Coronavirus is making headlines all over the world, and your senior loved one may naturally be worried about his or her safety. This is a valid concern, since seniors seem to be the ones who are hit hardest when they do catch the virus. Until a vaccine is developed for widespread use, everyone must do their part to shield their loved ones from getting the disease.
Understanding Why Seniors Are More at Risk
Older adults are at risk for developing severe symptoms from coronavirus, just as they are with other diseases. For instance, your loved one needs a yearly flu shot because he or she is more likely to develop complications if he or she gets sick. Seniors often have weaker immune systems that make it difficult to fight off viruses. They may also have health problems that limit the ability to heal. With coronavirus, anyone over 65 and those who have certain health conditions are considered high-risk. Diabetes, lung disease, heart disease, and other disorders may increase the chances of the virus causing breathing difficulties.
Protecting Your Loved One Now
The good news is that you aren’t helpless when it comes to protecting your loved one. You can take immediate steps to prevent him or her from contracting the virus, including encouraging him or her to limit social contact with others. Your loved one can also make sure to wash his or her hands often and avoid touching his or her face. As the family caregiver, you should do these same things while also remembering to keep your immune system strong as well as your loved one’s.
One of the most challenging tasks of helping an elderly relative age in place safely and comfortably is researching agencies that provide elderly home care. Turn to Home Care Assistance for reliable, high-quality in-home care for aging adults. We offer 24-hour live-in care for seniors who require extensive assistance, and we also offer respite care for family caregivers who need a break from their caregiving duties.
Understanding Social Distancing
Social distancing has been recommended by infectious disease experts, and seniors may find it difficult to isolate themselves. Seniors need to stay at home as much as possible and limit the number of visitors who come to their homes. If possible, your loved one may need to reduce trips to the grocery store and other public places to prevent possible exposure to the virus. Put together a plan that includes having other people pick up groceries and supplies they can drop off for your loved one at his or her home.
A home caregiver can run errands, including shopping for groceries and picking up prescriptions, so your loved one doesn’t have to leave home. 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 senior care. Mississauga Home Care Assistance provides professional in-home caregivers around the clock to help seniors live longer, happier, and healthier lives.
Planning for Long-Term Care
This virus is impacting many families during a time when they’re already facing big decisions about long-term care. Your family may already be wondering whether your loved one should move to an assisted living facility or age in place. In the current situation, your decision needs to include helping your loved one maintain social distancing. This can be difficult to do in a group living environment where your loved one may need to visit common areas for eating and other activities of daily living. With home care, your loved one can age in place while receiving services that limit the amount of personal contact he or she has with other people who could be carrying the virus.
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. Mississauga, ON, 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. If you need professional home care for your loved one, our Care Managers are just a phone call away. Reach out to Home Care Assistance today at 905-337-1200.
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://www.homecareassistancemississauga.ca/covid-19-home-care/.