46 THE QUEENS COURIER • HEALTH • MAY 7, 2020 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
health
Caregiving and COVID-19: Tips for people with vulnerable family members
COVID-19 has dramatically shift -
ed daily life for many people around
the world. Nobody is immune, according
to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, and older adults and individuals
Three telehealth tips connected to COVID-19
As the number of COVID-
19 cases continues to mount,
many Americans may be considering
where to go for care if they
develop potential symptoms.
One important - yet potentially
overlooked - resource is telehealth,
which may enable people
to connect 24/7 with a health
care provider via a digital device
and avoid potential exposure
risks associated with in-person
trips to health care facilities.
“Telehealth may be especially
helpful as an initial option
for medical advice related to
COVID-19 and to help evaluate
other possible health issues,
as well as to assist people who
live in rural areas,” said Dr. Anne
Docimo, Chief Medical Offi cer,
UnitedHealthcare.
To help people more eff ectively
take advantage of this technology
during the evolving COVID-
19 situation, here are three tips
to consider:
1. Identify available resources:
To fi nd telehealth resources,
check with your care provider
group, health benefi t plan or
employer. According to a recent
Mercer study, nearly nine out
of 10 employers off er telehealth
visits to their employees, as do
many Medicare and Medicaid
health plans (in some cases by
telephone). Meanwhile, 76%
of hospitals connect patients
and care providers using video
or other technology, according
to the American Hospital
Association. In some cases, people
can currently access telehealth
visits without cost sharing.
Since the outbreak emerged,
some health plans are now
encouraging patients to use telephone
or live videoconferencing
(if available) to connect people
with local network medical
providers, currently waiving
cost sharing for COVID-19
related visits and treatments.
Docimo points out this is
especially important for
people with certain complex
conditions, such as diabetes or
Parkinson’s disease, as it may
enable them to “see” their own
physician for acute or follow-up
care related to their condition
and help avoid potential exposure
to the coronavirus during
an in-person visit.
2. Understand likely next steps:
During a telehealth visit, care
providers can give general medical
advice to evaluate possible
COVID-19 symptoms (fever, dry
cough or diffi culty breathing).
While diagnostic testing services
are not available through a
telehealth visit to help confi rm
a diagnosis for COVID-19 (if
needed), care providers can help
guide patients to a local care provider
or public health authority
for testing and follow-up care.
Making these connections may
help people take the appropriate
steps in advance of an in-person
test, which may help reduce the
risk of your exposure and possible
exposure to other patients and
health care providers. For other
illnesses (not COVID-19 related)
that are treatable with medications,
telehealth care providers
can write prescriptions and
discuss how to obtain them safely,
such as using medication
home delivery or drive-thru
pickup at a local
pharmacy. Due to the
COVID-19 situation,
it is important to note
that people may anticipate
potential wait
times, as some care
providers off ering
telehealth may be
currently experiencing
a surge in appointments.
3. Access other health services:
While elective health care procedures
may be delayed to help
enable care providers to focus
on COVID-19 cases, telehealth
may help people more eff ectively
manage other health issues without
the need to go out and risk
potential exposure to the virus.
Telehealth can help address myriad
medical issues, including allergies,
pinkeye, fevers, rashes and
the regular fl u. In addition, so
much time at home can also contribute
to behavioral health issues,
so people should consider telehealth
as a resource to connect
with a qualifi ed psychiatrist or
psychologist. Importantly, people
who experience a signifi cant or
serious medical issue should go to
the emergency room (ER).
By considering these tips, people
across the country may be
able to more eff ectively use telehealth
resources to help stay safe
during these challenging times.
For more information about the
COVID-19 situation, go to www.
uhc.com/coronavirus.
— BPT
with chronic health conditions are at
higher risk of getting very sick from the
coronavirus.
To protect vulnerable individuals, many
nursing homes or assisted living facilities
are banning outside visitors temporarily
in hopes of limiting residents’ exposure
to someone who may be infected with the
virus. Additionally, many individuals who
need care and are currently living in their
own homes are feeling isolated and anxious
about how to stay healthy and safe.
Caregiving is now taking center stage.
With already more than 40 million
unpaid family caregivers helping loved
ones in the U.S., experts expect the virus
to increase the number of people providing
short-term or long-term care to an
older or aging loved one.
AARP off ers guidance to family caregivers
with vulnerable family members, especially
those who might be new to caregiving
because of coronavirus and its impacts
on older populations.
Make it a team eff ort
While there may be one primary family
caregiver, identify other family members,
friends and neighbors who can check
in or help with shopping and important
errands. It’s important that the person
you’re caring for doesn’t leave their home
and stays out of public places.
Create a list with contact information of
friends, family and services in your community
that can help you perform key caregiving
tasks. For example, fi nd out if services
such as Meals on Wheels can help deliver
meals, or if there are other local services to
help with food or medication delivery.
Inventory essential items
It’s important to fi gure out what you
have so you can determine what you need.
Inventory how much food, medication
and basic supplies the person you’re caring
for has currently. Th en make a list of
what you need and how oft en you need to
replenish it.
Many older individuals oft en keep minimal
extras on hand because they are on a
strict budget and are used to regular grocery
or medication refi lls. If possible, help
them have a two-week supply of food,
water, house cleaning supplies, and medical
equipment.
Get medications in order
If you don’t already have one, create a
list of medications, medical contacts, and
important information like allergies for easy
access. If there are upcoming non-emergency,
routine medical appointments, reschedule
those or, if possible, switch to a virtual
visit to receive telemedicine.
Ask your pharmacist or health care provider
if you’re able to have an extra 30-day
supply of essential medications on hand.
Don’t forget to stock up on over-the-counter
medications like cough suppressants and
fever-reducing drugs like acetaminophen.
Stay connected
With current social distancing recommendations,
strict isolation will impact
many older individuals. To keep connections
strong, set up communication using
a variety of technology such as FaceTime
or Skype, smart speakers, or simply phone
and text. Use these to stay connected with
your caregiving team as well as your older
or aging family members.
If your loved one lives in a long-term
care facility, see if they have accommodations
for online visits and how they
plan to communicate with families. If
they can’t support visits via technology,
send in cards, letters, magazines, puzzles
or other items you know your loved
one would be grateful to receive.
Talk with your facility management
about the safest way to
deliver items.
Maintain personal
safety and self-care
In order to help slow the
spread of coronavirus, limit
p hy s i c a l contact with
others,
stay in
as much as you
can and continue to follow guidelines
from the CDC. While you are likely very
focused on the person you’re caring for,
it is essential to also care for yourself.
For high-risk individuals, such as those
with dementia and underlying health
conditions, consider having the primary
caregiver self-isolate with the care recipient.
Th en, have a back-up plan if the primary
caregiver becomes ill. It’s best to
be proactive and not have to use plan B,
rather than being caught off guard without
options.
For more information about caregiving
and important considerations in light of
COVID-19, visit aarp.org/caregiving and
aarp.org/coronavirus.
— BPT
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