5 Suggestions for Helping Older Adults Lower Their COVID-19 Risk

1. 5 Suggestions for Helping Older Adults Lower Their COVID-19 Risk C O R O N A VI R U S C A S E S C O N T I N U E T O I N C R E AS E A C R OS S T H E W O R L D, A N D F A M I L I ES H A V E A S E R I O U S R E AS ON T O S U R R OU N D T H E I R S E N I OR L O V ED O N E S W I T H S U P PO R T . Y O U R A G I NG F A M I L Y M E M B ER M A Y H A VE Q U E S TI ON S A B O U T W H AT ’ S G O I N G O N W I T H T H E S P R E AD O F T H E V I R U S O R B E E X T R E ME L Y A N X I OU S A B OU T H I S O R H E R S A F ET Y . Y O U C A N U S E T H E S E T I P S T O R E D U C E T H E C O R O NA VI R U S R I S K F O R Y O U R L O V E D O N E S O H E O R S H E C O N T I N U ES T O A G E I N P L A C E S A F E T Y .

2. Assume the Virus Is in Their Community The numbers you or your loved one see in the media may be scary. On the other hand, if the numbers are low in your area right now, they could give you a false sense of security. If you live in an area that doesn’t have a high number of cases, don’t let it make your loved one think he or she is completely safe from the virus. Until more tests are done, these statistics represent only people who presented with symptoms and received positive results on coronavirus tests. It’s currently believed there are many more cases that haven’t been detected, since some people are asymptomatic or have only mild symptoms so they don’t go in for testing.

3. Find Alternatives to Group Living Situations Your loved one may prefer to not be alone all the time. He or she might even be curious about what life would be like in an assisted living facility. Right now isn’t the time to explore this option. Although assisted living communities are known for helping seniors, living in one may increase the risk of coronavirus due to the large number of people who share the same space. Home care allows your loved one to shelter in place while receiving high-quality care. Stop Going on Public Outings Many religious organizations are shifting to virtual services that allow seniors to continue to engage with members of their communities in safer ways. The same thing is happening with college and recreational classes. Seniors should also avoid going to the grocery store, and they should cancel any unnecessary appointments for the time being. To keep your loved one from having to go out, a home caregiver can run errands for him or her, 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.

4. Build Up Immunity The immune system begins to decrease with age, which is why seniors are considered at high risk for this virus. You can boost your loved one’s immune system by making sure he or she eats nutritious meals and taking him or her outside for exercise when you can. Your loved one may also need help managing current health conditions, such as respiratory disease, that place him or her at risk for complications. 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 senior care. Toronto, ON 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. Step Up Your Germ- Control Methods It’s possible to bring coronavirus into your loved one’s home if you go out in public or bring in supplies from other people. Make sure to regularly sanitize commonly used surfaces in your loved one’s home, such as sinks and places where he or she eats. Although the extra housecleaning takes time, it reduces the chances of your loved one being exposed to the virus at home. Families who find it difficult to care for their aging loved ones without assistance can benefit greatly from professional respite care. Toronto, ON, 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. If your loved one needs professional care, Home Care Assistance is here to help. To hire a compassionate, dedicated caregiver, call us at (416) 488-8777 today. 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://homecareassistance.com/covid-19.

6. Home Care Assistance of Toronto Address: 355 Eglinton Ave W, Toronto, ON M5N 1A3, Canada Phone: +1 416-488-8777 Thank you Website: https://www.torontohomecareassistance.ca/ Source: https://www.torontohomecareassistance.ca/ways-of- assisting-elderly-people-with-lowering-coronavirus-risk/