The COVID-19 pandemic has interrupted everyone’s way of life. The most vulnerable community are seniors who require medical attention, nursing care, and assistance. These seniors would typically stay in the hospital, transfer to rehabilitation facilities, or be admitted for short stays in nursing homes to heal. At this time, they are being forced to go home to heal so they can remain safe and minimize exposure. Families do not want to put their loved ones in these facilities and hospitals are proactively rescheduling all non-essential procedures.
Under these circumstances, Jewish Family Home Care understands that senior in-home care is becoming more essential than ever. We are committed to providing a variety of homecare services for older adults so they can be taken care of in the comfort of their own home.
The Need for Medical Supplies Is High
One of the biggest challenges for anyone trying to handle in-home care on their own is obtaining the necessary supplies. Everything from protective masks and gloves, to soap, sanitizer and even crutches are in high demand. People began stocking up on supplies months ago and the industry has struggled to keep production ahead of demand.
The Need for Companionship is on the Rise
Even healthy seniors sometimes struggle with connecting to the outside world. They rarely get to see people other than members of their household. In-home care provides another person with whom they can connect to. This emotional and physical connection is vital to the healing process and has been shown to help seniors heal quicker.
Overall, The Demand for In-Home Care Has Increased
Seniors, many of whom spend their days watching TV and hearing reports about the COVID-19 pandemic, are terrified of this disease. They are afraid they have contracted the virus, even if they have not been exposed. In-home caretakers have been countlessly dispersed to help test and treat the symptoms of sicknesses believed to be COVID-19, but end up being false alarms.
The number of calls for the common cold, allergies, and general pains has increased significantly over the last few months. If exposed, everyone wants to catch this virus early, so they are calling for in-home care to avoid going to the hospital to get tested.
Homecare workers must be up to date on their own skills as well as on the information surrounding the virus. They need to know the signs to look for, the protective steps to take, and even the important numbers to call if they encounter problems. The situation is very fluid, with new information and new procedures announced very often.
Telehealth Replacing Doctor’s Office Visits in Some Cases
Due to this pandemic, Medicare has been expanded to include telehealth visits, which allows doctors to provide services over the phone or via video conference. This helps limit exposure for the elderly by avoiding bringing them to the doctor’s office. Most companies will even allow family members to sit in on the call, so they can get a solid overview of the situation.
Do You Need In-Home Care During the Pandemic?
At Jewish Family Home Care, we understand, especially during these uncertain times, that many seniors need in-home care and assistance, and we are here to help. As one of Hollywood, FL’s largest, home care agencies, we offer non-medical, in-home care and assistance to those in our community, regardless of religious affiliation.
If you or a loved one needs in-home care, our team is dedicated to helping you. We offer:
- Alzheimer’s care
- Dementia care
- Overnight care
- Bathing, showering, dressing, grooming
- Medication reminders
- Movement and exercise therapy
- And so much more!
We will be there for you or your loved one as a pillar of strength and compassion when the world is upside down – and when it returns to the new normal.
To learn more about how our home care in Hollywood, FL and surrounding areas can help you or your loved one during COVID-19, contact our Jewish Family Home Care team today!