We’ll let life march forward since we have no real choice in the matter. However, the marching will be with a new cadence. We now have to march with COVID-19 still around. The virus is not leaving any time soon, but we can cope and learn to live with it among us. How, you may ask? Will we live life fully, or alone and sheltered from family and friends?  Marching safely forward is very possible with the following tips!

5 Tips to Move Forward with Your Aging Parents and COVID-19

Visit Outdoors if Possible

One of the safest things to do in visiting loved ones is to conduct the visit outdoors. According to the CDC, outdoors allows you to social distance and also have fresh air. If it cannot be outdoors, make sure you are in a well ventilated area and stay at least 6 feet away from others and by all means wear a mask. Continued visitation of your aging parents is crucial so they do not get lonely or depressed.  However, what is most important is their safety. It is important to not live fearfully but cautiously. 

Keep Social Distancing

Different states have different rules. However, when it comes to the aging population, being safe is paramount. You should visit your loved ones or aging parents, but you need to proceed with caution. It is important that they feel loved and have life purpose, but it is also important that you keep social distancing. Stay 6 feet apart, wear a mask, and by all means if you can conduct your visit outdoors or in a well ventilated location, do so. If you need to go inside by any means, take off your shoes and wash your hands immediately. Be very careful and mindful not to touch many things and if you are delivering groceries or helping fix or clean something, disinfect the area before and after and wear gloves. Wash your hands when you leave and sanitize them when you reach your car. I know it feels like a lot to do and remember, but the health of your parents or loved ones or someone else’s parents during a visit is most important.

Decide Who Visits

What do you do if you are heading to visit your mother face-to-face and your daughter wants to tag along and see grandma? This is a difficult decision as you know your daughter wants to see her grandmother and you want to see them interact too. It is mentally healthy for both of them. However, can she refrain from giving grandma that big long awaited hug? Can grandma resist that human interaction she has missed for so long? I know it is a hard road to navigate. As mentioned before, the Coronavirus is not leaving anytime soon, so take small steps in visiting. Maybe you visit mom alone and any other support person or caregiver she meets with regularly goes solo too. As we get closer to a vaccine or you feel safer in your visits, bring other family members. Remember everyone should practice social distancing and wear proper PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). In most states that is a mask and in some situations gloves and protective eyewear.

Keep Things Upbeat

Stay positive, period. This virus has not made life easy for ANYONE! Engage your elderly parents or loved ones with activities that they can do. For example, teach them how to go online and chat with other friends with ZOOM. They can catch up on what is going on with others or discuss a book they all found intriguing to read. They can also play games that help boost their memory with others who are online. By inviting friends to play games, they stay stimulated mentally. There are countless ways they can visit and feel connected with the internet. Also, encourage exercise for the body too. Staying active is great for the body and the mind! 

Remember the Odds

Finally, remember who is most at risk and who is most likely to carry the virus to your aging parents. Stay informed and read the CDC guidelines regularly on how to stay connected with elderly family members without putting them at risk. The older you get the potential of getting the virus increases. Be safe, and be smart, when it comes to your aging parents or friends.

Moving forward with COVID-19 among us is not easy, but doable. Take it one step at a time and just be cautious not fearful. You and your parents need to keep living life. If you need help with the care of your aging loved one or parents, please contact Ann at Senior Living Options. She will lead you to the best choices and decisions for your loved ones.

Author: Ann Jamison

Ann Jamison is an experienced senior advisor who has successfully worked with hundreds of families to help them find the best care and home-like environment for themselves or their loved ones. Prior to launching Senior Living Options, Ann was an eldercare advisor for a national placement agency and served as sales director at a senior living community. Thanks to her 25-year career in advertising sales and marketing, Ann is able to discern between hype and reality for her clients. Ann recognizes that there are objective factors that need to be weighed when making a life-changing decision, but she can also assess the important softer attributes by getting to know her clients and by using the gut instincts that can only come through extended experience.