The caregiver and the pandemic

We couldn’t have made up what is going on in the world right now – even in our best movies.

And we know you are feeling the pinch as a caregiver.

Perhaps, the COVID-19 pandemic has meant you have to cut your hours at work.

Maybe, the people who were helping you taking care of your loved one are now having to keep their distance.

And it certainly doesn’t help that the number of COVID-19 cases around the world keeps going up.

So how do you take care of yourself as a caregiver during this time?

In today’s post, I will offer some suggestions on what you can do to cope with the current crisis.

The caregiver and the pandemic – Taking care of yourself during this time

Dealing with unemployment

If the current crisis has led to losing your job, here are a few paths you can take.

1. File for unemployment quickly in case your period of unemployment extends beyond what you expect.
2. Even though there have been mass lay-offs in certain industries like travel and tourism, some industries are looking to bring on thousands of workers during this season. Grocery outlets, pharmacy chains and hospitals are hiring staff to keep up with the current demand on these sectors. Start applying now.
3. Talk to your utility companies and credit card companies. Several companies are now issuing leniency clauses that state that you will not be penalized for late payments or nonpayment for your utilities or credit cards. I imagine calling these companies right now will be a long phone wait. So, if you have access to the internet, I recommend you try to get in touch with the company that way to discuss your situation. There is also now relief for you if you’re paying off student loans. Call your student loan servicers and talk to them.
4. To protect older adults, Medicare recently approved telehealth benefits for older adults. This way, older adults can get the care they need from home. If you care for an older adult, call your loved one’s doctor to make sure they offer it and then take full advantage.
5. Don’t give up.

Handling the emotions that come with uncertain times

These are unprecedented times.

It is alright to voice your feelings or even to cry. Care-giving is hard. Having to do it in the current environment is even harder.

Because of physical distancing, mental health professionals have had to move their services online.

This is a great opportunity to chat with one so they help you discover coping tools you can use.

These guidelines by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is helpful for finding the right mental health professional.

If you do indeed have one or two people helping with your loved one, make sure they are observing increased hygiene practices.

Any caregivers who come from an agency, need to be washing their hand before and after they touch your loved one.

If they are sick, they should be staying at home and a replacement should be provided.

If someone gets sick

If someone in your household gets sick during this time, call the hospital first.

There are triage nurses who will speak with you to determine if you (or your loved one) should come in to the hospital.

 

Let’s continue to stay safe.

Telehealth benefits for the elderly under Medicare – here’s what you should know as a caregiver.

The global COVID-19 pandemic has now claimed the lives of over 100 people in the US.

Most people suffer mild symptoms when they contract COVID-19. People over 65 and those who have underlying health issues are the largest population of those dying from the disease.

For elders who may need to get to a hospital to see their doctor, this can pose a serious health threat.

And so, on Tuesday, Medicare said it would expand coverage for telemedicine services to help seniors with health problems to stay home during the pandemic.

What does this mean?

We’ll go over that in this post.

What is telemedicine or telehealth?

Telehealth is healthcare provided over a phone or teleconference device like Skype or Zoom.

You don’t need to see the doctor physically for a consult.

You can talk to them over the phone or via video conference.

Because of the current pandemic, some seniors might have to cancel their physical doctor’s appointment to adhere to local mandates.

With Medicare expanding coverage for telehealth services, this means seniors can receive their medical care remotely.

How can you help as a caregiver?

If your that may not know how to navigate technology, a caregiver can help them set up the call.

If you’re a caregiver who cannot do this, enlist the help of friends, relatives or neighbors who are willing to help.

In order for these telehealth calls to go smoothly, you will need either a smartphone with wifi/data connection or a computer with a webcam and an internet connection.

Once you have these, I strongly advise that you reach out to your doctor and talk to them about your loved one’s telehealth options. Telehealth benefits for the elderly under Medicare might be all your loved one needs for now.

If this works well, there is a chance that Medicare recipients could enjoy telehealth services as a permanent benefit.

 

 

As of this writing, the COVID-19 (popularly known as coronavirus) pandemic is in full force.

Italy has shut down the whole country.

Parts of the US have restricted public meetings and are encouraging workers to do their work remotely.

Companies like Amazon have asked their employees to work from home at least until the end of March, 2020.

Reports show that most of the people who have died as a result of the coronavirus are older adults or those who have chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes and lung disease.

Even the stock market has been affected by this situation.

It’s alarming and rightly so.

What can you do to support your elderly loved one during this worldwide epidemic?

In today’s post, we’ll talk about the steps you can take to care for your loved one during this season.

PLEASE NOTE: A lot of these steps are useful for a general audience but will pertain mostly to people living in the Greater San Diego and Orange County regions where Green Tree Home Care has offices.

Coronavirus in San Diego – what you should know as a caregiver

The risk in the region is low

As of this writing, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has stated that the coronavirus risk for the Greater San Diego and Orange County areas remains very low.

However, it is still important to take steps to prevent getting infected by the virus.

Those steps include the following.

Stock up on medical supplies and medication

For an elderly loved one who has a chronic condition, the better the chronic condition is managed, the higher the chance that they will not be severely affected by the virus.

Proper chronic disease management may mean:

• Ask your doctor if you can stock up on medication.
• Be sure to have over-the-counter medications that your loved one could take should they exhibit any symptoms.
• Getting disinfecting agents like hand sanitizer, bleach or disinfecting alcohol to wipe surfaces in the home.
• If there are other medical supplies that your loved one needs in order to perform daily activities, make sure you’re stocking up on those as well.

Have extra food on hand just in case

People who are coughing, sneezing or who are otherwise sick, have been advised to stay at home.

These people may have to stay at home for a week or longer.

If this happens to your loved one, you want to make they have enough food and water to last that period where they’re indoors.

Avoid public gatherings if you’re sick

Even though the risk in our region is low, it’s important to reiterate that if you’re sick, it is in your best interest (and in the interest of others) to stay at home.

This will reduce the risk that you spread what you have to others.

And it will ensure you or your loved one is not exposed to another troublesome infection – including coronavirus.

And even if they’re not sick, avoiding public gatherings is still helpful for your loved one.

Wash your hands

Hand-washing is a simple yet effective way to prevent the spread of viral and bacterial infections.

The CDC recommends that you wash your hands with soap and water while scrubbing for at least 20 seconds.

For perspective, 20 seconds would be about how long it takes you to sing the “Happy Birthday to you” song one time through.

Wash your hands:

• When you use public bathrooms
• And when come from outside and into your home
• If you shake a lot of hands during the day
• Or if the job you do exposes you to sick people on any given day (e.g if you’re a nurse)

Report immediately to a doctor should you experience any symptoms

The symptoms of a coronavirus infection include fever, cough and shortness of breath.

Call the doctor immediately if you observe your loved one showing these symptoms.

 

Again, while the risk of coronavirus in San Diego remains low, taking the right precautions will limit your or your elderly loved one’s risk for the infection.