Dr. Eboni Green
October 21, 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has created new difficulties for caregivers of vulnerable loved ones. Some have opted to move their seniors in with them to avoid viral spread at care facilities. Others may be tending to the needs of disabled loved ones without the assistance of the usual in-house aides. And even when a vulnerable person can live alone, their family members may worry about their being left isolated at such a stressful time. Here are some ways caregivers can alleviate burdens for their loved ones while making the hard decisions about how best to protect them during a public health crisis, presented by Caregiver Support Services.
Use Technology to Assist You
If your loved one lives away from you, make sure they are equipped with reliable communication technology so you can maintain regular contact. Set them up with apps and devices that will help with day-to-day tasks such as taking their medicine on time or ordering groceries. If you have a senior or disabled family member living with you, monitoring apps can help you track their health. Apps can even help you keep an eye on a loved one who is liable to become disoriented and wander. Assistive technology and smart home devices can help your loved one achieve greater self-sufficiency.
Whether your loved one is residing with you, in a care facility, or on their own, it’s important that their home space be as safe as possible. This could involve installing wheelchair ramps and guardrails. Consider installing a walk-in tub so your senior or disabled loved one can tend to their personal hygiene without risk of a fall. Slippery floors, unsecured rugs, and unevenness in the floor can cause a person using a mobility device to trip and fall, so check the floors for safety and be sure all canes and walkers are fitted with a rubber grip.
The pandemic has created change in all our lives. These changes can cause those with mental health or cognitive issues to experience stress, depression, and disorientation. Try to introduce changes slowly, if possible. If you’ve had to relocate a loved one abruptly, make sure you involve them in the process as much as possible, talk them through it, and keep their routines and rituals as unaltered as possible. Try to rearrange furniture and other objects in a way that will be familiar to them, and if they have comfort items — photos, pillows, scrapbooks — have them within easy reach.
The situation you are in right now may be temporary. It will be necessary at some point for you and your loved one to talk about how best to plan for their future. Will they need to relocate to an assisted living facility or nursing home? If so, spend time with them looking at different facilities online. If they will need to sell their home, get help from a real estate professional to free you up to care for your loved one and take the headache out of the process. If they do not already have forms such as Power of Attorney and Living Will, talk to them about completing these, especially if you foresee having to make medical and financial decisions for them.
Caring for a vulnerable loved one can be deeply exhausting, no matter how much you cherish your time with them. So make sure you carve out a little time for yourself to reduce stress. Whether it’s a short workout session, meditation, a soothing bath, or music therapy, do what you need to do to relax and up your energy. If you are worried about leaving your loved one unattended, try to schedule your self-care for when they are napping or resting, and use monitoring tools.
The pandemic can certainly make an already difficult situation harder. You have to weigh risks and expenses and balance concerns about viral spread against consideration for the well-being of vulnerable adults who need routine assistance and support. Don’t hesitate to reach out to professionals if you are overwhelmed.
