Amie Clark, Senior Editor and Co-founder of #TheSeniorList.com and Cynthia Coelho, RN and Assisted Living Expert talk about keeping #seniors safe and engaged during #COVID-19.
With so many older adults isolated in senior housing settings and their own homes, Amie and Cynthia discuss ways that families can support seniors. Finding the balance between "social distancing" without "social isolation" can be challenging, Cynthia offers thoughtful tips and insights that can help.
Time Stamps:
1:06 With so many older adults isolated at home or in care settings, what are some ways families can be supporting them during this difficult time?
2:50 This is not the first time senior care settings have had to isolate residents, Cynthia talks about other instances that have come before such as flu and Noro outbreaks.
5:10 People are getting creative about keeping in touch with loved ones such as FaceTime and Skype. What are some of the things people are doing in senior care settings to keep residents from feeling isolated?
8:20 Getting creative about keeping in touch with loved ones
10:25 It's really important to ask your loved ones this simple question
12:27 It's ok to reach out to the senior care community your loved one lives in to see if there is anything you can do to help
14:41 What additional types of precautions should older adults be thinking about that aren't necessarily being talked about on a larger scale to protect themselves from getting sick?
20:20 What are the steps someone needs to take if they are not feeling well?
23:58 As difficult as it is, it's important to be talking to loved ones about end-of-life wishes, resuscitation orders, wills, power of attorneys, etc...
It can be difficult to keep older adults from feeling isolated during this difficult time. Cynthia suggests that families make sure they are social distancing from loved ones, but ensuring that they remain connected. Social isolation can lead to both physical and emotional decline.
Cynthia encourages people to stay in touch as often as possible with older adults to help ward off feelings of depression and isolation. She also reminds us that seniors are already dealing with some levels of isolation due to vision, hearing, and/or cognitive issues. Adding COVID-19 on top of existing isolation has really dealt a blow to older adults. Our older loved ones need us more than ever.
In addition to the normal precautions of social distancing, washing hands frequently, and wearing masks, Cynthia also suggests that older adults should be going out as little as possible to avoid being exposed to COVID-19. Making sure your loved ones have the supplies, such as food and medications, they need and doing shopping errands for them, greatly helps keep them safe.
Lastly, it's important for families to be having conversations with loved ones about end-of-life decisions and ensuring the proper paperwork and legal guidance is in place.
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