How To Take Care Of Your Elderly Loved Ones During This Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused fears and uncertainties to all people around the world, especially the elderly. Because of their underlying medical issues, such as diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic conditions, and aging immune system, they’re more at risk of contracting the virus.

Having said that, it’s important to give advanced primary care to your elderly loved ones during this pandemic.  Luckily, there are some ways to help you keep them safe from COVID-19.  These include the following:

Think Ahead 

In these trying times, thinking ahead can go a long way in ensuring the overall well-being of your elderly loved ones. In other words, you should be prepared for whatever that might happen during this pandemic.

Below are some ways you can prepare for the bad times, such as emergency situations.

• Stock Up On Medical Supplies – Since they can’t go out to buy their medicines, you should plan on how you can stock up on their homecare medical supplies.  For instance, you can gather at least two to three months’ worth of their medications to ensure they’re able to take their prescription drugs without delay.
• Set Up Emergency Contacts – If you’re the primary caregiver of your elderly loved ones, identify one person nearby who can assist them in case you’re sick or far away. Moreover, teach them to place all important contact numbers in the speed dial for emergency cases. Lastly, don’t forget to include the COVID-19 hotline numbers to their contact list.

Place Them In A Nursing Facility

If you have sick elderly family members, you might have a difficult time taking care of them due to the restrictions caused by the pandemic. Unless you’re a medical professional, you can’t quickly bring them to the hospital and get them checked up right away.

Therefore, if you’re concerned about their health and safety, it’s best to place them in a skilled nursing facility to speed up their recovery. Due to the COVID-19 threat these days, your sick elderly loved ones will be taken care of properly in a facility with the latest rehabilitation equipment, comfortable suits, and a skilled nursing care team.

Encourage Them To Exercise Regularly 

Most senior citizens depend on the exercise programs provided by local gyms and other fitness centers. But, because of the pandemic in which social distancing is encouraged, keeping track of their exercise routines is much more difficult than usual.

Luckily, there are some ways that can encourage your elderly family members to stay active in the midst of this pandemic. For example, you and your senior loved ones can take a walk around your house.  Not only that, but you can think of some strength-building exercises that you can do together while staying at home. That way, both of you can keep yourselves fit and healthy during the pandemic.

Lastly, don’t stop encouraging them to live a healthy lifestyle every day. This can help boost their immune system during this pandemic.

Use Technology To Help Them Stay Connected

Senior citizens need to have constant communication with their families and friends to ensure their emotional and mental well-being. However, with the pandemic, providing them with much-needed physical interaction can be a challenging undertaking.

Fortunately, with the use of technology, it’s easy for your elderly loved ones to stay connected with the people they love despite the pandemic. For example, you can teach them how to use gadgets, such as smartphones, laptops, and tablets, for chatting and video calling. Furthermore, you can encourage your family living outside your household and some friends to call your elderly loved ones and send them inspirational messages. Also, you may want to conduct a virtual life story interview. This can help them feel valued and less lonely throughout this global health crisis.

If you have family members living in a nursing home, you can still take care of them by following some COVID-19 safety measures. These methods are intended to protect them from the virus and its underlying health effects.

Practice Social Distancing 

Due to the dangers brought by COVID-19 to senior citizens, it’s important to practice social distancing at all times to reduce the risk of contracting the virus. To do this, make sure your elderly loved ones refrain from non-essential travels to avoid being exposed to large crowds.

Moreover, if your elderly loved ones are feeling healthy, it’s best to postpone unnecessary doctor visits to minimize the risk of them acquiring the virus. However, you can ask the doctor if they can provide virtual checkups and consultations through video calls and other digital means. By doing so, you can still take care of their physical health despite the physical limitations caused by the pandemic.

Wrapping Up

With most countries under community quarantine to stop the spread of COVID-19, it’s normal to feel worried about the health of your senior loved ones. More than you and the rest of the household, they’re vulnerable to contracting the virus, so you should know how to take care of them.

Thankfully, by following these tips, you can keep them healthy and out of danger during the pandemic.