Keep our seniors safe... at Home Instead
PAID CONTENT: Home Instead, Marlinstown Office Park, Mullingar - 044 9385260; www.homeinstead.ie
Mother’s Day 2020
This year we all had to take a different approach to showing our appreciation for our amazing mothers.
Without question, the best present we could have given this year was for us not to be present.
But that is easier said than done, especially as doting grandparents were missing the time and contact they recently enjoyed regardless with their grand-kids.
With that in mind, I started to plan with some small gifts and an expertly composed card by my two-year-old son.
I arranged to provide meals on wheels from Oscars for my Mother, and agreed to leave all on the doorstep and phone her from outside.
I was positively encouraged when I arrived at Oscars to see the precautionary measures Noel and his staff were taking to ensure people could collect their food safely, ensuring social distancing was controlled and hand cleansing facilities in place for all on entry and exit.
Hats off to Oscars, well done.
But what else can we all do during this time to ensure we can reflect on this pandemic in time to come and say to ourselves?
I did everything I could within my power to help stop the spread and save lives…
Here are some useful suggestions that everyone has a human responsibility to adhere to.
As the spread of COVID-19 develops across our country, we need to pay attention to advice given from the HSE in relation to social distancing and appropriate cold, flu and COVID-19 hygiene.
If we don’t, people will die due to our inaction! It is that simple and shocking.
Over the last week, so many people have contacted me asking if there is anything they can do to help seniors in the community.
The main things we can all do are:
• Check in regularly with elderly relatives and neighbours by phone or Skype;
• Assist with shopping or errands in the community;
• Ensure seniors have enough medication, food and supplies, as it is now difficult for this vulnerable group to do the things they used to; • Don’t take children to visit seniors, no matter how hard it may be for everyone;
• Observe and respect initiatives taken by supermarkets in relation to special shopping times for seniors (generally 9-11am);
• Finally, wash your hands frequently and observe social distancing to help lower the curve in relation to the spread of infection.
At Home Instead Senior Care we have carefully designed a specialised online course advising our CAREGIvers and clients exactly what steps to take to help prevent the spread of infection.
For people who don’t know what we do, let me explain.
We provide essential care in the home to people in every town in every county of the country.
The care we provide helps seniors maintain their independence safely in their own homes, where we all want to remain.
The essential services our dedicated team of CAREGIvers can provide include personal care, medication reminders, companionship, shopping and errands – to name just a few.