How to Honor a Lost Loved One at Your Wedding
Congratulations on your engagement! Getting engaged and then married to the person you wish to spend the rest of your life with is one of life’s...
3 min read
By Mark Busch on Mar 19, 2020
As a family caregiver, your top priority is the health and happiness of your loved one. With this, comes a myriad of responsibilities—some of which you can and can’t control.
When dealing with an uncontrollable situation, like the current, escalating coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, remember to keep your attention on the factors you can control.
Knowing older generations, particularly those with underlying medical conditions, are at higher risk for developing serious complications from COVID-19, there are steps you can take to protect the most vulnerable.
Below, we outline what family caregivers need to know about COVID-19 when caring for an aging or ailing loved one.
Read Busch Funeral and Crematory Services’ response to COVID-19.
According to the Ohio Department of Health:
“COVID-19 is an upper respiratory tract disease caused by one of the seven coronaviruses known to infect humans.”
The virus is spread from person to person through the air by sneezing or coughing, or by close contact, such as shaking hands. Symptoms, which generally appear within a week of exposure, include fever and cough, as well as shortness of breath.
People over 60 are more likely to have severe or fatal infection, especially those with chronic health conditions or compromised immune systems. While there are no vaccines to prevent COVID-19, there is plenty of information available to help family caregivers during this time of uncertainty.
Amid the uncertainty, geriatricians emphasize the importance of maintaining good habits to protect older people. In the case of family caregivers, help your loved one reduce risk in the following ways:
According to the New York Times:
“There’s no evidence yet that older people are significantly more likely to acquire the coronavirus than younger people. But medical experts say that if people over 60 are infected, they are more likely to have severe, life-threatening disease, even if their general health is good.”
As the spread of COVID-19 continues, you may feel compelled to stock up on supplies, especially if you’re caring for others.
Ideally, you should avoid crowds altogether, but if you must go out in public to grocery shop, limit close contact with others. Caregivers are recommended to get a two-week supply of grocery items, including:
Remember to only get what you need, so others also have the opportunity to get the necessary supplies they need, too.
Work-life balance is already a tricky situation to master as a family caregiver, even when we’re not facing a global health pandemic. But today’s current events only make it harder for some.
If you’re unable to work because you’re caring for an ill loved one, talk with your employer. Real-time bills were recently passed that “aim to give paid leave to workers who did not have it and extend paid leave for workers who only got a few days.”
If you are not granted paid leave, talk with your employer about the following options:
This may give you the flexibility you need to care for your loved one, and continue your job.
Are you caring for a loved one with dementia? While this disease does not increase risk for COVID-19, dementia-related behaviors may worsen one’s chances of illness.
People living with dementia may need extra support to remember important hygienic practices, like bathing. Help your loved one with the recommended precautions to prevent illness:
The COVID-19 outbreak is an unprecedented, constantly changing situation. As the situation continues to unfold, we encourage our audiences to stay as informed as possible. Check out the following family caregiver resources for help.
In times of uncertainty, it’s critical for us to make the most of the small moments we have with the people we love. That’s why we created Busch’s Essential Guide to Meaningful Conversation. Packed with 25+ conversation-starting questions, you’ll be sure to dive into deeper discussions with close family members and friends—whether near or far.
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