During this COVID-19 period, it is essential to make sure everyone stays safe, especially seniors. There are many ways to ensure you maintain safety among older people, and that’s what we are going to discuss in this post.
According to a report by CNN, a lot of people who lost their lives from the coronavirus pandemic are older people between 80 to 90 years. Older adults who have pre-existing health problems are more vulnerable to COVID-19 than other people.
It is due to such vulnerabilities that senior apartments have to be more careful with how they used to run things. It is essential that such apartments housing seniors should exercise all possible precautions so as to cushion them from contracting coronavirus. However, do not be despair as there are seniors apartments out there, such as The Willows in Bellingham, Washington, that remains COVID-19 free.
Admissions of new members should be done very cautiously, whereby such people are tested and assurance is given that they are free of the virus. In the instance where testing is not that accessible, they should be kept under more than 14 days quarantine, just to make sure that they are not infected with coronavirus.
However, all is not groom and seniors can use this time to engage with their grandchildren through video applications. They could have video chats while simultaneously use educational apps such as those created by Rootstrap, whereby occupying their time while they impact knowledge to their grandchildren, and in so doing they create some time for their parents to effectively work at home.
What people are required to do right now is to try and lessen the infection rate. The management and relatives of such seniors’ living in apartments should observe the points highlighted below so as to keep their loved ones safe during this pandemic.
1. Avoiding Unnecessary Travel
Avoiding unnecessary travel is one of the best ways to stay safe. These seniors will decrease their chances of infections when they stay at home. There are stay-at-home orders from the governments of many countries globally, where people are requested to avoid going from one place to another. Avoiding movement helps to reduce the rate of infection. If you don’t need to go out, you shouldn’t, but just consider staying at home.
You can order food online from various stores that deliver right to your doorstep. If you are a senior and have a loved one who can do the grocery shopping for you, consider asking them to do it and minimize movement to stay safe.
2. Schedule or Reschedule an Appointment with the Doctor
If you feel the need to see a doctor, you should consider scheduling an appointment to ensure that your health is in the right condition. You can schedule for checkups and follow-ups to understand what might be wrong. However, if you don’t feel that the issue is serious, you can reschedule the appointment for another time. If the issue can wait, there’s no need to start moving around.
You can also consider calling your physician first before visiting the hospital. Another option is to schedule a virtual visit with your physician. You can consider scheduling a video call to discuss how you feel and receive information on the way forward. This will significantly help you stay safe.
3. Consider Using Barriers for Protection When Going Out
If you’re a senior and cannot avoid going out due to one reason or another, consider using barriers to keep you safe. You can ask a family member to take you out and assist you with all that you need.
If you don’t have a family member nearby to help you, you can request the help of a caregiver to take you where you want to go and remember to wear a mask. Consider using hand sanitizers, wipes, and hygienic products to keep you safe wherever you go.
4. Consider Social Distancing When Outside
As a senior, if you want to stay safe, you should also consider practicing social distancing. Although it is difficult avoiding a handshake or hug with friends and family members, practicing social distancing is crucial during this COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, this is something that you need to keep in mind and take very seriously. Try letting them know that you care, but you want everyone to stay safe.
5. Exercise and Reach Out to Family Members
Exercise is good for anyone’s health. Therefore, try as much as possible to flex your muscles and exercise whenever you can. Some of the ways include walking around your house and doing traditional exercises. You can also roll your shoulders, do wall push-ups, and even toe lifts. You can go outside to walk or jog. The overall point here is that you try to stay as active as possible during this stay-at-home period.
The other thing you need to remember is to reach out to family members if they are far away. Try to keep in touch often by calling them and sending text messages. You should also consider video calls as they are very effective when it comes to communication. You can video call your loved ones and talk for hours, trying to keep the love strong and know how everyone is doing during this time.
Since the stay-at-home order was put in place, movement was reduced, and visiting each other can be hard. That is why keeping in touch through phone calls, text messages, and video calls is an excellent option to consider.
Essential Information
If you have a senior family member around or in your home, it is crucial to consider the safety factors outlined. Staying at home is one of the best ways to ensure everyone stays safe. If you have a senior member who lives away, consider finding out how they are doing and how to help them cope during this time.
Staying connected is also a vital factor to keep in mind. Making sure it is done regardless of the current circumstances can be beneficial for both seniors and everyone else.
Conclusion
There are plenty of other safety factors to consider during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, make sure to adhere to them and help senior members in your family or community stay safe.
