Staff Writer
According to the Center for Disease Control – CDC, the people with the highest risks for developing severe complications from the novel Coronavirus, COVID-19 are older adults over 65 years and people with underlying medical conditions such as heart disease, asthma, cancer, and diabetes or otherwise immune-compromised. Many people over 65 fall into all of these cohorts and extra care to follow public health guidelines from reliable sources. The alarming fact is that 8 out of 10 deaths reported in the U.S. have been in adults 65 years old and older.
Although many older people live in congregant accommodations like residential or nursing homes, the higher number lives at home, usually in multi-generational households. Responsibility to minimize risks of infection for older adults is dependent not only on what they can do themselves but, more often, on the behavior of those around them. So what are the steps to keep our seniors and vulnerable population safe?
The precautions recommended for everyone by medical and public health officials require rigorous observation. The CDC has provided details on how to keep everyone as safe as possible. The recommendations include the following necessary steps –
- Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after touching surfaces and or items in public places, including in supermarkets and groceries. If you use hand sanitizers, make sure they contain at least 60 percent alcohol and thoroughly cleanse the hands.
- Cough or sneeze into a disposable tissue and wash hands as soon as possible after that. Practicing good personal hygiene all the time is essential to ward off infection.
- Avoid touching your face as much as possible because contact with eyes, mouth, and nose are passages into the respiratory system where the virus can survive and attack the body.
- Keep frequently touched areas in the home clean with soap and water, bleach, and other EPA approved household disinfectants, etc. It includes medical equipment, chairlifts, and other items such as walkers and canes.
- Apply the rules of physical or social distancing, which says a minimum of 6 feet, is most effective. Along with this, limit in-person visits as much as possible. Even trips to the grocery store should be made only out of necessity.
It might require careful planning and even the help of neighbors, family, or friends to keep the pantry stocked. Home delivery services are also an option to minimize going out to the stores.
- Protect yourself if you must go out by using face masks or other facial covering. Use gloves if available, and carry hand sanitizer and disinfecting cloths with you for shopping carts, etc.
- In multi-generational households, the contacts between high-risk members of the home and others should be limited as much as possible. If space allows, physical distancing should be observed and contact limited to a designated individual who will exercise every precaution in their interactions outside the home.
- Postpone visits to health professionals except in cases of emergency or the need for urgent care. If the necessity arises or COVID-19 symptoms develop, then the primary care physician, urgent care, or hospital emergency should be called to get directions on what to do next.
- Avoid gatherings at centers of social activities, including churches, until it has been declared safe by the public health authorities. Pay attention to what is going on in your local community. However, gentle walks are encouraged where possible. Getting some exposure to fresh air and sunlight regularly are natural ways of boosting the immune systems and uplifting the mood and mental well-being.
- Staying connected with family and friends is central to the emotional and mental well-being of every person regardless of age. However, for those who are especially vulnerable and must rigorously practice physical distancing, proactively staying in touch via telephone is easy and should be done frequently. Additionally, more people are now expanding ways of staying in contact through Zoom, Skype, and similar digital or electronic means. Don’t hesitate to ask for help to accomplish this if you are unfamiliar with or not very confident using these apps and technology. The important thing is to keep connected to minimize or eliminate emotional distancing while maximizing efforts to avoid infection.
