How seniors should protect themselves from Coronavirus
It doesn’t take much research to find the main guidelines to follow in order to protect yourself from the coronavirus. The instructions are the same for everyone; older people just need to be more careful and ensure they’re following the directions to a T.
The first measure that comes to everyone’s mind is practicing social distancing. More than anyone, older adults should avoid social interactions. This means not going out, but also not letting anyone in. Although isolating yourself can be one of the most difficult things to do, it’s of utmost importance for staying safe throughout the coronavirus outbreak.
If for a certain reason you do need to leave home, here’s what you should always keep in mind:
- Avoid crowds. If the reason you need to leave your home is to buy groceries, go during off-peak hours.
- Avoid using public transportation as it’s known to be a place where viruses spread quite easily.
- Avoid touching your face, nose, and eyes with your hands.
- Keep your distance from other people.
At the same time, washing your hands with soap (or an alcohol-based sanitizer) and water for at least 20 seconds is also recommended. You should always do so before eating and after:
- Using the toilet.
- Blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- Being in public places.
- Touching surfaces in public places.
- Touching other people.
If a senior is living in a long-term care facility, their family should contact the organization to understand what safety measures are in place. There are infection control procedures that every nursing home has to follow, and you can ask to be notified of which ones they’re implementing. If you feel that the measures being taken are not enough, then it may be worthwhile to consider bringing the senior home until the pandemic ends.
How medical alert systems can help
Medical alert systems are known for helping seniors safely age at home for a longer period of their lives. Now more than ever, they’re a great help for any senior living alone. First and foremost, care agents are trained the same way as 911 operators. This means that they know everything about COVID-19 and are ready to answer any questions or recommend what to do if the older adult shows any symptoms.
Of course, this is an added extra to what these companies offer on a daily basis. Besides the central unit with a button that seniors can press to connect to a care agent, there are also extra features to ensure the older adult’s safety. Two of these services are fall detectors that automatically connect the senior to the support team when they fall, and GPS mobile devices that can be used everywhere to give information about the senior’s whereabouts when they’re running errands in their community.
Overcoming loneliness
Self-quarantine can also be quite lonely, and loneliness can lead to depression – a proven cause of faster health deterioration. So while self-quarantine is a must, it’s essential to make sure that the senior doesn’t feel lonely. Fortunately, technology enables us to connect without being near to each other. If the elderly person doesn’t know how to set up their devices, a family member should help them configure everything so the senior can video chat with friends and loved ones, as well as connect to entertainment sources such as television and streaming services to pass the time. If the older adult is religious, there are also streams of religious services that can be found throughout the web.
Some medical alert services also train their care agents how to deal with depression or anxiety. Helpful agents are available 24/7, and the senior can call just to have a chat with one of them and feel less lonely. It’s the perfect service to ease everyone’s mind in a time of such turmoil.
Daniel C.
Inês P.
