Connect
Supporting those in hospital/care facilities with visitor restrictions
Many long-term care facilities and hospitals, at the urging of CDC and State Departments of Health, have limited or outright banned visitors during the early days of coping with COVID-19. Those which have not yet will surely do so in the near future. This is certainly a prudent reaction, both to protect vulnerable populations, and to allow our health care providers to focus on patient care.
The downside, of course, is that isolation itself is creating a risk to the well-being of those who rely on visitors for connection to the outside world, and for help with day-to-day tasks that staff is often unable to provide. A further complication is that, in most facilities, communal activities and meals are also suspended to reduce contagion, so our loved ones are even more isolated.
One obvious suggestion, of course, is to communicate by phone, or if the patient is able by video chat. Another is to send cards and short notes often.
The harder question is how to provide stimulation and assistance. For example, for years my sister and I did laundry, paid bills, generally straightened up for our Mom - I don't know who would have done it if we couldn't go in - certainly staff are already stretched to the max. I have reached out to my daughters - both RN's, one with 10 years of elder care experience, one in hospitals - for their ideas
What ideas or suggestions do any of you have? I'll report back any suggestions I get from my girls.
Sue
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Post-COVID Recovery & COVID-19 Support Group.
Connect
@sueinmn Hi, Sue, this site could be great for all caregivers and family members and friends. My mother, who lives in a retirement community, learned how to navigate Facebook last year, so we post lots of interesting stories and photos. She loves to keep up with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsMy daughter who worked for years in Elder Care settings called this afternoon. She said her best ideas were to make sure existing activity/enrichment staff have tablets or other portable devices they can use to help the residents communicate with their loved ones. Also for family members to be aware that staff is stretched to the max and support them however you can, including being patient and kind with them. Great words to keep in mind always when working with caregivers.
She also suggests having children or granchildren make and send stories and artwork. This would also be a way to occupy your out of school children.
And I suggest sending frequent photos (hard copy) of loved ones, including adult family members and pets. Write names and relationships clearly one the front of the pictures to jog memories and help out any staff members who are viewing with your loved one.
Sue
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
4 ReactionsI'm thinking of my father-in-law who just had bypass surgery 2 weeks ago. My mother-in-law, husband and I were his lifeline in some senses, I believe, like any family surrounding a loved one going through a family member's difficult surgery. I was thinking today we would not have been able to have the three of us together in his hospital room so often in the week he was an inpatient, or even a fourth visitor here and there when a friend dropped by, with current restrictions.
His surgery was prompted by a heart attack and subsequent discovery of how blocked his arteries were. No one has control of when this sort of thing might happen to them, especially like my father-in-law where coronary disease runs in the family.
My father-in-law is still slowly recovering, but now at home. You gave me a good idea, @sueinmn, about having my boys, who will be out of school, make him cards or email him - or just make a concerted effort to call him daily, which has not always happened with our busy family schedule.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsGreat idea , Sue....Wonderfully useful! Include an album that can be viewed over an over again!
Albums are good conversation starters when friends or relatives visit.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
5 Reactions@helenfrances ...and keeps the photos in one place rather than scattered around where they may get misplaced. Make a collage that covers opposing pages in an album, memorializing an event!
Ginger
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions🎁📕🎂
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsHi all,
I thought you might be interested in this Mayo Q&A podcast. Dr. Brandon Verdoorn, a Mayo Clinic geriatrician, explains how staff are taking steps to keep residents safe and prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
- Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: Long-term care facilities take precautions against COVID-19 (coronavirus) https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-qa-podcast-long-term-care-facilities-take-precautions-against-covid-19-coronavirus/
How are your loved ones in a long-term care facility managing?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@colleenyoung This can be harder on those of us outside the residential facility than for those inside. My mother, age 96, has been quarantined to her apartment because of a possible contamination. Luckily, because of her age, she likes to be alone. She keeps in touch with all of us via phone and Facebook. Says she’s doing well!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
4 ReactionsHello, Colleen
All bookings for our senior choir to retirement facilities have been cancelled.
The town Senior Center is closed.
The university where my husband teaches now has classes on line! I walked into his home office and wondered who(m) he was talking to... He Skyped with the other professors and students.
Other than that we are 🏡
My P.A.daughter works in a hospital. I talked to her today and she said not to worry. She takes every precaution. Argh!
My son’s children have no school in CA: schools closed this week.
We Americans can adapt! The hand sanitizers are popular and any cleaning solutions are off the shelf.
I bought some before I knew we needed them?! People are donating cleaning supplies to the police , ambulance drivers, senior centers, nursing homes. We are a generous country. I found one! mask in our first-aid box which I will wear if a neighbor needs help.
I am on the treadmill and when the rain stops!! I will walk outside!! Carry on?!!!
PLEASE STAY HOME IF YOU ARE SICK
(Many stores will deliver)
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
4 ReactionsHi Everyone! Great ideas. Worked as a Director of Social Services along the way. Picture albums, even (if patient/ resident is still reading/understanding) sticky notes for reminders/ love notes. Some of the residents really enjoyed audio books too. Keeping them stimulated and using reminders can be very important; especially if your loved one tends to use sleep as a coping mechanism. For the ones not able to visit. It must be very hard and I’m sorry you have to go through this. Yeah, I hate this virus.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 Reactions