It’s very obvious that the recent Covid-19 pandemic has changed the world. With restrictions and lockdowns taking place all around Australia, it has placed greater challenges on everyone. One sector where challenges have certainly been experienced is in helping seniors who are living with a disability.
Not only are seniors more susceptible to Covid and face more serious consequences, those with a disability already face daily challenges, even before the pandemic struck.
Let’s look at how you can help seniors with a disability during these testing times.
Check On Them Whenever You Can
Loved ones and carers can still check on seniors with a disability and help them out when necessary, even though social distancing is recommended. If you and the person with the disability take the necessary precautions, everyone should be safe.
Use hand sanitizer for everyone in the home and wear a face mask while visiting. Maintain some social distancing where possible, with the exception being when you need to physically assist the disabled senior in some way. Try and avoid close greetings, such as hugs for now.
As long as precautions are observed as much as possible, there shouldn’t be a problem. It may also be a good idea to have regular Covid tests to ensure you’re negative before going to visit your senior loved one.
Find Other Ways To Keep In Touch
Even if you can’t, or shouldn’t, visit the seniors regularly, you’ll still want to keep in regular contact with them through other means. Make sure the individual has access to a computer, tablet, or smartphone, as well as internet access. This enables you and them to remain in contact whenever it’s required.
You can chat via video feed on platforms such as Skype, Facebook Messenger, or any number of other video platforms. This way, you can have a face-to-face conversation with them and be able to determine if they are truly coping well or not. It will also make the disabled seniors feel far less alone when they can have video calls with the people they care about.
Make Sure They Are Eating Well
When people become more isolated than usual, it can be easy to slip into a habit of eating unhealthy food or simply refraining from eating much at all.
One thing you can do for a senior with a disability is to make sure they are maintaining a healthy daily diet. Check on them and see what they’re eating. You could also go to the supermarket for them and buy the groceries, ensuring the trolley is filled with nutritious food.
To take things a step further, you or someone else could cook them healthy dinners from time to time, or have healthy meals delivered to their home.
Keep Up To Date On the Latest Covid-19 Information
One way to help out a loved one with a disability during Covid is to stay abreast of the latest information updates and advice as it pertains to the pandemic. This way, you’ll know what’s recommended so both you and the senior remain safe at all times.
With so much ready access to the latest news and information these days, there’s no reason for anyone not to be up to date on the latest facts and the current situation.
Professional Home Care Services for Seniors With a Disability
To really take the help for seniors living with a disability to the next level, you can enlist professional help from disability home care services.
Trained professionals can visit the home of the seniors and help them on every level that they need assistance. A professional home care service can formulate an assistance plan, one that ensures the safety of everyone concerned, as well as helping with many everyday tasks to make life as comfortable as possible for the senior.
This can include help with household chores, bathing, running errands, doing the grocery shopping, administering medications, helping out with exercise routines and so much more.
For complete peace of mind, consider enlisting the help of a professional service.
In Conclusion
There are tangible and practical ways to assist seniors with a disability even during the Covid-19 pandemic. So long as precautions and commonsense are used, there’s no reason why seniors can’t receive help during these trying times.
