Kick-off the holiday and winter season right, with these 7 safety tips for seniors and caregivers!
1. Stick to Online Shopping
Although stores are taking many precautions to keep shopping safe- going into a store with others is never going to be as safe as staying home. Instead, look online for all your gifts and winter buys. There are tons of sales happening this month on the internet, so you won’t be missing out on any savings. And, with online shopping, you can ship the gifts straight to the recipients without having to physically visit them.
2. Send Money Instead of Gifts
If online shopping is hard for you or your senior, send money instead of gifts. Online shopping can sometimes be tricky when you can’t physically see or hold the item. Make this holiday season easy on yourself, and send heartfelt cards and money instead. Your friends and family will appreciate it just as much as a hand-picked gift.
3. Look for Virtual Events/Activities
Social distancing is important, but that doesn’t mean your senior can’t have fun. Search for virtual events and activities that interest you and your senior, and join in! You can even coordinate with friends and family to make it a little more social. From theater to movies to concerts to book groups, there are tons of different virtual spaces to be a part of.
4. Keep in-Person Visits to a Minimum
Whenever possible, try to choose phone calls and video calls instead of in-person visits. If you or your senior is going to visit someone in-person, be sure to stay safe and follow the CDC’s suggestions and guidelines. Try to keep the visit under 15 minutes, and aim to stand 6 feet back.
5. Mask up, Wash Hands, and Social Distance
You and your senior may be tired of hearing this, but it’s crucial that you continue to wear masks, wash hands regularly, and practice social distancing. Wash your hands immediately upon returning to the house. And, bring extra masks and hand sanitizer when you go outside.
6. Opt for Individually Wrapped, Prepacked Food
Obviously, the ideal situation for COVID safety is not to eat with others, especially if they are not in your pod. However, if eating with others is unavoidable, there are a few ways to make the situation a little safer. Firstly, keep your mask on before and after eating. Secondly, wash your hands immediately before eating (and after, for the safety of others). Thirdly, opt for individually wrapped, prepackaged food. With individually wrapped food, you don’t have to worry about sharing serving utensils or eating from a large open tray.
7. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Details
There’s no shame in asking questions. Especially, when it comes to COVID related safety details. Don’t be afraid to ask friends and family about their COVID history and habits. If a friend gives you homemade cookies, don’t be shy to ask if they were baked wearing gloves and a mask. If a family member wants to drop off some gifts, kindly ask them if they’ve been in large crowds recently. The more information you have, the safer you’ll feel and the more educated the decisions you can make surrounding the circumstances.
An agency like Aurora Homecare & Hospice will take care of all your senior’s critical health needs, so you can focus on what’s truly important- the quality of life!
