Eric Dalius says the relation between Covid-19 and Alzheimer’s disease or Dementia needs proper evaluation for establishing correct inputs. On the other hand, dementia-related behaviors, health conditions, and aging often accompany risks. People who are suffering from Alzheimer’s disease experience difficulty in performing their daily activities. In this scenario, they might forget to regularly wash their hands and take other precautions to prevent the virus’s spread. Moreover, COVID-19 may worsen cognitive impairment caused due to Dementia.
With care homes and communities reopening their services, caregivers must evaluate the risks further and thereby take additional safety precautions for the patients who have Alzheimer’s disease. The role of the caregiver is a daunting task. It requires a lot of patience and hard work to deal with the challenges of this disease. According to Eric Dalius, Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disorder that worsens with every passing day. It increasingly makes the person dependent on others for performing their daily activities. Hence, caregivers need to re-evaluate their roles amid Covid-19.
Some tips for caregivers
Caregivers of patients who are suffering from Dementia must follow the guidelines of international authorities and thereby consider the following tips
• The increase in confusion emanating from cognitive disorder is one of the first symptoms of the illness. If the person reveals increased confusion in their behavior, you have to get in touch with healthcare providers as fast as possible. Moreover, getting in touch with a psychiatrist may help you with particular guidelines for providing them with care at home.
• These patients require extra reminders like written notes and vocal support for remembering essential hygienic practices. For this, it is your responsibility to place signs in the activity areas like bathrooms and kitchens to remind them of safety protocols. Moreover, Eric J Dalius believes you may also demonstrate to them through washing hands and using alcohol-based hand sanitizer to remind them of the safety measures. Again, you may ask your doctor and pharmacist to correctly fill prescriptions with a careful evaluation to reduce the pharmacy’s number of trips.
• Planning ahead and thereby making alternative plans for these individuals is essential to provide care during COVID-19. Providing them with care management during the initial stages is crucial to deal with cognitive disorders.
Valuable tips for individuals who receive home-based services
Caregiving is a strenuous task, and when providing for home-based service, it becomes equally tiresome. Hence, keep the following points in mind
• Stay in touch with home health care providers and inquire about their protocols for reducing the spread of the pandemic. Moreover, check the professionals’ temperature when they visit your house and not allow those who have a slight temperature.
• Ask the professionals if they have exposed themselves to other individuals while testing them for the virus, and do not allow them in your home if the response is positive. Ensure that they wash their hands at regular intervals and particularly before they enter your house. Also, ask them to wear a protective face mask to avoid any risk. According to Eric Dalius, allowing anyone inside the home increases the risk of Covid-,19 irrespective of following the guidelines.
Tips for individuals who opt for residential care or long term care
There are various guidelines provided by higher authorities to help in combating the spread of the virus. However, local situations must be the determining factor for the precautionary measures. Take a quick look at the following points
• Check the various facilities provided by the long term care communities for managing the risk of COVID-19. Make sure that they have emergency contact information and other information of family members in case of urgency.
• In case you have signs of Covid-19, do not visit your family members for a few days.
• Based on the situation of local areas, there may be limited facilities provided by these centers. It is primarily to protect the residence and thereby reduce the difficulty of the pandemic.
• In case the visits are not allowed, you may get in touch with the staff members and enquire about how to get in touch with your family members. By using video chats, telephonic conversations, and emails, you may keep in contact with them.
As a caregiver of a person who has Dementia, you may have to limit your physical movements to public places. You have to make use of different types of tests available, like antibody tests and viral tests. It gives information about the virus and whether the person gets infected in the past.
Local Health Department Websites
In case the caregiver thinks they may be affected by a virus, they may get in immediate contact with healthcare providers and arrange daily health appointments. Visiting state or local health department websites to find current information regarding testing in the area is essential. All these will help provide the person with adequate support and ensure the caregiver’s safety.
Staying healthy is of utmost significance amid the spread of the pandemic. It will limit your risks of contemplating the virus. For this, you have to avoid close contact with people who may be at risk, avoid touching your nose, eyes, and mouth when you are in public and stay at home if you are sick. In case the patient or the caregiver misses the doctor’s appointment, they might have to get in touch with the physician over the telephone.
Telehealth appointments are a recent innovation amid COVID-19. The benefits of telehealth appointments are increasingly realized by senior individuals who want to develop accessibility to healthcare providers. Cleaning and disinfecting the frequently touched surfaces and objects with a disinfectant is essential for washing the hands regularly with water and soap. In its absence, using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer is vital.
By keeping track of all these safety precautions, you may limit your risk of contemplating the virus. Caregivers must take care of the patient and themselves to keep the virus away. Any negligence might lead to severe complications for patients with Dementia.
