Right now, life is different for everybody. In California, we are currently in a state of shelter in place. We’re not supposed to leave our homes unless we must. This means trips to the grocery store, work (if your job is considered an essential service), or to other vital appointments. Because of the coronavirus and fears of spreading the virus that leads to COVID-19, we are being asked to do everything that we can to avoid contact with others through social distancing.
But just because social distancing guidelines are in place does not mean that the world has stopped. People are still going to have medical needs, especially those that are older, have weaker immune systems, or get injured. This puts our older loved ones at an even high risk as they are more likely to have medical needs than others. Some extra steps before we act can help minimize the risk that we put our loved ones at.
Odds are, if you have an older loved one living with you right now, medical care is going to become necessary for them at some point in the coming weeks. If it was for yourself, the smart thing to do with most minor health concerns is to wait it out. But this isn’t a chance that you should be willing to take with someone who is a bit more vulnerable when it comes to their health. An older loved one will not bounce back from a cold or the flu quite as easily as a younger adult will. A doctor’s guidance should be sought out.
This doesn’t mean that you should drive them to an after hours clinic, though. The first thing that you should do is to call your loved one’s doctor. They may determine that your parent doesn’t need to come in and that an evaluation can be conducted remotely. This is optimal since leaving the house could potentially expose your loved one to the virus, putting them in even more danger than whatever their current illness could bring.
If a visit is necessary, the doctor will have a safe plan in place to meet with patients. Each doctor has a different protocol for how this should be done, so pay attention to any instructions that the doctor gives and ensure that you stick to them as closely as possible. While out, be sure to wear a mask and gloves. Although these things aren’t mandatory in most places, they will be one more layer of protection while you are out of the house. Wash your hands really well before and after you’re out and make sure that you use hand sanitizer whenever possible.
If you have concerns about taking your loved one out for an appointment, be sure to address those over the phone with the doctor. They will be able to give you better advice regarding this and put your fears to rest.
This is a strange period of time for everyone. Taking a few moments of precaution to make sure that your older loved ones are safe has the potential to save lives.
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