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Don’ts and dos on Coronavirus 

by Jane M. Orient, M.D.

Some of the views expressed here are controversial. So, do ask your doctor.

Don’t panic. That is always good advice. If you, like the world’s economy, operate on just-in-time inventories, and did not take advice to stock up 3 weeks ago, do not join a mob at a big-box store. Somebody there is no doubt infected. Plus, there’s the risk of getting trampled or injured in a fist fight over the last roll of toilet paper. Most of the world survives without that luxury good. If you have no rice or beans or pasta in the pantry, that is more serious, but you should still avoid mobs if at all possible. Take-out and drive-through places are booming.

Don’t treat fever without a doctor’s advice. Fever is not a disease. It is an important defense mechanism. Very high fevers (say 105 degrees) can cause brain damage, and children can have seizures. But don’t pop Tylenol or ibuprofen at the first sign of fever. Many of the casualties in the 1918 pandemic might have been caused by heavy use of aspirin. Like aspirin, popular nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS) such ibuprofen also have detrimental effects on blood clotting. Try lukewarm sponge baths for comfort.

Don’t rush out and get a flu shot. I know, a lot of doctors and public health authorities urge everybody to do this. Influenza can kill you, and the flu shot decreases that risk by 30% to 60%—but there is evidence that it can make COVID-19 worse, both from the earlier SARS epidemic and lab research. Like with so many things in medicine, we have to play the odds.

Don’t go to the emergency room or urgent care unless you are severely ill. There will be sick people there, and you might catch something. You also might end up with a big bill, say for a CT scan you didn’t really need. And if you have the flu or a cold or COVID-19, and don’t need IV fluids or oxygen, they can’t do anything for you. Telephone advice lines could help greatly.

Don’t go to events that are crowded, especially indoors in poorly ventilated rooms. Staying home is good.

Don’t touch your face or your eyes.

Don’t fall for internet scams, or malware. Hucksters will always be around to try to profit from panics. A new type of malicious virus is embedded malware in sites that come up on a search for information.

Do prepare to take care of yourself and your family. Be sure you have a fever thermometer, disposable gloves, plastic garbage bags, and cleaning supplies. A pulse oximeter, available in many places for around $40, is good to have to check oxygen levels.

Do clean and disinfect surfaces such as doorknobs, telephones, computer keyboards, toilets, and countertops often. Virus can persist there for days.

Do wash your hands often and use hand sanitizer. With SARS-CoV-2, most disinfectants work, including 70-percent-alcohol-based sanitizers.

Do get your essential prescriptions refilled for 90 days.

Do protect your immune system, with adequate sleep, exercise, fresh air, and diet.

Do help your neighbors, and be responsible about protecting others as well as yourself from contagion.

“Stay Well at Home” emergency order

To further combat the spread of COVID-19, Ventura County Public Health Officer Doctor Robert Levin, has issued a “Stay Well at Home” emergency order – ordering all residents of the County of Ventura to stay inside their residences, and immediately limit all movement outside of their homes beyond what is absolutely necessary to take care of essential needs. The order was effective March 20, 2020 through April 20, 2020, 11:59 pm

Community members are encouraged to learn more about the Order and read frequently asked questions at the following website: www.vcemergency.com/staywellvc.

“We are at a pivotal moment in this public health threat. We are on the verge of seeing the number of COVID cases spiking, we have to take powerful, decisive actions in order to defeat this threat and save lives,” said County of Ventura CEO, Mike Powers. “In listening to our Public Health Leadership, we believe it is essential for us to act swiftly to prevent the spike in cases we have seen in other countries. We felt it was important to tailor the Order to our local community.”

The Order attempts to strike the right balance. While prioritizing the health of the community, it also recognizes the importance of essential services such as health care, safety, social services, education, food services, grocery stores, agriculture, community organizations, the press, construction, hotels and motels and business that support these essential businesses, banks and plumbers and sanitation workers and restaurants which provided take out and delivered meals.

During this time various businesses will still be open. You will still be able to go to grocery stores. You will still be able to go to your local coffee shop to take your coffee to go, there will be no gathering at coffee shops. You will still be able to go to farmers markets where you will find that they have implemented social distancing. You will also be able to go to restaurants, wine shops and breweries where you can pick up items to go.

You will be able to leave your home to exercise. This includes running, walking, biking and hiking by yourself or with members of your household. You will be able to go to and from your doctor’s office. You will be able to work and garden around the house and leave the house to pick up products for your pets. Essential businesses will remain open. Those businesses will be asked to have their employees work from home as much as possible. Working from home distances a person from others and creates more space for social distancing at the workplace. Workplaces will be maintaining 6 feet between employees and will encourage frequent hand washing. Discourage shaking hands. All aspects of agricultural production will remain open as well. If you are sick do not go to work in those essential jobs. If you encounter someone when running an errand to the grocery store or other location maintain a six-foot distance from that person especially distance yourself from those that appear to be ill.

Residents of the County of Ventura are required to stay inside their homes unless they are engaged in certain “essential activities.” These activities include:

  • Engaging in essential activities such as grocery shopping, obtaining medical care, walking, running, bicycling or gardening.
  • Providing or obtaining essential governmental functions or services.
  • Operating or working at essential businesses such as healthcare operations and essential Infrastructure, grocery stores, pet supply stores, agricultural production and processing operations, and gas stations.
  • All travel is prohibited, except essential travel such as travel for work authorized under this order; to engage in essential activities; to care for elderly persons, minors, dependents, persons with disabilities or other vulnerable persons; and to return to a place of residence from outside Ventura County.
  • When outside their places of residence, all persons must maintain, as reasonably possible, a physical distance of at least six feet from any other person and comply with all other Social Distancing Requirements.

“There are people around you who are in greater need than you. Be generous with those things you have that you can share and can drop off at their place. We will all come through this together. Ventura County is a County that cares,” said Doctor Levin.

Moving forward daily positive cases, the age range of the patient and their locations will be reported on www.vcemergency.com. The new order requires all private labs to report the number of tests they have completed each day. The total number of private and public tests will also be reported on the website.

Creating posters that show, yet again, how strong and special Ventura is

With the threat of COVID-19, Ventura faces hard, uncertain times. In the face of all the dark news, the Ventura Visitors and Convention Bureau (Visit Ventura) is doing a simple thing to bring a little light. They are asking all Venturans to speak their minds and hearts, creating posters that show, yet again, how strong and special Ventura is.

When the Thomas Fire came to Ventura in December 2017, signs appeared everywhere. Sheets draped from walls, cardboard signs stapled to phone poles, signs staked in front yards, signs taped to storefront windows. Words written by children in big, colorful loops. Words printed tidily on mass-produced signs.

Visit Ventura is asking Ventura to do it again. Take up your magic marker, your paper, your cardboard, your whatever-you-have-handy, and put your thoughts on a sign (Visit Ventura also has templates on their website; visitventuraca.com/stayventurastrong). Because your thoughts matter. And you never know how much they can mean to someone who really needs them.

“They’re not just a sign,” said Marlyss Auster, VVCB President & CEO. “We Venturans already know this. These signs, they’re reminders. Of spirit. Of caring and community. Of how good things always outlast the dark.”

The runaway hit music of Ventura’s Olivia Willhite

Her success has been thrilling and fairly sudden.

by Amy Brown

16-year-old Olivia Willhite has been surfing most of her life and has been making music since age six. This petite blonde powerhouse is a sophomore at Ventura High, and is now getting international attention for her song Runaway Man, which has over 2.5 million streams on Spotify. She recently performed her self-described beach pop music at an acoustic showcase at Bombay Bar & Grill to a packed house, along with another singer/songwriter from Ventura High, Shannon David, and the group Somatic. The event was to engage young people and up and coming local youth musicians, and to celebrate Willhite hitting (at that point) 2 million views on Spotify. Willhite started singing jazz and opera early on and had performed in two professional children’s operas by age nine. She has written more than a dozen original songs, and started the work on Runaway Man when she was in 8th grade, as a part of a year-long project called Project of Your Heart’s Desire (PHD) through Ventura Charter School.

Her success has been thrilling and fairly sudden, according to Willhite. “I had no expectations and no idea that it would become this successful at my age,” she shared. “It wasn’t really what I intended when I first put out my music, I put it out just to create–I love creating music. It’s definitely till evolving.”

Willhite was born in Honolulu, and her family moved to Ventura in 2005. She started surfing competitively in the last few years, and also competes on the Ventura High surf team, the Makos. “I love Ventura and its surfer, skater culture and I love beach music so much,” says Willhite. “Everyone here is pretty friendly and laid back and accepting. It’s kind of like the ocean, it doesn’t care what you look like or where you come from, you’re just in the water with the birds and fish and dolphins, doing your thing like they are. My mom always tells me my music makes her feel like she is on vacation—I think that is a cool compliment.”

Willhite’s mother, Rebecca Willhite, said “Watching her music climb the Spotify charts has been unreal. One day a famous Tik Tok kid posted her song and Olivia and her friends went crazy! Her songs are in 75 countries and played daily all over the world. It’s amazing!”

Willhite intends to continue making and producing her heavily Hawaiian-influenced music in a local Oak View music studio, and plans to keep exploring other genres and musical hybrids, including a possible future disco song featuring the ukulele. Asked what her future career plans might include, she replied, “Right now, my biggest goal is to make more music. I would love to make a career out of music if I could, but right now my goal is just to keep writing and creating. But, if Jack Johnson asked me to go on tour right now, I wouldn’t say no!”

A 5-Step Coronavirus Survival Plan for Seniors

Washing your hands often is very important.

by Chris Orestis President of LifeCare Xchange

As the Coronavirus continues to spread across the globe, and now is becoming more widespread by the day in the United States, it is critical that the most vulnerable population being impacted understands how to be better prepared.

Seniors have been the hardest hit by the Coronavirus with the tragic death of 8 residents in a nursing home in Washington State, and a much higher mortality rate among seniors registered so far globally. In fact, the CDC now confirms a 14.8% mortality rate for people 80 and older, but only 1.3% for people in their 50’s, 0.4% for people in their 40’s, and 0.2% for people in their 30’s and younger.

As of Sunday, March 8, 2020, the U.S. had recorded 527 cases across 33 states with 21 fatalities. Globally, as of the same date, 109.837 cases have been recorded with 3,805 fatalities and 60,963 full recoveries. These numbers will change daily, and here are two good resources to track how the virus is progressing in the U.S. and Globally.

Mortality with Coronavirus is linked to the strength of a person’s respiratory system. Seniors are particularly vulnerable to respiratory conditions. In the case of Coronavirus, the air sacs of the lung will fill up with fluids cutting off vital oxygen to the organs which can induce failure and possible death. Adding to the danger facing seniors, is the contagious nature of the virus and the threat of it spreading in a confined population such as in a nursing home or senior living community.

Fortunately, the Senior Care industry has taken action to combat these dangers and is working closely with the CDC, the World Health Organization, and CMS to receive daily information updates, coordinate best practices to safeguard residents (and staff), and monitor for any new outbreaks.

Seniors and their families should stay in close contact as this virus progresses, and here are 5 tips to better handle the Coronavirus situation:

5 Step Retirement Genius Coronavirus Survival Plan

Make every attempt to cough or sneeze into a tissue, and then securely dispose of the tissue. If a tissue is not available, use your inner sleeve of your elbow.

Continuously wash your hands with warm water and soap, or alcohol-based cleansers. Avoid touching your face and in particular your eyes, nose and mouth unless you have washed your hands and not come into contact with any possible contamination.

Clean and disinfect surfaces such as electronic devices (cell phone, TV remote), and items that receive regular contact from hands such as doorknobs and handles.

The CDC has specifically warned that seniors (age 60 and above) and/or those with underlying health conditions should avoid travel and gathering in areas with crowds and communal activity such as eating or higher probability of person-to-person contact where any reported cases of Coronavirus have been found. Avoiding activities such as “traveling by airplane, going to movie theaters, attending family events, shopping at crowded malls, and going to religious services”, as well as avoiding cruise ships at this time is prudent.

If you are exhibiting flu like symptoms or any respiratory difficulties, you should stay at home and avoid coming into contact with others. It is best to consult your doctor, and a Telemedicine consultation from home is an option that many patients can use to seek care and get prescriptions.

People should also be very careful about overreacting and from where they get information. The best source for information is medical professionals such as your doctor, and organizations like the Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

People should be especially careful of fake news that is spreading across social media platforms, misinformation from political figures, possible scammers looking to prey on frightened seniors, and dismiss foolish rumors such as people should be avoiding Chinese food and restaurants or you can become infected by Corona beer (completely false!).

Smart hygiene, managing social interaction, keep open lines of communication among family members, being well informed, avoiding unnecessary travel or crowds, and not being duped by bad actors are all smart strategies to get through the Coronavirus Pandemic.

Fighting Chance is based on a true story

For an autographed copy, email [email protected].

Boxing is more than just an escape from the chaos of the streets or the baggage of what’s behind to those who find their way into the gym, and ultimately, the ring. Boxing can be the road – and has been for many over the generations in hard scrabble America – to the way in life.

That’s the story shared by Ventura resident Alicia Doyle in her nonfiction memoir Fighting Chance, chronicling the young journalist’s unlikely emancipation from her life’s hardships through immersion into the “sweet science” of boxing.

“The book takes us back to the childhood and life that gave rise to her inner demons, through her amateur and brief pro boxing career, and the two decades since she hung up the gloves,” said Brent Weber, author of The Sports Guy: Scorecard Scribblings From An Ordinary Journalist.

Based on a true story, Fighting Chance is written by an award-winning journalist who discovered boxing at age twenty-eight in the late 1990s when she went on assignment at a boxing gym for at-risk youth called Kid Gloves. For two years, Doyle simultaneously worked as a newspaper reporter while training and competing as a boxer, making her one of only a few hundred women in America who infiltrated this male-dominated sport. During her boxing career, she won two Golden Gloves championship titles and earned three wins by knockout – and her pro debut at age thirty in the year 2000 was named The California Female Fight of the Year. Fighting Chance offers an inside look at what’s considered the toughest sport known to man.

Fighting Chance features “excellent dialogue and heartfelt memories, with a journalist’s passion for the hard, honest truth about life, and how boxing helped her through tough times,” Weber said.

“Fighting Chance is highly recommended to any adult or young adult,” said Weber, noting that there is profanity, just like you would hear in a boxing ring, so it’s not for tender ears. “Boxing fans will love it, but so will anyone, particularly any woman, who wonders which way to look when knocked down to the canvas.”

Doyle is a shining example of an individual who continues to fight to save herself from the dark side of life by mentoring troubled young children at Kid Gloves, said producer and director Rod Holcomb, adding that “she is their guiding light, a light that doesn’t often shine for them. Fighting Chance is exactly that, a chance to survive in the ring and in life. A must read.”

Layla McCarter, an eight-time, five-division Boxing World Champion and California Boxing Hall of Fame inductee, said that Fighting Chance is “absorbing and brilliant.”

“Over 22 years ago I shared the ring with Alicia Doyle…twice,” said McCarter, whose bouts against Doyle are featured in the novel. “Fighting Chance transported me back to relive those experiences from her perspective. It was amazing. I highly recommend this book.”

Fighting Chance is available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. For more information, visit https://aliciadoyle.com/. For an autographed copy, email [email protected].

AARP Tax Aide Services suspended at VCAAA 

The AARP Foundation announced that they will be suspending tax preparation services at the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging (VCAAA) effective March 16 due to the threat of COVID-19 (coronavirus) in Ventura County.

AARP Foundation Tax Aide volunteers began the annual partnership with the VCAAA on February 3, offering free tax preparation services to anyone of low to moderate income, with services especially suited to those 50 and older. ​Thursday’s health emergency declaration in Ventura County prompted several businesses and organizations to stop or limit services in an effort to combat the spread of COVID-19.

The VCAAA office, however, and all VCAAA services continue to operate as usual, with the exception of Senior Nutrition Program classes and in-person counseling. Clients who visit the office will be asked to keep a six-foot distance between themselves and others, but the VCAAA wants to emphasize that assistance is available for Ventura County residents in need of services and resources.

The VCAAA office is located at 646 County Square Drive in Ventura. For more information, call (805) 477-7300 or visit www.vcaaa.org.

The AARP Foundation operates the AARP Tax-Aide program under a cooperative agreement with the IRS. To help you complete your tax forms, AARP’s trained and IRS-certified volunteers will see personal information that you give them about you and your finances. This information is strictly confidential. We will not share your information with anyone except as necessary to accurately file your tax returns or as otherwise required by law. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide has more than 5,000 locations in neighborhood libraries, malls, banks, community centers and senior centers. There’s no fee and no sales pitch for other services and AARP membership is not required.

The Ventura County Area Agency on Aging, an agency of the County of Ventura, is the principal agency in Ventura County charged with the responsibility to promote the development and implementation of a comprehensive coordinated system of care that enables older individuals, people with disabilities, and their caregivers to live in a community-based setting and to advocate for the needs of those 60 years of age and older in the county, providing leadership and promoting citizen involvement in the planning process as well as in the delivery of services.

Vol. 13, No. 13 – Mar 25 – Apr 7, 2020 – The Pet Page

∙SPAN Thrift Store is providing $10 spays and neuters for low income households with cats and dogs.

Two upcoming clinics in April are:

Wednesday, April 15th at at SPAN Thrift Store parking lot 110 N. Olive St. (behind Vons on Main St.),

and a second one on Wednesday, April 22nd at Shiells Park, in the parking lot, located at 649 C St., Fillmore, 93015.

Please call to schedule an appointment and to confirm (805) 584-3823.

∙ From the Humane Society of Ventura County- [email protected]

In light of COVID-19, we’re increasing the frequency and extent of daily cleanings, and taking steps to ensure the safety of our staff, volunteers, the public, and our animals.

For our dedicated volunteers, we are pausing all volunteer opportunities as of March 17th until further notice. Our staff will be keeping a schedule for walking and exercising all the animals on the property to ensure they get the attention they need. While we appreciate our volunteers’ desire to help during this tough time, we also need to consider the safety of our staff and the public.

Per the city of Ojai, we are encouraging the community to practice “social distancing”. Social distancing is a practice involving restricting when and where people gather to stop or slow the spread of infectious diseases. These measures include limiting large groups of people coming together, closing buildings, and canceling events. Following safety protocols, including social distancing, is to keep our staff, volunteers, and the public healthy. With cooperation and teamwork, we will overcome these tough times.

Additionally, we have canceled all HSVC-attended outdoor meet and greet events until further notice. We have also canceled our HSVC Volunteer orientation and classes. We will reschedule when circumstances allow.

We are still open to the public Monday-Saturday with new Summer hours of 10 am – 6 pm. We will keep the community informed of any changes to our business hours.

∙ Veterinarian Dr. Danielle Bernal told Fox News there are certain foods you can safely feed your dog when you’re eating at the table (though she recommends training dogs away from begging), but warns that you have to be careful about other types of foods, as some may contain hidden ingredients that are toxic to dogs.

“There are certain foods that are acceptable to feed your dog if he is begging at the kitchen table, but many can contain artificial sweeteners or hidden ingredients like onions, garlic, or residue from specific nuts that can be toxic to dogs — which is why it is always best to feed Fido dog food over anything else!” the vet said.

Foods to avoid

Bernal puts chocolate at the top of the list of foods to avoid. Chocolate contains theobromine, which, like caffeine, is toxic to dogs.

Fatty foods, like bacon, are also no-nos, as they can cause gastrointestinal upsets and pancreatitis.

“Plus, dogs have unique nutritional needs — one small piece of bacon for them is the equivalent caloric value of 13 pieces of bacon for humans,” said Bernal, who is also a Whimzees multi-functional dental dog treats partner.

Among the others unsafe for your pooch are uncooked eggs or fish; garlic and onions, which can cause fainting and an elevated heart rate; and cooked bones, which are more likely to splinter and cause oral injury or potential internal perforation or obstruction.

You have to be careful with what you feed your dog as many scraps may contain hidden ingredients that are toxic.

You have to be careful with what you feed your dog as many scraps may contain hidden ingredients that are toxic. (iStock)

Foods to focus on for your pup, if you’re feeding them table scraps, are fruits, vegetables and cooked meat.

Carrots and apples are great options, Carrots can protect against cataracts and heart disease, while sweet apples support a healthy digestive system.

Lean, cooked meats like chicken, turkey and beef also top the list as far as safe-for-Fido foods, as they add protein to your pup’s diet, much like cooked eggs, which are also a good table-scrap snack.

Another fine option — in moderation — is cooked fish like salmon and fresh tuna, as fish boasts amino acids, Omega-3 fatty acids and protein. Just make sure the fish is deboned, and limit it to once or twice a week, maximum.

Bernal also recommends mixing food scraps in with regular dog food, directly in the kibble bowl, to train dogs away from begging at the table.

In addition to avoiding certain types of table scraps, Bernal says pet owners should limit the amount of “human food” given to their furry friends.

“My recommendation is to make sure pet parents limit themselves when feeding their dog table scraps, as feeding too many scraps can disrupt their nutritional needs and calorie limits. Stick to feeding table scraps as 10-15 percent of your pup’s overall diet, and view it as giving them a special treat — not supplementing a full meal.”

∙ Suddenly working from home? Are the kids out of school and in need of some joy and distraction? If you’ve been considering adding a pet family member now is the time! Dog walking and cat cuddling all fall within the guidelines for social distancing. Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center (SPARC) says there’s hope in these uncertain times with businesses closing their doors and children being out of school.

There are plenty of animals at the small Santa Paula shelter that would love to spend some time in adoptive or foster homes.

“Animals can benefit from being outside of our environment, even if it’s temporary.” Said Jonah Fisher, Kennel Manager. “A break from the noise and stress at the shelter would be extremely beneficial and we’re hopeful that some of the temporary situations would become permanent.”

In order to practice social distancing, the shelter has had to postpone many of its public events like its vaccine clinic, offsite adoption events and volunteer orientations.

“We’re asking that the public call, email or use social media to contact us before they come down.” Said Claira Trujillo, Front Office Manager. “Help us and make appointments so that we can make sure that we keep ourselves and members of the public safe because our animals will need care by humans every single day.”

Shelter operations are still available from 10am until 7pm daily for those whose animals have been impounded and need to be picked up, please call ahead of time. Those who need to report a stray animal within the Santa Paula City limits should call animal control at (805) 933-4230 or if outside the Santa Paula City limits call Ventura County Animal Services at (805) 388-4341.

The shelter is asking that members of the public, fosters and volunteers call (805) 525-8609, email [email protected] or use any of their social media outlets (Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/santapaulaarc/; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sparcsaveslives/; Twitter: https://twitter.com/sparc805) to contact them before going to the shelter. Those interested in making donations may do so at www.santapaulaarc.org/donate.html

Students will receive a wide range of services free of charge

The Ventura County Community College District has received a $500,000 State Chancellor’s Office Mental Health Grant to help close the gap in mental health services for its approximately 32,000 students. VCCCD is one of 16 Districts in the state to be awarded the grant, which begins May 2020. The 20-month program will provide services at Moorpark, Oxnard and Ventura colleges.

“This grant will help promote access, services and educational support for students who are struggling with mental health challenges,” said Dr. Cynthia Herrera, Dean of Strategic Partnerships and Planning. “The funding will help students successfully complete their degrees, certificates and transfer requirements. We find that students who face mental health issues often postpone or delay their educational aspirations in order to seek assistance and this program can help remove barriers for students.”

VCCCD sought funding after Ventura County experienced major tragedies and a California Health Interview Survey (Dec. 2018) found that 60 percent of the county’s adults need behavioral/mental healthcare services, with the highest need in the 18- to 24-year-old range.

A major emphasis of this grant will be to enhance collaborations and build stronger partnerships with county behavioral health departments and community-based organizations to support and provide direct mental health services to students. Students will be able to receive services related to intervention and suicide prevention. There will also be stigma reduction training activities for faculty, staff and students. The program will aim to reduce racial disparities in accessing mental health services and ensure that underserved and vulnerable student populations receive culturally competent mental health and referral services.

“We appreciate the work being done at the colleges to support students in these critical areas. The grant will allow us to expand our services and support students who may be facing challenges and struggles,” commented Board Chair Bernardo M. Perez.

The Ventura County Community College District is a member of the 115-campus California Community College system, and serves more than 32,000 students annually. The District’s three colleges–Moorpark, Oxnard, and Ventura–offer programs in general education for degrees and certificates, transfer to four-year colleges and universities, career technical education, and provide opportunities to engage in co-curricular campus activities. For more information, please visit vcccd.edu.

Five things people can do to help seniors cope with Coronavirus quarantines

No more visiting with family for a while.

by Melissa Negrin-Wiener, partner at Genser Cona Elder Law

The CDC recommends that high-risk individuals avoid crowds and social gatherings and that they should stay home as much as possible. While there is no question that this is of the utmost importance, when dealing with our senior population, there is so much more that must be taken into consideration. In the wake of COVID-19, we are seeing closures of senior centers as well as cancelations of social groups, book clubs, bingo games, etc.

In addition, it is recommended that seniors do not visit with family and friends as people could be infected with COVID-19 and not even know, while still spreading the virus to others. This has hit the elderly hard and exacerbated feelings of loneliness, detachment, sadness and depression.

Technology is going to be key in protecting the mental health of our seniors. Family members and friends need to make it their business to engage in texting, FaceTime, Skype, video conferencing and even just basic telephone calls. Letters and cards from loved ones will also serve to help deal with feelings of loneliness.

We should also make sure that our aging loved ones have things to keep their brains working. Perhaps they enjoy reading, words games or puzzles, or books on tape. We need to ensure that they have what they need to keep their minds active.

They also need exercise. Almost every gym has created online workouts including chair yoga and chair exercises for seniors. There are also e-books, television subscriptions and online virtual museum tours. Another suggestion is to install cameras so that we can keep a closer eye on our seniors who are alone. It is more important than ever to put these things in place. Facebook groups have been amazing.

Younger individuals have offered to go food shopping for seniors and bring them other things they may need. However, we still need to practice social distancing and either leave things by the front door or remain far away from the person we are delivering to.

As for me, I stood on my parents driveway and tossed the supermarket items to them at the front door. We have to do what we have to do to keep our aging loved ones safe and happy even if that includes postponing gatherings and family events and parties. It is safer for all involved.