Over the last 3 months, the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) has claimed over 40,000 lives with over 700,000 people infected in the United States. Based on CDC reports, the elderly and those with preexisting conditions are largely affected by COVID-19 which has grown to become a pandemic. It is therefore imperative to put measures in place to safeguard the health of senior citizens by deliberately reducing their exposure to the virus.
Homecare facilities for the elderly are particularly affected by this pandemic and are currently facing difficult times due to the attendant shortage of caregivers and higher chances of infection among their clients. At this point, clients and their family members are justifiably concerned given the particular impact of coronavirus on senior citizens.
In this rapidly developing situation, the goal is to keep everyone safe, both caregivers and the care seekers. To reduce the risk of exposure to the virus it is advisable to:
Avoid senior care facilities: COVID-19 strives in environments where self-isolation and social distancing cannot be practised. Residents in this type of facility share the same caregivers, common areas and exposure to guests. There is little or no way to curb the spread of Coronavirus once one person in the facility gets infected. Nursing homes are one of the most affected by this virus, recording a lot of death across the nation.
Limit the frequency of changing caregivers: Employ the services of live-in caregivers that can stay with your loved ones for extended periods of time. Home care is the safest care option for our seniors, you can limit their exposure and they also have constant access to family.
Ensure recommended PPEs are provided and safety guidelines followed: Make sure the caregivers tending to your seniors are wearing protective gear, constantly washing their hands, and disinfecting common areas.
These measures can effectively reduce the exposure of both the seniors and their caregivers.
As the COVID-19 situation continues to unfold, more cities and states have introduced shelter-in-place enforcements and lockdowns, thereby making it difficult for families to engage professional live-in caregivers. Okestra.care is a platform that can be useful in times like this and even beyond to connect people seeking care for senior and child-related care to the right caregivers, nanny, and babysitters.
Register today at okestra.care/register to provide the right care for your family.
(For up-to-date information regarding the COVID-19, please visit cdc.gov)
