It was back in January last year when the first cases of COVID-19 were reported in the U.S., and in March 2020, the WHO declared the outbreak a pandemic. We are now one full year into the pandemic. It has been a hard year for everyone, but especially for our frontline workers, the elderly and their caregivers. We may be suffering from COVID fatigue but it is important that we remain vigilant and stay safe. I have some tips to share as we find our way through these difficult times.
Plan for Vaccination Make a plan to get your COVID-19 vaccine, and help older adults in your life make a plan to get their vaccine. Find out if you can get vaccinated at your favorite local pharmacy; many are administering vaccines to at-risk individuals. Your local health department is another good resource to find vaccination sites in your area. If you live in Massachusetts like me, you can go on MA DPH website for clinics/sites that are currently accepting patients for vaccinations. In Massachusetts, vaccines go to those who are most at risk first. Your elderly family members who are 75+ may get vaccinated in Phase 1 and those who are 65+ may get vaccinated in Phase 2. If your loved one has an in-home caregiver through a home care agency, they should be vaccinated in Phase 1, too. Keep Your Home Clean Although COVID-19 is different from the common cold and flu, the same cleaning practices that reduce the spread of those illnesses will also reduce the spread of COVID-19. Wash your bedding and comforters often, and wipe down surfaces daily. If your dry cleaners offer germ-free laundry services, take advantage of them — and consider using a laundry pickup and delivery service to minimize interpersonal contact. Take Care of Senior Loved Ones If you have older loved ones, do their grocery shopping for them so they don’t have to risk catching COVID-19 in public. Pick up their mail, bring them takeout, and run other errands so they can stay home, where they’re safer. Remember to support seniors’ mental health, too. Chat with them on the phone, play games together, or find a new TV show to enjoy together. If you’re feeling burned out caring for a loved one, consider signing up for senior respite care service. Stay Informed Dwelling on the news can be stressful, but you should check the news two or three days a week. This will ensure you stay informed about vaccine plans and safety protocols in your area. Like other parts of the country, the state of Massachusetts is preparing for another surge of COVID cases after the Christmas and New Year holidays. There will be further restrictions including higher capacity limits at restaurants, theaters, performance venues, personal services, casinos, offices, places of worship, retail, golf facilities, libraries, gyms and museums, etc. and new gathering limits at private homes outdoors and indoors. With COVID fatigue, it is particularly difficult to fight the winter blues under these circumstances. Nonetheless, we should pick ourselves up, bundle up, and grab some sunshine and fresh air outside to cheer ourselves up! Don’t forget that there are plenty of heating options to make fun activities possible, such as patio heaters, hot tubs, outdoor fireplaces and fire pits. So stock up on firewood or schedule for regular propane deliveries so that you never run out. Here are some suggestions for fun outdoor activities for winter. Playing with SnowThis is not only fun but also great exercise for the whole family. Making a snow man is classic, but you can go further by building a snow fort, a whole family or village of snow people, organize a snowman competition with neighbors, etc. Start a snow fight to spice up the fun! When you begin to feel the cold, make some hot chocolate and warm up near a fire. Toast some marshmallows and add into your hot chocolate – hmm, yummy! Bird and Animal WatchingWith the foliage gone, winter is a great time for bird and animal watching. Set up some birdfeeders to draw birds to your backyard or garden. You may spot some red cardinals and bluebirds quite easily, but goldfinches, sparrows, doves and wrens are also common. There are squirrels, chipmunks and depending on where you live, you might even spot a deer. If you love taking pictures, birds and animals are great subjects, but not easy to photograph. However, you can readily capture stunning winter scenes such as snow-covered landscapes, icicles on trees, frozen lakes and rivers, you name it. StargazingOn clear nights, enjoy stargazing while relaxing in a heated pool or soaking in a bubbly hot tub or heated pool. Play some festive music or romantic music, depending on your mood. Stay healthy while you enjoy the outdoors. Keep off-the-counter cough and cold medicines, skin care and pain relief products in the house just in case. Watch for snow stains on your clothes and remove them before throwing the clothing into the washing machine. If you use a laundry service in Boston, it would be a good idea to put a note about the stains in the laundry bag. Winter can be fun even during the pandemic. Stay active and upbeat. With the help of vaccines, we can look forward to a healthier and happier Spring!
This is a tough time. COVID-19 has shifted our entire world. Things aren’t back to normal yet, and we have no idea when they will be. If you’re already prone to stress and anxiety, this time may be especially hard on you. Or it may be triggering your anxiety or depression. Know that you’re not alone. We’re all in this together. Don’t be afraid to get help, or speak with your therapist about new issues that are coming up due to the pandemic. In the meantime, I have a few ideas to take some of the stress out of everyday activities. Every little thing helps, especially now. Don’t Worry Too Much About Home ChoresSince we’re home a lot more than usual, there could be some extra pressure to keep your home clean and tidy. But in reality a lot of people have a messy home right now! To take some pressure off, consider hiring a maid service, and taking your laundry to the dry cleaners nearby. They probably offer more services than you realize. If you care for your elderly parents or family members, now is a perfect time to consider hiring an in-home caregiver. Any service that can check some chores off your daily to-do list would be a huge help. Herbal RemediesThere are plenty of natural remedies to help with anxiety. Herbal teas are always a great way to get a little downtime during the day. Even the ritual of making a cup of aromatic herbal tea and sitting somewhere quiet to drink can be a huge stress reliever. Remember, increased caffeine intake can actually increase anxiety symptoms, so look for caffeine-free teas. If the tea ain’t cutting it, consider some herbal supplements. I know that the pharmacy near me has a wide variety of natural stress and anxiety aids. Your pharmacy may do the same, too. Check them out and ask the pharmacist for suggestions while you’re there. Don’t Forget About Your PetsAnimals can sense when things are off. If your schedule is different now, and your pet’s routines have changed as a result of the pandemic, they may be feeling some anxiety too. It wouldn’t hurt to check with your vet about possible antidepressants for dogs. Also, making a few extra trips to the dog park during the week can help both of you get some stress relief.
Remember, we’re all feeling the effects of the pandemic right now, and it’s important to take care of each other. We usually celebrate Mother’s Day with flowers and gifts for mom, taking her out to dinner and may be a shopping spree or a trip to the spa or salon. While our city is still in lockdown, with restaurants, salons and shops closed, how are you celebrating Mother’s Day? Mother's Day GiftsFor the most part, we can order gifts online and get them ready by Mother’s Day. If you cannot get a gift delivered in time, don’t forget that your local drugstore is still open and carries a variety of health and beauty products that your mom would love – from age-defying skin care, hair coloring and styling to perfumes and manicure products. Your community pharmacy may provide curbside service so you can stay safe. Take a load offMom is always busy caring for her family. The list of household chores is never ending. During the quarantine, the amount of cleaning and disinfecting has probably quadrupled. So a great gift would be to take over some of her work. How about letting the local dry cleaner nearby do the laundry? Schedule a laundry pickup before Mother’s Day, so that she is relaxed and not worried about doing the laundry. If mom’s work includes caring for grandpa and or grandma, which is not unusual in this age of the “Caregiving Crunch,” you can take a load off her by hiring respite care providers from the local home care agency. A home health aide can provide respectful professional care and companionship for a senior loved one while the family caregiver takes a break. Fun activity togetherDo something fun with your mom at home, such as watch a movie on TV, take a trip down memory lane by viewing old photos together, make handicrafts or artwork, give mom a manicure, and so on. Mother's Day dinnerIf your mother is living in the same house, you can perhaps cook a nice dinner or if you are not a good cook, you can order a big meal online and get it delivered to the house. But if your mother is not under the same roof, you can try sharing a virtual dinner on Zoom. That way, you can still see and chat with each other during dinner.
With a little creativity and preparation, we can still give mom a memorable Mother’s Day during these unprecedented times. Stay safe and have fun with your mom on Mother’s Day! Photo by Karolina Bobek ✌ on Unsplash |
Archives
March 2023
|