According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people who are over the age of 65 are at the highest risk of becoming severely ill from the COVID-19 virus. Because of this, it’s important for seniors to take extra precautions to protect themselves.
Below are some of the steps the CDC has recommended as well as ways senior care can help your older family members to follow the steps.
Stay Home
The government and medical experts have asked all people to stay in their homes as much as possible, only going out for essential business and actions. This means that older adults should only leave the house when they absolutely have to, such as for a medical appointment. If possible, they should even avoid running errands, such as grocery shopping.
Senior care providers can help older adults to stay home more by handling some errands for them. For example, if your aging relative’s local grocery store offers online ordering or call-ahead ordering, a family caregiver or the older adult can place an order to be picked up. Then, a senior care provider can pick up the groceries for the older adult.
Wash Hands Often
Older adults should wash their hands frequently, especially when they leave the house or come in contact with someone or something that may have been exposed to the virus. Hands should be washed thoroughly using soap and water. When soap and water are not available, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer will also work.
Senior care providers can remind your loved one to wash their hands often and monitor them to ensure they do a thorough job of it. They can also make certain the older adult carries and uses hand sanitizer when leaving the house.
Clean and Disinfect
Experts believe that the virus can survive on surfaces for a time. This means that if the virus is on a surface that the older adult touches, they could contract the virus.
Senior care providers can help reduce the chances of your older family member catching the virus from a surface by disinfecting those that are frequently touched, such as faucets, doorknobs, and countertops.
Cope with Stress
Your aging relative may be experiencing more stress than usual because of fears about the virus. It’s important that they manage stress as much as possible.
Some ways that senior care can help with stress are by offering the older adult a break from the news with fun activities and conversation that takes their mind off the virus.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Home Care Services in Rockridge, CA, call the caring staff at Aviva In-Home Care.
Call today: (415) 795-2203
Sources
Cdc.gov
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