelings of depression and anxiety. Ensure your loved one feels connected during this time by working with other family members to set up a communication schedule.
Create a simple calendar in an email and send it out to everyone. Family members and friends can sign up for days to contact your loved one by phone, email, or video chat. Get grand kids and great-grand kids involved by having them make colorful cards that can be mailed to put a smile on your loved one’s face.
5. Consider Hiring An In-Home Caregiver
If you and other family members typically share care giving duties, you might be faced with putting your loved one in a nursing home for social distancing purposes. Though this is a good option under some circumstances, it might not be the best choice right now. The number of medical personnel, staff, and residents in a nursing home increases the risk of exposure to Coronavirus.
Instead, you might want to consider an in-home caregiver. Hiring a single caregiver reduces the number of people your loved one interacts with and decreases the risk of exposure. Trained in-home caregivers can provide you with peace of mind that your loved one is being well cared for.
Families who find it difficult to care for their aging loved ones without assistance can benefit greatly from professional respite care. Family caregivers who need a break from their care giving duties can turn to Generation Solutions for Assistance. Trust your loved one’s care to the professionals at Generation Solutions. Reach out to one of our compassionate Client Care Coordinators Managers today at (434) 455-6500 in Lynchburg or Roanoke (540)776-3622.
With information surrounding coronavirus/COVID-19 changing by the hour, it’s challenging to stay updated on the most recent best practices for keeping seniors safe at home. At Generation Solutions we understand how critical it is for seniors and their caregivers to protect against coronavirus as much as possible. All our team members have received detailed communication on infection control protocols, including effective cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces and hands. Our caregivers can pick up medications, groceries, and anything else a senior needs, minimizing their interaction with large groups of people.