The Covid-19 pandemic has seen all of us experience major upheaval to our daily lives. Government guidelines and regulations that have been implemented to slow the spread of the virus have forced us to change how we live. Many, especially the elderly, are struggling to adapt to the changes. Most of us are now working from home, we all have to wear a mask in public and we have to socially distance from everyone we don’t live with. The elderly is one of society’s groups that suffer the most from this – their social clubs have stopped, their grandchildren can’t visit them and it’s even especially dangerous for them to go to the supermarket. This isolation results in real loneliness. We all have a responsibility to do everything we can for the elderly people in our lives. Here are a few things you can do to help them during this difficult time.
I’ve been keeping track of the work that Age UK have been doing over the last year. The Age UK site offers some grea resources and articles for the elderly to understand how the pandemic can directly affect them. You can also donate money to help the charity in their bid to keep the isolated elderly feeling like they aren’t alone. You can help the elderly people in your life too.
Keep In Touch
Over 70s should really shelter and keep themselves away from others as the effects of Coronavirus can be especially deadly to this age group. Hopefully now that the virus programme underway, they will start to feel that things are starting to improve. Isolating on your own at home, if you don’t live with anyone, means that many elderly individuals are really beginning to suffer with loneliness. It’s absolutely essential that you do what you can to safely keep in touch with your elderly loved ones. Whilst you’re not able to visit them in their home like you might be used to doing, you can phone them every day, write them letters, send a postcard, or, if possible, encourage them to use video calling so you can see each other face to virtual face. You could also bake them some shortbread or a little cake. This could make all the difference to their day.
Making sure they can always get help when they need it is essential too, as you won’t always be around to answer the phone. Installing a help button for elderly if they fall is an important consideration.
PIck Up Their Groceries and Prescriptions
Seeing as the elderly can’t really get out and about at the moment, you should make sure to get them the things that they need. If you are a licensed care professional taking care of this, then you can handle and organise such tasks by using care management software such as The Lookout Way. These programs can help you keep a schedule, set reminders and care for your loved ones remotely, which can make things much simpler for both parties involved. When it comes to these tasks themselves there are several things to consider. For example, food delivery slots are sparse and they may not be able to secure delivery. That’s if they even use the internet in the first place. So, make sure to pick up their groceries for them. Ask them to send you a list of what they need and you can then deliver it to their door.
You could try baking them some nice treats too. It could really brighten their day and give them something different to enjoy. You should also make sure to pick up anything that they need for their health and wellbeing. Pick up their prescriptions, pick up their vitamins and supplements – Vitamin D is great if they aren’t getting outside, Vitamin C will boost their immune system and even cbd helps arthritis! It will make their life a whole lot easier and ensure that they are getting all the things their body needs to feel well.
Give Them Updates on Important Information
The guidelines, rules and regulations are regularly changing and even I find it hard to keep up. Vaccines are being rolled out too. So, it’s important that your elderly loved one keeps up with what’s going on and knows what new rules or guidelines to follow. If they’re not great at doing this themselves (many elderly people rely on newspapers which they may not be able to get every day now), make sure to keep them updated over the phone. Make sure they know when they are due their vaccine and to keep on top of them getting it.
These are just a few small suggestions but they can make so much difference to someone’s happiness and wellbeing!