As stay at home orders lift at various phases across the country, it can be difficult to know what is best for your elderly or immune-compromised loved one. On one hand, safety comes first but on the other, loneliness and depression can be exacerbated by staying in quarantine. Every person has their own complex medical history and health needs. Therefore, blanket recommendations aren’t appropriate. Take the time to learn about all of your options and weigh the risks before making any final decisions. Essential Quality Care compiled the following strategies to help you decide what is best for your loved one during this time.
Consult Healthcare Provider
It’s important to start by consulting the experts. Ask your loved one’s primary medical provider for advice. They know your medical history and can help you think about all of the information that is relevant to your loved one.
Pay Attention to Local News
Find out how your loved one’s community has been affected. Your decision may be different if they live in a community with low exposure rates versus a community that has experienced a spike in new cases. This may change over time so it’s important to stay up to date with all available local information.
Consider Risks
Take the time to write out all of the benefits and risks. Seeing them in front of you may help you make your decision. Once all of your information is collected, consider bringing close family members or caregivers into the conversation. They may have a different perspective or additional knowledge that can help you make the best decision possible.
Continue Hygiene and Disinfection Precautions
No matter what decision you make for your loved one, make sure you both continue practicing the following precautionary measures:
- Hand Hygiene: Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds often throughout the day. Avoid touching your face, especially with unwashed hands.
- Cough & Sneeze Hygiene: Cough and sneeze into a tissue or the crook of your arm. Dispose of tissue immediately and wash your hands
- PPE: Wear masks when outside of your home.
- High Touch Surfaces: Disinfect high touch surfaces on a daily basis. These often include doorknobs, counters, sinks and electronics.
- Social Distance: Keep 6 feet of distance between you and anyone who isn’t a part of your household.
Use Caution
Remember there are many variations to consider that may help to cure your loved one’s loneliness while also keeping them safe. There is a lot of distance between allowing close family members to stop by for a quick socially distanced chat in your loved one’s back yard to allowing your loved one to resume normal actives. Whichever option you choose, use caution and re-evaluate regularly. You’re allowed to start slow and change your mind at any time. Ultimately, the health and well-being of you and your loved one is the most important.
Essential Quality Care is committed to putting our clients and their families first. Due to the recent COVID-19 outbreak, our team is doing everything we can to prevent spreading the virus. Our procedures are always made to keep our community safe but during this time we’re taking extra precautions to help protect the health of our clients. Contact us to learn more about our in-home care services for all ages. We specialize in infant, adult and senior caregiving. Our exceptional team can give your loved ones the care they deserve. With each interaction, we want you to feel like family.
Photo by: istockphoto.com/Tetiana Soares
