The coronavirus has everyone worried about the effect this pandemic could have on their senior loved ones’ health. Right now, a vaccine is in the works, but it could take many months before anyone knows if it’s safe and effective. Taking care of your loved one helps you buy precious time for the healthcare system to figure out how to help older adults avoid complications from the virus.
1. Practice Aging in Place
The safest place for your loved one to be is at home. Your loved one’s needs may be increasing, but he or she may still be better off using home care services to take care of them. Home care protects your loved one from being around larger groups of people, such as those found in assisted living facilities. Even when residents in these centers stay in their own rooms, they may still be exposed to caregivers who go from room to room. A private home caregiver can reduce your parent’s exposure to the coronavirus.
2. Choose Safer Family Visits
Your kids might be eager to see their grandparent, or you may wish you could celebrate his or her birthday with a family gathering. While family visits are important, you may need to help your loved one adjust his or her idea of socialization. Video chats are a safe way to keep your family close without risking anyone’s health.
3. Be Stringent about Hygiene
You might need to visit your loved one to help him or her around the house. He or she may also require professional care, which means bringing an extra person into the home. You and your loved one’s caregiver can reduce the risk of contracting the disease by using basic hygiene practices. You can also take extra cautionary steps by taking your shoes off at the door and wiping down groceries and other belongings.
4. Manage Current Health Conditions
Chronic health conditions increase the risks of coronavirus for seniors. It’s never too late to help your loved one boost his or her health, and he or she needs to stay on top of current treatment plans. Rev up your efforts to help your loved one eat well and exercise. Your loved one will be better able to survive if he or she does get sick.
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 home care services. Calgary, AB 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.
5. Keep Them Stocked with Essentials
Seniors need help getting their groceries and other essentials right now. If you’re currently doing the shopping, identify one or two other people who can help if you get sick. Your loved one needs to have essential items on hand so he or she doesn’t decide to go to the grocery store or pharmacy him or herself.
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 elder care. Home Care Assistance provides professional in-home caregivers around the clock to help seniors live longer, happier, and healthier lives.
6. Do Daily Checks on Their Wellbeing
The coronavirus generates symptoms that can range from mild to severe, and some people are still not able to get proper testing. If your loved one exhibits any type of cold or flu symptoms, you need to start monitoring his or her health right away. Check his or her temperature throughout the day, and watch for signs of respiratory distress.
Families who find it difficult to care for their aging loved ones without assistance can benefit greatly from professional respite care. Calgary, AB, family caregivers who need a break from their caregiving duties can turn to Home Care Assistance. Using our proprietary Balanced Care Method, our respite caregivers can encourage your loved one to eat well, exercise regularly, get plenty of mental and social stimulation, and focus on other lifestyle factors that promote longevity. Home Care Assistance can be your trusted partner in caregiving for your aging loved one. Contact one of our experienced Care Managers today at 403-301-3777 to learn more about our reliable 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://homecareassistancecalgary.ca/covid-19-home-care/.