COVID-19 has been spreading across the United States at a frightening speed. This pandemic is very dangerous for seniors, as they are at a higher risk of having severe, life-threatening symptoms if they contract COVID-19.
Americans with conditions like Alzheimer’s disease or dementia are particularly at risk. That’s because the behaviors and health problems associated with neurodegenerative conditions can increase the likelihood of a person contracting COVID-19.
A person with Alzheimer’s or dementia may find it difficult to wash their hands regularly throughout the day and may find it harder to practice social distancing. They may also struggle to understand the risks associated with COVID-19.
If a person with a neurodegenerative illness contracts coronavirus, they may not be able to recognize their symptoms. This places them and their relatives in great danger.
In-home care can be used to protect your loved one from COVID-19. Caregivers can perform a wide range of tasks to ensure your relative is not exposed to the virus and has help available when necessary.
Here is some information about the ways All Heart Home Care protects seniors from COVID-19. If you have questions, please contact us at 619-736-4677.
How All Heart Home Care Help Seniors with Alzheimer’s or Dementia
Our caregivers follow the guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for protecting individuals with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Some ways we can help seniors include:
Helping seniors practice self-isolation
The CDC recommends limiting contact with other people as the best way to avoid contracting COVID-19 over the coming months. Our Caregivers help clients self-isolate by performing a wide variety of day-to-day tasks on their behalf, including:
- Grocery shopping
- Filling pharmacy prescriptions
- Mailing letters
- Making other day-to-day purchases
Seniors can stay at home instead of being forced to visit locations where they might be infected by the virus.
Cleaning and disinfecting household surfaces
Another key recommendation of the CDC is to regularly disinfect and clean any objects or surfaces that are touched frequently. This includes phones, kitchen countertops, doorknobs, kitchen cabinet handles, microwave handle, refrigerator handle, and toilets..
In-home caregivers can take care of these types of domestic cleaning tasks for clients with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Caregivers can also ensure there is always a sufficient amount of hand sanitizer, soap, tissues, and other personal hygiene products available.
Ensuring the home is a safe environment
Clients with neurodegenerative conditions has a higher risk of injury while in the home. This is because they are more likely to forget about the locations of trip hazards and potentially dangerous items. Our caregivers protect clients by ensuring there are no trip hazards in common areas of the home, including electrical cords, boxes, excessive furniture, and clutter. They can also provide physical assistance to further reduce the risk of a fall.
Written reminders
Regular hand washing is an important part of remaining safe during this time. However, it can be difficult for people with Alzheimer’s or dementia to know when to perform this task.
In-home caregivers can add written reminders around the home, which tells the client when and how to wash their hands. They can also add reminders for other personal hygiene tasks like finding tissues, finding a fresh set of clothing, and knowing when a shower is required.
Caregivers will also ensure there are contact reminders for emergency services, family members, and friends located in an obvious location. This helps seniors get additional help when needed.
Identifying flu and pneumonia symptoms
One reason the coronavirus is so dangerous for people with a neurodegenerative disease is that they may not know they have it during the initial stages. They may not understand that their symptoms mean they require immediate medical assistance. An in-home caregiver will be able to report the health condition of your loved one with a family member, and they can help them get medical assistance when required.
Providing much needed social contact
If your loved one is socially isolated, they are more likely to become anxious or depressed. In-home caregivers provide much needed social contact, offering friendly conversations which can relieve any feelings of loneliness your loved one is experiencing. However, they will maintain social distancing and proper protective measures will be implemented during a social visit.
Explaining the risk
People living with dementia often become confused about what is happening in the world around them. Whenever they see a news report on coronavirus, it may feel like the first time they have heard of the crisis, triggering acute stress. Caregivers can explain what coronavirus means to the client. They can tell them they are safe within the comfort of their home and are being cared for.
Assistance when primary caregiver becomes sick
In-home caregivers can take over the duties of a primary caregiver whenever they become ill. This eliminates the risk of the primary caregiver potentially passing on their illness to the loved one. This can prevent the spread of COVID-19.
If you have any more questions on how All Heart Home Care caregivers can protect seniors with Alzheimer’s or dementia from COVID-19, please contact us at 619-736-4677.
