The Covid-19 pandemic has thrown up many challenges. One of these is taking care of the elderly, what with the implementation of various Movement Control Orders and their susceptibility to disease.
As a caregiver, you might be feeling anxious and worried about the elderly in your family – especially with the ongoing lockdowns and if they stay far away from you.
Here are a couple of pointers on how you could keep them safe and reassure them that they are well taken care of.
1. Stock up on medicine and vitamins
Stocking up on extra medication and vitamins is a good practice. It is hard to know when new shipments of imported medicines and supplements will arrive and be available in stores.
Take note of the medicines that are the most important, such as medication being taken for chronic conditions, and prioritise them. If the pharmacy has run out of stock, check elsewhere or get on the waiting list to purchase them once the stock gets in.
2. Wash hands thoroughly and take care of hygiene
This point may be repetitive, but it is so important. Rinsing your hands is not enough – always use soap and scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds before rinsing.
If an elderly person needs to go out, accompany them and make sure they have the proper protection such as a mask and a bottle of hand sanitiser.
3. Don’t isolate the elderly, stay connected
If your elders are not living with you, do keep in touch with them and stay connected. Try to visit at least once a week and make sure they are doing fine.
Check in with them by phone on a daily basis and make sure they are comfortable at home. A phone call or a video call can be the highlight of their day because it can get lonely stuck in the house.
4. Keep yourself healthy
If you are not feeling well, you cannot take care of others. Taking care of yourself should be a priority before attending to others.
That being said, ensure that you are in tip-top shape, physically and mentally, before taking on the responsibility of caring for the elderly.
Should you require an extra pair of hands, Kaodim offers professional home services to help make your elders more comfortable and safer.
This article first appeared in kaodim.com.
One of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing local services platforms, Kaodim connects users to dependable and professional local service providers – fast and hassle-free. With the Kaodim app, users can access professional services for home renovation, office cleaning and much more.