It is well-known that seniors are at dangerously high risk for contracting COVID-19 due to their age and/or underlying conditions (heart disease, autoimmune, respiratory, etc). When infected, symptoms can range from a cough, difficulty breathing, fever, chills, or muscle pains. Recent studies have found the virus to spread from “respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks.” To ensure the safety of our seniors, proper measures must be taken and implemented to keep COVID-19 at bay.

First and foremost, seniors should refrain from leaving their homes to attend religious services, community centers, or other public places. Visitors should practice social-distancing unless that visitor is a nurse or an assigned caregiver. Additionally if another person is present, both the senior as well as the caregiver should protect themselves by wearing gloves and a mask. To keep seniors from getting lonely or missing their visitors, it would be a great idea to encourage daily video calls to their families and loved ones.

Eating a healthy and balanced diet is especially important for seniors to prevent the onset of COVID-19. An ideal meal plan should contain 40 percent complex carbohydrates (such as sweet potatoes), 30 percent proteins, and 30 percent healthy fats (such as almonds). Do keep in mind that everyone’s nutritional needs are different, someone with Type 2 Diabetes might require a different meal plan than someone not diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. Furthermore, it is also beneficial to have the seniors take Vitamin C or eat foods rich in Vitamin C such as oranges. This will ensure that their immune systems remain strong and their bodies can fight off any potential threats.

During the COVID-19 Pandemic, proper hygiene must be maintained to avoid getting sick. Seniors should wash their hands often or use a high-percent alcohol-based hand sanitizer, avoid touching their face, and wear a face mask and gloves when in the presence of their nurse or caregiver. At home surfaces should remain clean and sterile through the use of germ-killing household cleaning products. Additionally, when using face masks or face coverings, it is important to wash them frequently or exchange the used one for a new, clean one. Gloves should be disposed of immediately after usage.

Despite being quarantined at home, there are still many things that seniors can do to be entertained at home. The well-known bingo game is one of them! With the help of the internet, seniors can now play bingo online with their friends and families. Further, it is always a good idea for them to start a new hobby or become more advanced in a skill they already know, such as knitting. Also, the caregiver would do well to suggest some fun activities for the seniors and participate in them as well. This will make the senior more likely to partake in the new activity as it’s often challenging for some to begin new things.