With the flu season upon us and the COVID-19 pandemic surging in Massachusetts, it’s imperative to keep seniors safe from harmful viruses. If your senior loved one contracts a respiratory virus, it is crucial to determine as soon as possible if it’s related to the flu or COVID-19 so that he or she receives the proper care. Being prepared and keeping up with the latest information and guidelines can be your best defense this flu season. How are COVID-19 and the Flu Similar?COVID-19 and the flu are viral respiratory infections that are transmitted similarly, either through airborne droplets containing the virus or by touching contaminated surfaces. Both present related symptoms, such as:
Distinctions Between COVID-19 and the FluAlthough the flu and COVID-19 are respiratory infections, the same viruses do not cause them. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says there are some critical distinctions between the flu and COVID-19 and recommends the following tips to help you tell the difference between the flu and COVID-19: Look at the symptoms Some symptoms are more prevalent in cases of COVID-19, such as:
Look at the onset of symptoms COVID-19 and the flu differ in how quickly symptoms begin. Flu symptoms usually appear very suddenly, while COVID-19 symptoms generally develop over the course of a few days. COVID-19 symptoms are more likely to come and go or suddenly worsen. Get tested The only way to know for sure if your senior loved one has the flu, COVID-19, or another ailment is through a test conducted by a medical professional. If he or she develops any of these symptoms, call a doctor and request a COVID-19 and an influenza flu test – especially if your loved one is over 65 or has underlying medical conditions such as lung injury, diabetes, or heart disease. Seek medical attention immediately if your senior is exhibiting severe symptoms, including:
Take Steps to Protect Your Senior Loved OnesEveryone needs to follow public health guidelines to stay safe from COVID-19 and the flu. These guidelines are especially critical for people over the age of 65 because they risk developing serious or even life-threatening complications. While this flu season is more complicated, you can help keep your loved ones safe by practicing social distancing, washing your hands frequently with soap and water, and wearing a mask. For extra protection against the flu, call your senior’s physician and ask if a flu shot is recommended or needed. Also, make sure all other vaccines — especially the pneumococcal vaccine — are up to date. If you need additional assistance, Visiting Angels’ dedicated caregivers are available to monitor and safeguard your loved one’s health and wellness at home during the flu season and the COVID-19 pandemic. They will also alert you immediately if he or she develops any signs or symptoms of illness. Our Visiting Angels case managers are available to discuss your loved one’s needs during a free home care consultation. Contact us today to receive more information about how in-home care can help your senior loved ones! Providing Safe, High-Quality Care the Elderly DeserveOur priority remains the health and safety of its caregivers and the elderly clients they serve every day. As an award-winning home care agency in Greater Boston, Visiting Angels Newton/Canton follows and adheres to the latest health and safety guidelines issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Despite the challenges associated with COVID-19, in-home caregivers fulfill Visiting Angels’ mission of partnering with families to provide essential at home living assistance for older adults. Visiting Angels’ in-home caregivers continue to be homecare heroes on the frontlines, taking necessary steps to protect elderly loved ones and themselves and doing whatever it takes to prevent the spread of COVID-19. If you have a loved one who could benefit from elderly care at home, call Visiting Angels Newton/Canton today to schedule a free in-home consultation. A care manager will work with you to choose the best fit for your family member and you. About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA is an award-winning local home care agency providing high caliber in-home care services to the elderly and people with disabilities. Countless families have benefited from our in-home dementia care, Alzheimer’s care, respite care, live-in and 24-hour care, companion care, transitional aid, and in-home care services in Brookline, Canton, Dedham, Natick, Needham, Newton, Norwood, Stoughton, Watertown, Wellesley, Westwood, as well as Boston neighborhoods including Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Roslindale, West Roxbury, and Upper Back Bay. The essential personal care provided by Visiting Angels Newton/Canton, can make a significant impact on your loved one’s happiness and quality of life.
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The winter season is upon us, and we are already experiencing the effects of cold weather. Snow, ice, and low temperatures are especially hard on senior citizens. Snow-covered walkways and frigid gusts of wind increase the risk of falling. We have some winter safety tips that will benefit seniors throughout this cold season. It’s important for family members and caregivers to inform seniors of the temperature each day. Frigid air often has drastic effects on the environment, causing slippery ice to form on sidewalks and driveways. When your aging relative needs to leave the house, give them an update on weather conditions before walking outside with them. You’ll never regret taking the time to investigate the weather so everyone can be prepared and practice proper winter safety. Don’t forget to bundle up! According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, most elderly adults produce lower body heat due to slower metabolism. This means that they require more insulation to protect them from cold air. Remember to provide seniors with extra layers of clothing and coats to keep them from experiencing the harsh winter weather. One of the best ways to ensure winter safety is to remind seniors to take their vitamins and supplements consistently. This is especially important during hazardous winter weather conditions. Seniors are more prone to falling during the winter months, so it’s essential to keep their bones healthy. In addition to the temperature-related winter tips for seniors, you’ll also want to craft a thorough emergency plan for the real possibility of a fall. Even when you are extremely careful, slips and falls are a constant danger for seniors. Think of possible scenarios and create practical plans to help your elderly relatives practice effective winter safety strategies. If your loved one needs help around the house, please call Visiting Angels Newton/Canton. Our introductory meeting includes a free fall prevention analysis, and our caregivers can help your loved one live safely at home this winter. Winter safety measures for seniors should not be taken lightly. Winter is often one of the most challenging seasons for seniors, especially those isolated from others. Fortunately, proper preparation can alleviate most issues. We hope these winter safety tips help you and your loved one stay secure this winter. If you need help caring for a loved one, call Visiting Angels Newton/Canton to be connected with one of our home care companions. If you’re interested in more information about how in-home care can help your senior loved ones, contact us today. About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA is an award-winning local home care agency providing high caliber in-home care services to the elderly and people with disabilities. Countless families have benefited from our in-home Alzheimer’s care, dementia care, 24 hour and live-in care, companion care, senior care, respite care, transitional aid, and in-home care services in Watertown, Brookline, Stoughton, Canton, Dedham, Needham, Westwood, Norwood, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Chestnut Hill, Roslindale, and nearby towns. The essential personal care provided by Visiting Angels Newton/Canton can make a significant impact on your loved one’s happiness and quality of life. We are staying Diligent
As the confirmed cases of COVID-19 continues to rise in our area, we are monitoring the situation and the advice from public health authorities. Visiting Angels Newton/Canton remains committed to our responsibility as your senior home care provider during this time. We recognize that our Visiting Angels home caregivers allow seniors to age safely and comfortably in their own homes, wherever that may be, and that some of our clients cannot get through the day or night without a home care aide. We want to assure you that our caregivers follow best practices, including hand-washing and staying home if they feel ill or have traveled. Our staff and caregivers are vigilant about wearing face coverings, gloves, and other protective gear when working with clients or in our home office. How Caregivers Can Help Seniors Prepare For the Holidays and the Fall/Winter Seasons Change11/19/2020 Professional home caregivers can help seniors enjoy holiday fun and create meaningful memories in a well-tended home. As you look forward to Thanksgiving, Jewish holidays, or other celebrations, you may contemplate how to involve your elderly loved one in the festivities. Professional home care can make a positive difference and alleviate those concerns. One year, Lisa helped Norma host family members for a Thanksgiving meal at Norma’s home. “Norma shared her recipes, and I had her guiding me in making them,” Lisa says. At the same time, she arranged for Norma to help where she could, with tasks like shopping and prepping ingredients. Having a home care helper allowed Norma to shop for and prepare food and enjoy the day surrounded by family without leaving her home. Professionals who perform home care services can help your loved one continue family holiday traditions by putting up festive decorations around the house and planning menus or special foods. To make gift-giving more manageable, a professional caregiver can assist with shopping, either in local stores or online sites and help with gift wrapping. Sending holiday cards or notes could be made possible for your loved one with the help of a home care professional. These caregiving professionals could work with your senior to purchase cards and stamps, address envelopes and mail the cards out. Caregivers can help seniors attend virtual holiday religious services or other online activities by assisting them with setting up and using their smartphones or computers. Even a seemingly small thing, like helping your mom or dad find a familiar and favorite holiday show on television, can make your loved one feel connected to special times of the year. Holiday preparations and customs can keep seniors engaged with friends and family, give them events to look forward to, ward off loneliness and lift them out of their daily routine. They can also cement relationships with their professional caregivers and spend time reminiscing together about holiday memories and traditions. Remote visits with extended family can also be a time to check on your loved one’s overall well-being. On the other hand, if you are a family caregiver, respite home care allows you to take time off during the holidays to take care of your own needs. Home Caregivers Help Seniors With Seasons ChangeOf course, not every day is a holiday. Even mundane matters can be more comfortable for your elderly loved one with the help of personal home care assistance from a professional caregiver. With the change of seasons, new maintenance tasks often pop up around the house and outdoors. If you arrange for landscaping, furnace inspection, leaf raking, window washing, or snow removal for your loved one’s home, a professional home care provider can ensure those services are performed regularly and thoroughly. Helping your senior schedule, managing and paying repairers and service providers is also a responsibility that professional home caregivers can take on. At this time of the year, professional companion-care for the elderly can help your senior sort clothes, putting warm weather clothing away in storage, and pulling out seasonal coats, hats, and gloves. Any clothing that no longer fits or isn’t needed can be taken to a charity. Having your loved one involved in some housekeeping tasks can help him, or her feel productive and needed. Lisa asks seniors in her care to help her with simple chores like drying dishes or dusting. “It keeps their hands busy,” she says. “It’s like occupational therapy, too.” Fall is an enjoyable time for private home care aides to help seniors in their care enjoy some time outdoors before winter arrives. A walk or ride in the neighborhood offers seniors a pleasant view of fall foliage and provides the opportunity for them to feel like an active part of their community. Home Caregivers Prepare Seniors For WinterShorter days can make all of us–regardless of age–feel like hibernating. A professional caregiver can keep an eye on your loved one’s behavior as the nights get longer, watching for mood changes and helping him or her remain as active and engaged as possible during the fall and winter months. If you’re concerned about an elderly loved one during this time of year, contact Visiting Angels Newton/Canton to find out if an in-home caregiver could help both you and your senior enjoy holidays and every day. About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA is an award-winning local home care agency providing high caliber in-home care services to the elderly and people with disabilities. Countless families have benefited from our in-home Alzheimer’s care, dementia care, 24 hour and live-in care, companion care, senior care, respite care, transitional aid, and in-home care services in Watertown, Brookline, Stoughton, Canton, Dedham, Needham, Westwood, Norwood, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Chestnut Hill, Roslindale, and nearby towns. The essential personal care provided by Visiting Angels Newton/Canton can make a significant impact on your loved one’s happiness and quality of life. We are Staying Diligent As the confirmed cases of COVID-19 continues to rise in our area, we are monitoring the situation and the advice from public health authorities. Visiting Angels Newton/Canton remains committed to our responsibility as your senior home care provider during this time. We recognize that our Visiting Angels home caregivers allow seniors to age safely and comfortably in their own homes, wherever that may be, and that some of our clients cannot get through the day or night without a home care aide. We want to assure you that our caregivers follow best practices, including hand-washing and staying home if they feel ill or have traveled. Our staff and caregivers are vigilant about wearing face coverings, gloves, and other protective gear when working with clients or in our home office.
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AuthorVisiting Angels Newton/Canton is an award-winning in-home care agency that provides high quality home care to seniors and disabled adults in Greater Boston, MA. Archives
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