As a family caregiver, helping your aging loved one reduce the risk of contracting the new coronavirus is going to be one of your most important jobs in the coming months. This new virus is particularly devastating for older adults who have weakened immune systems and underlying health issues, and it can result in life-threatening complications. Here’s a quick glimpse at five steps you can take to protect your loved one while boosting his or her overall health and wellness.
1. Follow Stay-at-Home Orders
Most cities have now issued stay-at-home orders, and those protocols are going to be especially important for anyone who is caring for an older adult. Whenever you or another caregiver heads out of the house, you could bring back pathogens and microorganisms. If you have to leave the house for essentials, sanitize your hands as much as possible and practice social distancing.
2. Stock Up on Essentials
To limit how many times you must leave your parent’s home throughout the week, you might want to stock up on some essentials. Food is a great start, but you’ll also need to get an extended supply of your loved one’s medications as well as any medical supplies he or she might need. If you’re worried about leaving the house, a delivery service might be an ideal option. Many grocery stores and pharmacies are now offering free or affordable delivery services to older adults and people who have compromised immune systems.
A home caregiver can run errands for your loved one, including shopping for groceries and picking up prescriptions. If your aging loved one needs help managing everyday tasks or encouragement to adopt healthier lifestyle choices, turn to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of elder care. Home Care Assistance provides professional in-home caregivers around the clock to help seniors live longer, happier, and healthier lives.
3. Disinfect Frequently Touched Objects & Surfaces
Deep cleaning your loved one’s home once or twice a week is a great start, but you might need to sanitize commonly touched objects and surfaces a few times a day. Studies are now showing the new coronavirus can survive on certain surfaces for multiple hours, which is why powerful disinfectants must be used. If you’ve run out of traditional cleaning products, you can make your own spray with hydrogen peroxide or isopropyl alcohol.
4. Naturally Boost Immunity
Helping your loved one boost his or her immune system will be very important in the coming months. With a stronger immune system, it will be much easier for your parent to fight off any germs he or she comes into contact with. Some of the best options for naturally boosting the immune system include following a healthy diet, drinking plenty of water, lowering stress levels, and getting adequate sleep.
If your loved one needs help following healthy habits that boost his or her immune system, a home caregiver can be a wonderful source of support. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of in-home care. Surrey families can rely on Home Care Assistance to provide individualized care plans to meet your elderly loved one’s unique care needs. Our holistic Balanced Care Method was designed to help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and our Cognitive Therapeutics Method offers mentally stimulating activities that can stave off cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia.
5. Consider Professional Assistance
Even if you’re going to be with your parent quite a bit until the stay-at-home order subsides, there will still probably come a time when you need some help with your loved one. Hiring an in-home caregiver is an excellent option during this pandemic because the caregiver can look after your loved one in the comfort of your parent’s own home. The caregiver can help with tasks such as socializing with your loved one, preparing healthy meals, and reminding your loved one to take medications.
Families who find it difficult to care for their aging loved ones without assistance can benefit greatly from professional respite care. Surrey, BC, family caregivers who need a break from their caregiving duties can turn to Home Care Assistance. Using our proprietary Balanced Care Method, our respite caregivers can encourage your loved one to eat well, exercise regularly, get plenty of mental and social stimulation, and focus on other lifestyle factors that promote longevity. Rely on the professionals at Home Care Assistance to provide high-quality compassionate care for your loved one. Give us a call today at (778) 279-3634 to learn about our flexible in-home care plans.
With information surrounding coronavirus/COVID-19 changing by the hour, it’s challenging to stay updated on the most recent best practices for keeping seniors safe at home. At Home Care Assistance, we understand how critical it is for seniors and their caregivers to protect against coronavirus as much as possible. All our team members have received detailed communication on infection control protocols, including effective cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces and hands. Our caregivers can pick up medications, groceries, and anything else a senior needs, minimizing their interaction with large groups of people. For more information on how Home Care Assistance helps protect clients, click here: https://www.homecareassistancevancouver.ca/covid-19-home-care/.