It’s kind of like we are in a bad dream. As desperately as we’d prefer to wake up from this new reality, the COVID-19 pandemic is here to stay. Unfortunately, there is a second wave of COVID-19, but that’s not the only illness seniors and home health aides should prepare for. In addition to COVID-19, seniors and caregivers need to be ready for the flu season. Adults 65 and over have been hospitalized 5-13 times more than adults under 30. With there being more than one illness to be concerned of, there are steps you can take to be more prepared for the COVID-19 and Flu season.
Start Scheduling Routine Checkups
I don’t think there is a person in the world who likes to visit the doctor. It’s not on our priority list in most cases. However, this is the best course of action for seniors and home health aides. It’s recommended that home health aides and seniors to schedule routine checks ups with doctors. It’s more important discovering an illness early on than worrying about it later.
Caregivers and seniors should discuss other kinds of appointments needed to prepare for before the winter. Experts recommend taking care of other kinds of essential appointment. These include the following:
- Voting
- Dental visits
- General doctor visits
- Specialists
- Opthomalgist
- DMV and Municipal offices
- Technology repairs and maintenance
Get the Flu Shot
To be better prepared for the winter, caregivers, children, and family members should make it a priority to get their flue vaccine. It’s a recommended CDC guideline by Vandekieft. The recommended age for flu shots are anyone six months or older. Those are most risk are adults over 50 years old. The vaccine is essential to prevent shingles and pneumonia for additional protection.
Make Plans
What were to happen if you did get sick? Home health aides and seniors should make plans. Even if you take every precaution, there is no guarantee that you’ll be safe. There might be unexpected bases that you weren’t ready for. In that case, it’s a good idea to have a backup plan in place. It’s always harder to make good, reasonable decisions when we’re in a panic state.
These are some plans you should consider making.
- What precautions should you take during a natural disaster?
- Is there a secondary caregiver available for me if the first one is temporarily sick?
- To prevent a fall or bodily injured, is your house safe with walkways available? Are there secure stair railings?
Though COVID-19 and the Flu are scary, we can take preventive measures. These precautions are a step in the right direction in being prepared for what might happen.
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