The new coronavirus (COVID-19) is a deadly virus that can affect people of all ages, but older adults are more vulnerable due to their weakened immune systems. Most seniors are living with some underlying conditions, which puts them at higher risk for severe infection. Continue reading to learn why in-home care is beneficial during this crisis and tips you can use to lower your senior loved one’s risk of coronavirus.
Learn More about the Virus
Coronavirus can impact people of all ages, but the risk of severe disease and death is higher in older adults and individuals with underlying conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. The elderly have a higher mortality rate because their immune systems are weaker and their lungs aren’t as elastic as they once were. The more you know about the virus, the more strategies you can develop to lower your loved one’s risk of contracting it. You can receive information by speaking with your loved one’s primary care physician via telephone or email or by visiting credible websites like those hosted by AARP, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Health Organization.
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 elderly home care. Lincoln 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.
Prepare Food Safely
Proper hygiene and safety precautions could reduce the spread of coronavirus via food. While staying in retirement homes, seniors usually eat the meals prepared by the kitchen staff. Many facilities are taking their workers’ temperatures to prevent sick employees from working. Still, workers go home each day and interact with their families and friends, which could lead to community spread. With at-home care, you can limit who prepares your parent’s meals and reduce the risk of your loved one contracting coronavirus. Another benefit is the variety when it comes to meals and snacks. You can cook your loved one’s favorite recipes and still incorporate immune-boosting foods that stave off the virus.
Set Boundaries
Create rules when providing care to your loved one during the pandemic. All traveling should cease for the next few months, which includes trips to your siblings’ homes. Explain to your loved one that staying home can lower the risk of contracting coronavirus. Even though your parent is unable to travel, he or she can continue to enjoy outdoor activities like working in the garden, exercising in the yard, and watching birds from the front porch.
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.
Remain Positive
Even in difficult times, your loved one must stay positive and focus on things that bring him or her joy. Encourage your loved one to take up hobbies and fun activities that keep him or her busy instead of constantly watching the news. Connect with your loved one while practicing social distancing, and reassure him or her as much as possible. Keeping your parent calm and active can prevent stress and lower his or her risk of needing to go to a crowded and potentially infected emergency room for an issue like a stroke or heart attack.
Families who find it difficult to care for their aging loved ones without assistance can benefit greatly from professional respite care. Lincoln, CA, 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. Call Home Care Assistance at (916) 226-3737 to learn more about our flexible and customizable senior care plans.
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.homecareassistancelincolnca.com/covid-19-home-care/.