How can seniors stay connected (and COVID-Safe) this winter?
With this being our first full winter without lockdowns here in Australia, many families across the country have been rightly concerned about reducing their risks of contracting COVID-19. Families with immunocompromised members and the elderly, in particular, have been taking steps to use COVIDSafe practices whenever possible, as a means to ensure that everyone maintains the right to be comfortable this winter.
But how exactly can older Australians balance being safe from COVID-19 and maintaining connections with loved ones and the wider community? There are more ways to stay safe from COVID-19 than simply repeating the winters of 2020 and 2021 once again this year.
These are just a few methods that families and communities can use to keep all of their loved ones COVID-Safe this winter season.
Enjoy “seniors only” community events.
If your elderly loved ones reside in retirement villages in Australia, chances are they already have an extensive calendar of winter events that they can use to keep themselves entertained this season. Retirement communities can even host a selection of “seniors only” community events just to make sure their senior residents can enjoy winter socializing without having to worry about being exposed to COVID-19 or other pesky cold weather viruses.
Family members who wish to attend social events held at retirement villages should note which events are open to the public and which are exclusively for village residents. Also, if you or your loved ones are planning to attend an event for seniors in a retirement village, we recommend that you get PCR or RAT tested a few days before the event, just to make sure you are not exposed your elderly loved ones or any other retirement village residents to COVID-19.
Take advantage of technology
Unfortunately, even with the COVIDSafe measures, the number of cases has increased across Australia during this winter season, meaning that anyone who finds themselves commuting for work, traveling overseas or living in areas densely populated, could test positive for COVID-19 in the very near future. With this in mind, there will likely be a period of time when you or your loved ones will need to isolate.
Of course, if there are ever periods of time when families can’t visit their elderly loved ones, you should feel encouraged to figuratively dust off all the technology you’ve used to communicate with each other during these last years of confinement.
Maintaining digital communication channels can be a great way to stay connected during difficult times, and chances are your elderly loved ones will absolutely appreciate you spending time with them virtually instead of not being able to see them in person.
There are also several ways to stay connected through technology. You don’t necessarily need FaceTime to stay connected. Even something as simple as playing online games can help you and your family feel united on the coldest winter nights.
In addition to this, maintaining a good knowledge of technology can only be a benefit for your elderly loved ones, as constant engagement with digital technologies can also help older Australians maintain a level of independence, both in terms of socializing as staying connected to family. and friends, as well as managing day-to-day responsibilities such as shopping, banking and using public transport.
Go on a family getaway (as fully vaccinated travelers!)
If you and your older loved ones find yourself a little crazy staying in the city center during the winter, then a great way to make sure you spend plenty of time with each other without having to worry- you for the constant threat that it is. COVID-19, it’s simply planning a family vacation, whether interstate or just a few hours from home.
However, we advise against taking your elderly family member on an international trip as the number of cases related to international travel is still relatively high. There’s also every chance that a travel-acquired infection will be more difficult to recover from than a locally-acquired case, since you may have been exposed to a strain or variant against which you are not thoroughly vaccinated.
Of course, the best method to ensure you stay safe from COVID-19 when traveling interstate or even abroad is to simply stay up-to-date on your COVID-19 vaccinations and vaccinations of reinforcement Booster shots in particular are very important in helping you and your loved ones stay well protected from emerging or developing variants of COVID-19. It’s also worth getting your annual flu shot at the same time, as it’s perfectly safe to drop your flu shot along with your next COVID-19 shot.
Take COVIDSafe measures when you go out
Finally, it’s worth noting that while vaccines may prevent you from having to deal with more adverse symptoms and sequelae of COVID-19, it won’t prevent you from getting infected with the coronavirus. And while the severity of COVID-19 may vary from person to person, this is by no means an argument for taking chances with the virus, especially if you are an elderly person or plan to spend a lot of time this winter with seniors. loved ones.
For this reason, it is recommended that seniors and their loved ones take COVIDSafe measures whenever they leave their home or retirement village. This means wearing a tight-fitting face mask when traveling, using hand sanitizer before and after handling items in public spaces, and getting tested regularly to reduce the risks of exposing your loved ones to the coronavirus.
Staying COVIDSafe is naturally of the utmost importance to retirement village providers, which is precisely why your elderly loved one can likely be safer in their retirement communities. That’s not to say you shouldn’t be encouraged to spend fun days with your older loved ones, but the freedom to enjoy those days comes with the added responsibility of keeping each other safe.
You can do your part to keep both your loved ones and your community at large safe by following all of the COVIDSafe tips for staying connected that we’ve explored above.