Keep seniors safe during a coronavirus stay-at-home order

To slow the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, increasing numbers of state and local governments have issued shelter-in-place orders.

For most of us, this means staying at home for protection and only going out for food or medicine, to provide care, or to exercise outdoors while staying 6 feet away from others.

Since seniors are at high risk of developing serious complications or dying from COVID-19, staying home minimizes their exposure to the virus and reduces their chance of getting sick.

We share 8 practical tips to keep you and your older adult as safe (and sane) as possible.

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1. Reduce risk from essential errands like getting food or medicine

At some point, you’ll have to leave the house to buy groceries, get basic supplies, and pick up medication refills.

It’s wise to take a few precautions to reduce the amount of germs you’ll be bringing back into the house.

Reduce shopping trips and time spent in stores First, here are 3 ways to reduce the number of trips you’ll need to make, the stores you’ll need to visit, and the amount of time you need to be out. 

The less total time you spend outside, the fewer germs you’ll be exposed to.

Use pharmacy delivery services Many pharmacies offer delivery services – some are even free. 

Walgreens is offering free shipping on prescription refills and CVS is offering free prescription delivery through May 1st.

Making the switch to an online pharmacy like PillPack or phil means not having to go to the pharmacy in person. Just know that they’re typically unable to fulfill Schedule II medications that seniors commonly use, like opioid painkillers.

If you use an independent pharmacy, call to find out about their delivery options.

Order household essentials in bulk online If your budget allows, you might want to order essential basics online in bulk from stores like Target, Amazon, Walmart, Costco, or Jet.com.

Items like toilet paper, facial tissue, paper towels, moist wipes, or incontinence supplies are a must have when you’re caring for an older adult and can be stored indefinitely. 

Plus, having a 2 week or 1 month supply on hand can give you peace of mind that you won’t run out the next time people start panic-buying.

Consider grocery delivery services Many major chain grocery stores offer delivery services. In addition, dedicated grocery delivery services like Instacart can shop from a variety of stores.

“Decontaminate” yourself after going out in public After going to the store, many people worry about bringing germs back into the house and passing them along to an older adult.

We’ve got additional suggestions on what you could do to reduce the amount of germs coming into the home, but this doesn’t mean that you have to put all of these ideas into practice. 

They’re meant to give you ideas and help you become more aware of how germs could potentially spread.

Everyone needs to decide for themselves which precautions they feel are reasonable and necessary.

Follow basic CDC recommendations Generally, you should follow the CDC’s recommendations for high risk individuals like seniors.

That includes diligent and proper handwashing for 20 seconds, not touching your face, and sanitizing high-touch surfaces like your mobile phone, doorknobs that you touch on your way in, and countertops where you place your purchases.

Beyond practicing good hygiene based on CDC recommendations and following any specific recommendations from your older adult’s doctor, there are no clear cut right or wrong actions.

Additional ideas In addition to CDC recommendations, you might consider doing some of these things as soon as you enter the house:

1. Put your shopping bags and/or handbag in a dedicated, out-of-the-way corner or near the door, limiting their contact with the rest of the home

2. Remove shoes and/or wear dedicated indoor shoes or slippers

3. Wash your face, hands, and forearms

4. Pull back your hair to reduce the likelihood that you’ll need to touch it or that it would brush against your older adult

5. Clean your mobile phone with a 70% alcohol wipe

6. Remove all rings and/or bracelets before washing hands and don’t wear them while in the house – in case virus particles could be hiding on or under them 

7. Take off all your clothing and put it directly into the laundry, wash your hands, and put on fresh “indoor” clothes

8. Take a shower (wash your hair too) and change clothes, putting the “outdoor” clothes into the laundry

2. Take precautions for purchases, mail, and packages

According to the CDC, proper hand hygiene is the most important thing in reducing the spread of COVID-19.

However, items from stores have been touched by many people and could potentially carry the virus, which can live for up to 3 days on surfaces like plastic and steel.

Items that have been packed or delivered by grocery services have also been handled by other people.

Then, when you handle the item or outer packaging later at home, lingering germs could be transferred to your hands.

“If people are concerned about the risk, they could wipe down packages with disinfectant wipes and wash their hands,” said Dr. Linsey Marr, an expert in the transmission of viruses by aerosol at Virginia Tech.

This article from Consumer Reports contains useful information from infectious disease experts and specific suggestions on how to clean and disinfect groceries and other household goods that you’ve purchased or had delivered.

For most items and surfaces, washing with soap and water can break apart the COVID-19 virus’ cell walls and kill it.

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3. Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces

At home, the CDC recommends regular cleaning of frequently touched surfaces with household cleaners and EPA-registered disinfectants that are appropriate for the surface, following label instructions.

Those “high-touch” surfaces include, but aren’t limited to:

1. Toilets

2. Faucets

3. Sinks

4. Doorknobs

5. Light switches

6. Tables

7. Countertops

8. Cabinet and drawer handles

9. Desks

4. Safely manage medical appointments

Many older adults have regular appointments with doctors and specialists to treat and maintain chronic health conditions. 

But going to a medical appointment could expose your older adult to the virus.

For the general public, experts like Dr. Carla Perissinotto, an associate professor in the Geriatrics Division at UCSF, are advising people to cancel non-essential medical appointments.

However, for seniors, those regular appointments may be essential for maintaining their health so it’s best to call their doctor to find out what to do.

Their doctor will let you know if the appointment is truly necessary and if not, how long it can be postponed without harming their health. Or perhaps it could be accomplished using telemedicine.

Similarly, for important regular check-ins to monitor blood chemistry or take other physical readings, ask the doctor what they recommend for your older adult’s specific health situation. 

For some conditions, there may be online or remote monitoring options that your older adult could use.

5. Stay connected with others

Sheltering in place feels very isolating, even if there are several people in your household.

To keep in touch with family and friends, use the telephone and video calls to check in regularly. You might even want to organize regular coffee dates or share a meal through a video call.

Aside from FaceTime on Apple iPhones, additional free video calling services for mobile devices and computers include: Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Skype (Web / iPhone / Android), Google Hangouts (Web / iPhone / Android), and Google Duo (iPhone / Android).

Or, you might try a “throwback” activity like writing letters or cards by hand. Getting some fun mail would certainly brighten a friend or relative’s day and it’s an activity that both you and your older adult can enjoy.

6. Engage in fun indoor activities

To keep everyone’s spirits up, engage your older adult in a variety of fun activities.

Here are some ideas that are great for the current situation:

1. 9 Enjoyable Activities for Seniors with Limited Mobility

2. Activities for Seniors: Jigsaw Puzzles

3. 9 Entertaining Activities for Low Vision Seniors with Alzheimer’s or Dementia

4. Entertain and Engage Seniors with Books on Tape

5. Entertaining Seniors at Home: Watch Free Live Nature Cameras

6. 10 Easy Crafts for Seniors with Dementia: Inexpensive DIY Ideas

And we’ve got dozens more senior-friendly activity ideas here on our website.

7. Stay active

Exercise is a great way to boost mood and the immune system. It’s also another fun activity that keeps seniors engaged.

We’ve got some ideas you might like:

1. Chair Yoga for Seniors: Reduce Pain and Improve Health

2. 3 Easy Tai Chi Videos for Seniors Prevent Falls, Improve Balance and Strength

3. Home Dementia Exercise Program Increases Abilities and Improves Symptoms

4. Head to Toe Gentle Seated Chair Exercises for Seniors Improve Range of Motion

5. 12 Easy and Gentle Seated Stretching Exercises for Seniors in 4 Minutes

6. Seated Tai Chi for Seniors: 3 Simple Routines Improve Flexibility and Well-being

7. Easy & Effective 10 Minute Chair Exercises for Seniors

And we’ve got dozens of senior-friendly exercise suggestions here on our website.

8. Get caregiver support

Without the ability to go out, caregiving can feel more isolating than ever.

To stay connected with others who are in similar situations and understand what you’re going through, consider joining an online caregiver support group.

On Facebook, there are many private groups dedicated to families who are caring for older adults. 

They’re completely free and allow you to get support, vent, or ask questions anytime – day or night.

In this article, we rounded up 11 top Facebook support groups for caregivers, describe each group’s focus (Alzheimer’s and dementia, aging parents, general caregiving, etc.), and explain how to join – see the full list here.

These groups are all Facebook “Closed Groups,” which means they’re all private.

You can feel safe posting or commenting because your activity inside the group will only be seen by other group members and won’t show on your personal Facebook page.

Your Facebook friends would only see your group activity if they were also a member of that group.

Recommended for you:

1. Nursing Home Lockdown: 6 Ways to Stay Connected with Seniors During a Coronavirus Scare

2. Coronavirus Senior Care: Answers to Top Caregiver Questions

3. Coronavirus and Seniors: What You Need to Know

4. Coronavirus Scam Alert: 7 Tips for How Seniors Can Avoid Them

By DailyCaring Editorial Team

This article wasn’t sponsored and doesn’t contain affiliate links. For more information, see How We Make Money.

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