Our elderly loved ones, particularly those living in nursing homes and under assisted senior care, are more susceptible to Covid-19, so they have to take extra precautions.
If you have a senior family member or are taking care of an elderly patient, here are essential safety precautions to help keep your loved one protected during the pandemic.
Know and Understand the Risks
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), seniors aged 65 years and older are at a higher risk of contracting severe illness due to coronavirus. Reports accumulated in June 2020 indicate that per 100,000 hospitalizations, more than 50% of the population are seniors. As such, it is vital to keep your elderly loved one safe and protected, and the best way to do this is to help them know and understand the risks facing them.
Let your senior loved one know why it is crucial to stay at home. Explain his vulnerabilities to the virus – his age, pre-existing conditions, and the fact that he’s living in a senior care facility. Make him understand that going out to public places will expose him to the virus.
List the Dos and Don’ts
Make a list of dos and don’ts for your senior family member. A visual reminder is more effective. Place it near an area your loved one usually frequents (i.e., near the TV). Be sure to include these safety reminders:
- Stay home. Do not leave the house or facility.
- Eat and sleep well. Drink a lot of water.
- Wash your hands with water and soap. Use hand sanitizer with 70% alcohol if soap is not available.
- Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing using the inside part of your elbow. Never use your hands.
- Avoid touching your face.
- Practice social distancing. Stay at least six feet away from other people.
- Do simple physical activities or indoor exercises.
- Talk to your doctor regularly.
Regular Communication
You also have a responsibility to your senior family member. If he lives with you at home, talk to him every day, any time you can. If he stays in a senior care facility, call him as regularly as you can. Staying connected through FaceTime or Zoom will help keep his mental health in check.
For more information about senior safety care during the pandemic, get in touch with your health worker.
Written by: Melissa Andrews
About the Author…
Melissa Andrews is the Content Marketing Strategist for Paradise Living Centers, an assisted living center for seniors with locations in Paradise Valley and Phoenix, Arizona. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking and going on hiking trips with her siblings and cousins.
