Seniors and Covid-19: How All of Us Can Help

COVID-19 continues to spread around the globe, and it seems like the situation is changing moment by moment.

We know that adults 60+ are at more risk, and that seniors 80+ are at an elevated risk of developing complications.

So how can we help and support our senior loved ones during this time?

First, I think we can all agree on Rule #1: Minimizing seniors’ exposure to COVID-19 should be everyone’s priority. Rule #2: Our seniors may be feeling especially anxious and may need extra support.

Here are a few ways all of us can do that.

If your senior loved one lives in a retirement home:

Respect the process. Retirement homes have standard routines and protocols in place for situations just like COVID-19. Make yourself aware and go along with what they recommend.
Don’t visit in person. Not allowing outside visitors into a seniors’ home is the most effective way a home can protect its residents.
Keep in touch in a different way. Alternatives to in-person visiting include Skype or FaceTime. Or just pick up the phone and call to tell your loved one you’re thinking about them. Encourage grandchildren to write a letter and mail it to the retirement home
Explain the situation. It’s important that your loved one understands why you aren’t visiting in person. If your loved one has dementia or another form of cognitive impairment, consult with the professional memory care staff at the home to talk about the best way to approach it.

If your senior loved one(s) is / are living alone at home:

Call them to say hi. Ask them what they need. Reassure them that you are there for them.
Ensure they have their medications. It’s important that essential prescriptions are filled so that your loved one doesn’t run out. Try to get prescriptions for an extra month as well as refills.
Reinforce hygiene. Wash your hands! Share these basic measures with your loved one.
Ensure they have necessary supplies. No, we’re not talking about ordering 40 boxes of toilet paper on Amazon! However, it’s always good to be prepared. Be sure your senior has:

Non-perishable and frozen food items
supplies (food, litter) for their pets
cleaning supplies
adequate sanitary/hygiene supplies.

A senior woman being delivered groceries — Ensure they have necessary supplies

Support from Tea & Toast

We are fully committed to protecting the health and well-being of our senior population.

We also recognize that people still need to plan and look for retirement living options, even in these times.

Tea & Toast is operating at 100% capacity. In fact, we are responding quickly to the changing needs of our clients and our community during this COVID-19 pandemic and are at the forefront of the industry by designing innovative solutions to meet our clients’ needs, while protecting their health.

Tea & Toast is now offering a first of its kind service to seniors and families who would like to tour, or need to tour retirement homes, but are unable to visit in person. By conducting live, guided video tours of the retirement homes, we are giving our clients the opportunity to tour the residence and have their questions answered in real time. Additionally it keeps our senior community safe and prevents individuals with any form of illness from entering the retirement homes.

If you are in need of finding a retirement home for you or your loved one, give us a call. The situation with Covid 19 is constantly changing as is how the retirement homes are handling the situation. Tea & Toast is adapting with these changes.

Call us at 613-698-1319 or email us at info@teandtoast.ca. We’re here to help.