Keeping Grandparents Safe during the COVID-19 Pandemic

One of the global community’s priorities is keeping the elderly safe during this global health crisis. Considered to be at the highest risk of contracting the virus, individuals aged 60 years old and above are encouraged to stay at home to protect themselves. But this is easier said than done. Although several people live in nursing homes, some stay with their family members. If your family is one of the latter, there are certain lifestyle changes you have to adapt to keep your elderly housemates safe and healthy.

How to Protect Your Elderly Family Members

A challenge many families are facing right now is how to keep their elderly family members safe and healthy during the pandemic. Although social distancing is the suggested solution to flattening the curve, this is harder to do when you live with someone who is immunocompromised and needs your assistance.

Here are some tips on how to properly care for your elderly family members during these trying times.

Assign one person to go out of the house.

COVID-19 is considered to be more contagious than previous global viruses. It can be transmitted from one person to the next, even though the former doesn’t appear to be sick. This is why everyone is encouraged to practice social distancing.

If you live in a household with several people, consider assigning one person to handle all external chores, like grocery shopping.  At the same time, this person should limit their interactions with your elderly family members. This will prevent them from accidentally infecting the elderly.

Make it a habit to always wash your hands.

Transmission of the virus often occurs through coughing and sneezing. Most people cover their mouths and noses with their hands when they cough and sneeze. However, failing to wash your hands afterward puts the people you touch at risk of contracting the virus.

After coughing or sneezing, make sure to wash your hands with soap and water. You can take the extra precaution of using hand sanitizer after. Remember to do this before doing anything for your elderly family member. This lessens the risk of accidentally infecting them as you help them.

Monitor your health as a precaution.

The highly contagious nature of COVID-19 has put everyone at risk. Monitoring your health, even though you aren’t classified as a Person Under Investigation (PUI), will help you prevent any infections in your home.

Take your temperature twice a day and note down any inconsistencies. Check if you are coughing more than normal or having trouble breathing. If you notice any signs or symptoms, call your physician immediately. Explain the situation properly so they can determine the right course of action.

This global health crisis is taking its toll on everyone. But it isn’t an excuse to be apathetic to others and the situation. Help flatten the curve while making sure your elderly family members are well taken care of by adopting these practices. They might seem inconvenient, but they have a significant impact on stopping the spread of the virus.

Meta title: How to Keep Elderly Family Members Safe and Healthy

Meta description: Make sure your elderly family members are well taken care of during this time. Here are some practices you should consider adopting in order to protect them.