Taking Care of the Elderly During Social Distancing
Taking Care of the Elderly During Social Distancing
by Kimberly Flowers, Licensed Professional Counselor-Intern
Taking care of the most valued people in your life can be tough when you have to keep distance between them and you. Our parents and aging relatives are some of our most valuable assets, and when it comes to social distancing they can be left feeling abandoned and neglected.
Keeping the connection helps them to know that you are still there and reassures them that they are still a vital part of your life. What does ‘keeping the connection’ without physical contact look like to the average elderly or aging person? It can look like a lot of different things, but we must be patient and willing to introduce this new (hopefully temporary) normal way of life to those who may not be familiar with it. So, how do you ease the stress and pressure that our elderly loved ones may have when it comes to social distancing?
Call daily. Check-in to let your loved one know that they matter, and the time you spend with them on the phone is valuable. Telephone conversations give a sense of closeness and connectedness for the average elder loved one because this is the type of communication that they are most familiar with.
Video conference call. For the tech savvy seniors, video calls via FaceTime, Zoom, etc., are just as effective as a normal drop-in visit. Being able to see one another while talking is also a benefit if your loved one needs extra eyes on checking things like medication bottles and reading labels on food containers.
Drop off grocery and essential items on the doorstep. Shopping and running errands for them can help save our elderly loved ones from feeling stressed about getting out of the house to get everyday items they might need. Arranging for a delivery service to drop off needed items can be an alternative if you don’t have the time to physically do it yourself. This keeps our loved ones safe and away from the crowds, and helps to curb any anxiety they might have. Being conscientious about distance from others in itself can be stressful on anyone.
Volunteer to go walk the animals. If your elderly loved one has pets that need to be taken care of and walked daily, volunteer to go by and do the walking for them. To maintain a healthy distance between the two of you, have your loved one let the pet outdoors when you arrive. This will give you the opportunity to make sure the pet is in good health and it’s needs are being met, while you are helping to maintain their daily exercise routine. Taking care of a pet’s essential needs during this time of social distancing is just as important as ours.
Drive by your loved one’s home and talk from a distance. I remember my grandmother used to sit on the porch and wave and speak to everyone who walked or drove by. Why not drive by and have your loved one sit on the porch while you sit in the car? That would be so amazing to have the face-to-face connection and still be able to maintain social distance.
There’s nothing like being able to spend time with our elderly and aging loved ones. This crisis is teaching us a lot about how to cherish those times when we have them. Cherish the hugs, the warmth of being able to sit and congregate with one another, and most of all, just seeing one another face-to-face. It’s our responsibility to make sure our aging loved ones are not feeling alone and neglected in this highly stressful time. Each of us can make a difference in someone’s life, why not start with some of the basics?
