CareChamp, a home-based care nursing agency has compiled 10 ways to help the public on how the elderly can be protected during the Covid-19 outbreak.

1 Remain calm - Stress can weaken the immune system, so do your best to put older adults in your care at ease. Try not to panic and just make sure to cover the basics. It may be a good idea to take breaks from watching or listening to continuous coverage, which can become overwhelming.

2 Protect your own health - As in an emergency plane landing, we need to keep others safe by protecting ourselves first. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitiser, don't touch your face, and avoiding close contact with anyone who is sick.

3 Practice social distancing - It’s easy to avoid contact with strangers, but what about social distancing inside the household? Slow the spread among family members by washing your hands and clothes as soon as you get home, regularly disinfecting communal areas, and keeping physical affection to a minimum.

4 Limit visitors - The last thing you want is for your elderly loved one to start to feel isolated. Encourage contact via the phone or video chats. 

5 Stick to a routine (as much as possible) - Maintaining a sense of normalcy, especially in such uncertain times, can act as a security blanket. Encourage your loved one/s to get up, get dressed, and make their bed (just like they would any other day).

6 Create healthy habits - Physical exercise, enough sleep, and a nutrient-rich diet are all linked to mental health and well-being. Getting outdoors is good for your immune system. If your loved one is hesitant to go outside, then open windows to encourage airflow. 

7 Think ahead -  Talk to their doctors about delivering prescription medicines and the option of at-home appointments.

8 Think outside the box - There’s no better time than the present to get lost in a world of online entertainment. Think audiobooks, podcasts, and streaming services like Netflix. If your loved one is more old-fashioned, then encourage them to catch up on their reading list, play a board game, or build a puzzle.

9 Stay informed - Get your news and information from sources you can trust, like South Africa’s official Covid-19 portal and the World Health Organisation.

10 Live-in caregiver - It may be time to start thinking about self-quarantine with your elderly loved one. That, or making arrangements for a live-in caregiver. Home care agencies agree it’s the safest way right now to care for the elderly.  

African News Agency (ANA)