Taking Care of Your Parents During COVID-19

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Adults over 60 years are particularly vulnerable to falling seriously ill from COVID-19. In addition to their age, those with underlying medical conditions are also more at risk.

This means that their close family members should take extra precautions in keeping them safe. Perhaps you have parents who fall into this "vulnerable" category and are concerned with their safety.  Let's look at how we can keep them safe.

Avoid Putting Yourself at Risk

This virus spreads when people come in close contact with an infected person. They can cough or sneeze, and droplets can settle on you or you may inhale them. 

If you feel the need to cough or sneeze, then do so by covering your mouth and nose with the crook of your elbow.

Social distancing is therefore essential at all times and with everyone with whom we come into contact. The CDC (Center for Disease Control) recommends 6 feet. It is, therefore, best to stay clear of crowded places.

Wear a mask whenever you venture outside or if you're with your elderly parents. If you're not feeling well or displaying any of the COVID-19 symptoms, then isolate yourself.

Another way of staying safe is to regularly wash your hands after being out and before touching your parents or preparing their food. 

It's also vital to keep surfaces clean, such as your kitchen countertops, door handles, and tabletops. Other items to clean are the equipment your parents may use daily, e.g., their wheelchairs, canes, and walkers.

Don't Allow Your Parents to Be at Risk

It could be challenging to care for your parents without exposing them to the risk, especially if they're used to moving around freely.

For them to remain safe, they should limit their movements outside. If they don't have to go out, then they shouldn't.

You should also prevent frequent visits to your parents if they live on their own. However, being alone is tricky as you don't want them to feel completely isolated. If they can use technology, it would be advisable to set up devices that they can use for virtual contact.

To avoid the feeling of isolation, you could encourage family and friends to regularly call them and perhaps drop them a written note in their mailbox.

Encourage your parents to practice the various ways of remaining safe.

Parents Who Are Living With You

You might have decided to invite your parents to stay with you so they don't feel isolated. If this is you, then there are ways you could make your environment safe for them.

Your home might have some areas that are prone to accidents. Take a look around and identify these potentially hazardous areas.  This could be:

• Loose rugs

• Slippery tiles

• Dimly lit rooms.  

• Staircases

• Patio areas with loose stones or high steps.

Assess the various risks and, where possible, make it safer for your folks. Similarly, assess their own homes, if they're residing by themselves and have become unstable on their feet.

Making these adjustments in your home could be financially difficult as it's not normally something in your budget. There are ways you could get a loan to help you through this. An employee housing loan is one such option that a tax expert can advise you on, as mentioned by TaxLaw Canada.

Having these vulnerable loved ones living with you means that you need to take extra care with practicing safe habits. You and your family need to behave as if you're all at risk.

Take Away

As children with elderly folks, we're to ensure that they remain protected and COVID-free. We can do this by making sure we are safe. We can also ensure that while they are secure at home, they don't feel isolated. Connecting them to the outside world will help.

If they live with us, especially for this COVID period, we should safeguard them by ensuring that our environment is a safe place for them to live. Whatever our circumstances, may we not take our elderly loved ones for granted.