Senior Assisted Living Care Home - Glendora, CA - Adora Hills

Glendora Senior Care Home

Preparedness

Steps To Take For Care Planning In The Midst Of Covid-19

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A family caregiver already has a very difficult job.  So much to do for your elderly loved one, especially for those with difficult chronic conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.  At the same time, you still have to handle all the other family and work responsibilities in your life.  And you have to care for yourself, too. 

Now pile on the Covid-19, the lifestyle changes it demands and the health risks it creates.  So you add extra handwashing and disinfecting, face masks and social distancing to your care regimen.

Here’s one more thing to do.  Plan a course of action if your loved one shows symptoms of the virus.  Think about how you will quickly set up an area for quarantine so you and others do not get infected while still providing needed care.  Also, know when you should contact medical professionals and be ready to support their efforts…just in case.

Symptoms & Warnings

It is believed initial symptoms of Covid-19 appear from 2-14 days after exposure.  They include:

  • Fever.
  • Dry cough.
  • Some people report a loss of smell or taste.

If you have these symptoms, contact your health professional for guidance.  If you have any of these emergency warning signs, seek medical attention immediately.

  • Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing.
  • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest.
  • New confusion, versus typical confusion for those with cognitive impairment.
  • Bluish lips or face.

This virus and its symptoms are not completely understood.  So if any other symptoms arise that are severe or concerning, please consult your medical professional for advice. 

Have A Care Plan

During the COVID-19 crisis, having a care plan is an important part of emergency preparedness.

A care plan is a document that sums up a person’s health conditions, lists current treatments and requirements, and contains key personal data. The plan should include information on:

  • Health conditions.
  • Current medications and therapies.
  • Healthcare providers.
  • Emergency contacts.
  • Caregiver resources.

Having a care plan ready in a health emergency can save critical time while helping medical personnel to be aware of the patient’s needs and provide the best possible care. 

To make the care plan process easier for you, the CDC offers a couple of forms in which all you have to do is fill in the blanks.

https://www.cdc.gov/aging/caregiving/pdf/Complete-Care-Plan-Form-508.pdf

(Sources: CDC.gov, Administration for Community Living, MayoClinic.org)

Take Safety Precautions – Anticipation, Common Sense & Planning Make Great Partners

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For seniors who have difficulty standing up, some chairs pose more risk.  To be safer, they may avoid a low, soft chair they sink into and choose one with stiffer arms and a firmer seating surface.

Back in the 18th century, Oliver Goldsmith, a poet and playwright said “Life is a journey that must be traveled no matter how bad the roads and accommodations.”  The same can be said today in the 21st century.

Life still has its share of risks.  However, some of those risks can be lessened (or eliminated) with the use of anticipation, common sense and planning.  For seniors, this includes facing what they NOW can do and cannot do, making the adjustments necessary to live within their abilities, and asking for the help they need.  In addition, they should adopt more dependable, easier and safer systems/routines.

Taking such precautions can be as simple as seniors who have balance problems counting to five after standing up and before taking a step.  They should anticipate the problem and have a routine to deal with it.  If they don’t get dizzy, no harm done.  Better to be safe than sorry.

Systems & Routines Can Help Avoid Problems

Here are some common sense suggestions that can help seniors add a level of safety and/or prevent mishaps in their daily lives.

  • Home – Leave on a light whenever you go out.  Even better, leave on a different light each time.
  • Phone – Program your phone with critical numbers to improve response time.  This includes 911, children or caregiver, doctors.
  • Heating – Do not go to sleep or nap with a portable heater on.  Set a timer when you turn off the heater just in case you have a tendency to dose off.
  • Kitchen – For forgetful people, never leave the kitchen while food is cooking, unless you take a wooden spoon or a pot holder with you. A kitchen utensil will remind you that food is still cooking on the stove.
  • Fire – Plan escape routes from every room in your home.  And practice them, too.
  • Money – Do not display large amounts of money in public.
  • Banking – Have checks direct deposited into your account, especially those checks that criminals can anticipate their arrival date.
  • Shopping – A woman should carry her purse close to her body and never leave it in the shopping cart.
  • Walking – Carry a loud whistle to call for help or to scare off a suspected attacker.
  • Driving – Check the front and back seats of your car before entering it.
  • Travel – Know where you are going ahead of time.  Review a map and plan your route. The internet can make this process easier.  It may even show a photo of an unfamiliar location, tell you where to park and let you know if they can accommodate a disability.  Also, write down (or print out) the directions or use a GPS navigation system…or both.