Safety Tips for Seniors and Caregivers During COVID-19 Reopening
Communities in Newton, Needham, Canton, and nearby areas are beginning to reopen after the initial surge of COVID-19, and many people are welcoming the opportunity to dine at a restaurant, get a haircut, or visit with family. However, due to their increased risk of coronavirus-related complications, some seniors - as well as their family caregivers - may be understandably concerned about resuming activities in public.
Here are some safety tips seniors and caregivers can keep in mind during reopening:
Understand your risks for COVID-19 infection
The reality is that any activities you engage in outside of your home will come with some level of COVID-19 infection risk. While it may be safest for seniors and their caregivers to stay home, it may not be practical in the long-term. The key to staying safe is to understand your risk factors, the level of COVID-19 infection threat in your community and places you visit, and your comfort level.
Although infections in the Newton-Needham area is low at this time, you may decide that it’s safest for you to continue staying home as much as possible. Particularly if your older loved one has a health condition that could raise their risk of COVID complications, or if you or your loved one feels anxious about communities reopening. Hold off on resuming certain activities in areas that are still experiencing a high number of COVID-19 infections - such as visiting family, running unnecessary errands, or dining at a restaurant - for a few weeks, just to see how reopening goes.
If you have specific questions about your level of risk in certain situations, reach out to your healthcare provider for advice.
Follow local public health guidelines
Monitor public health guidelines in your area and follow all recommendations designed to keep community members safe. These recommendations may include wearing a face covering, practicing social distancing, washing hands, avoiding crowds, and limiting the size of gatherings. The Massachusetts State Department of Health is an excellent place for reliable information. Also, check the guidelines and timelines put forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Expand your “quarantine bubble” with care
Now that restrictions have eased, it may be tempting to invite all of your friends and family members over for a visit. However, you should continue to be careful about whom you let into your “quarantine bubble.”
Before you gather with family or friends, consider who those people have been in contact with in the past few weeks. If you and your family or friend have each been observing strict quarantine, the risk of exposure to COVID-19 is low. But the more people your friend or a family member has been exposed to, the higher the risk is for you. It’s also important to reassess the chance of COVID-19 exposure before each meeting.
Set up safety rules at home
If you choose to expand your quarantine bubble, you should establish and stick to a set of safety rules to protect your loved one from the coronavirus. Generally, outdoor visits where social distancing can be maintained are safest. Sharing food or other items will increase the level of risk.
If you allow visitors into your home, consider asking them to take off their shoes, wash hands, social distance, and wear a face covering. You may also want to think about doing extra cleaning after your guest leaves, such as wiping down bathroom fixtures, doorknobs, refrigerator handles, light switches, or other areas they may have touched.
If your older loved one receives personal care services from an in-home caregiver, consider asking his or her caregiver to take extra precautions such as more frequent cleaning, limiting errands, and increased hand hygiene. Your loved one’s caregiver also should be self-monitoring for signs of COVID-19 and should seek medical care if he or she notices any concerning symptoms.
Use drive-thru, delivery, and virtual services if possible
As much as possible, continue using the drive-thru, delivery, and virtual services for essentials such as groceries, takeout, prescriptions, medical visits, and keeping in touch while maintaining social distancing. Although you will still have to leave home from time to time, using these services can reduce the amount of exposure you have to others and lower your risk of catching COVID-19.
Take care of your mental health
It is certainly reasonable for seniors and their family caregivers to experience some anxiety related to reopening. In contrast, some older adults may experience difficulty coping with prolonged isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you or your loved one is showing symptoms of anxiety or depression, you should contact a healthcare provider.
As our country copes with COVID-19 and starts the process of recovery, older adults and their caregivers should continue to assess changing conditions and risk factors — and seek advice from a trusted healthcare provider if necessary — to determine which activities are safe.
If you're interested in more information about how in-home care can help your elderly loved ones living in the Greater Boston area, contact Visiting Angels Newton/Canton at 617-795-2727 for a free initial consultation.
Providing Safe, High-Quality Care the Elderly Deserve
Visiting Angels’ priority remains the health and safety of its caregivers and the elderly clients they serve every day. As an award-winning home care agency in Greater Boston, Visiting Angels Newton/Canton follows and adheres to the latest health and safety guidelines issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Despite the challenges associated with COVID-19, in-home caregivers are fulfilling Visiting Angels’ mission of partnering with families to provide essential at home living assistance for older adults.
Visiting Angels’ in-home caregivers continue to be homecare heroes on the frontlines, taking necessary steps to protect elderly loved ones and themselves as well as doing whatever it takes to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton:
Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA is an award-winning local home care agency providing high caliber in-home care services to the elderly and people with disabilities. Countless families have benefited from our home Alzheimer’s care, dementia care, 24 hour and live-in care, companion care, senior care, respite care, transitional aid, and in-home care services in Stoughton, Canton, Dedham, Needham, Westwood, Norwood, Brookline, Watertown, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Chestnut Hill, Roslindale, and nearby towns. While non-medical in nature, the care provided by Visiting Angels Newton/Canton can make a significant impact on your loved one’s happiness and quality of life.