The elderly are among those at higher risk for developing potentially dangerous symptoms of COVID-19, a viral illness that’s also known as coronavirus. The virus spreads easily and infects people of all ages. If you’re caring for an elderly loved one, you can take steps to prevent him or her from becoming infected.
Take Everyday Precautions
Preventing the spread of coronavirus includes following the most current guidelines recommended by the CDC and your loved one’s healthcare provider. Current guidelines include the following:
- Wash your hands frequently, and disinfect surfaces in the home often
- Avoid crowds of more than a few people if you must go out
- Use online and phone services for necessary business whenever possible
- Only leave home for essential needs like grocery shopping
- Maintain a physical distance of six feet from other people while in public spaces
Both seniors and caregivers should avoid touching their faces and practice good handwashing habits. Staying home is the simplest way to avoid the virus. If you must go out, change your clothes and wash your hands immediately upon returning home.
If your loved one needs help adopting healthy habits that can protect 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. Montgomery families can rely on Home Care Assistance to provide individualized care plans to meet your elderly loved one’s unique care needs. Our holistic Balanced Care Method was designed to help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and our Cognitive Therapeutics Method offers mentally stimulating activities that can stave off cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia.
Minimize Contact
Reducing the risk of exposure to coronavirus is important for seniors. You can reduce the risk of exposure by limiting the number of visitors your loved one welcomes into the home. Although it may be difficult to turn well-meaning visitors away, safer options are available for seniors and their caregivers. For instance, online video chats can replace face-to-face visits with relatives and friends. If your loved one is considering a long-term care facility such as a nursing home in the near future, he or she should think about remaining at home until the virus is well controlled so he or she can reduce the risk of contracting it.
To keep your loved one from having to go out, a home caregiver can run errands for him or her, including shopping for groceries and picking up prescriptions. If your aging loved one needs help managing everyday tasks or encouragement to adopt healthier lifestyle choices, turn to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of in-home care. Home Care Assistance provides professional in-home caregivers around the clock to help seniors live longer, happier, and healthier lives.
Know the Symptoms
The symptoms of coronavirus include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. If you experience these symptoms, avoid contact with others, including your loved one. Call your local hospital for instructions on what to do next.
Isolate yourself away from others, even if you don’t have the results of the coronavirus test yet. Symptoms can be mild for younger adults, but the virus is particularly dangerous for seniors. Allow a backup caregiver to care for your loved one until your doctor says it’s safe to resume your normal duties. Ask your doctor when it’s safe to resume caring for your loved one, and wait for the recommended length of time before visiting in person. With careful hygiene and mindful social interactions, you can protect your loved one from coronavirus.
Receive Care at Home
Seniors living in private residences have contact with fewer people, which may reduce the risk of coronavirus. A variety of in-home care options are available. A professional caregiver can provide care for your loved one while you’re away.
Aging in place can present a few unique challenges for older adults. Some only require part-time assistance with exercise or meal preparation, while others are living with serious illnesses and benefit more significantly from receiving live-in care. Montgomery, AL, Home Care Assistance are leaders in the elderly in-home care industry for good reason. We tailor our care plans based on each senior’s individual needs, our caregivers continue to receive updated training in senior care as new developments arise, and we also offer comprehensive care for seniors with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and Parkinson’s. Call Home Care Assistance today at (334) 593-3988 to learn about our high-quality in-home care services.
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 Home Care Assistance, 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. For more information on how Home Care Assistance helps protect clients, click here: https://homecareassistancemontgomery.com/covid-19-home-care/.