Compassionate Care
Since the emergence of COVID 19 in 2019, many seniors especially those residing in long term care and assisted living facilities have suffered a great deal of depression, loneliness, decline in physical activity, increased episodes of mood disorder, new onset of pressure ulcers and even death. These and a host of other negative impacts of COVID 19 are some of the new insights of how unprepared our health care system is to combat new emerging viruses which sadly as in the case of COVID 19 have claimed over 5 million lives worldwide, with about 800,000 of those deaths recorded in the United States.
The availability and correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE), 14-day self-quarantine for those who tested positive or show any symptoms, the use of ventilators, the invention of the COVID 19 vaccines, and of course the magnificent care and expertise and the compassion of our health care providers are rooted to have played the most significant role in fighting this deadly virus. However, many have still failed to look into the negative impacts of this virus in the lives of our senior citizens due to the quarantine guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The purpose of this site is to share some of the challenges faced on a day-to-day basis of our senior citizens especially those residing in health care institutions and the wonderful men and women that go far and beyond every day to provide compassionate care to them, making sure their basic needs, health, mental and even their social needs are met. Taking 5 minutes of your time to read and reflect on this article could help you make change in the life of these residents, and the staff, which will in turn make a change in your life, because when you are able to put a smile on someone’s face, then you have succeeded to put a smile on at least 5 other faces, because kindness as its always said, is contagious.
But before we dive into more articles, I wish to appeal to you, to take 5 minutes of your time and reflect about some of the people you’ve lost to this pandemic, maybe they were your spouse, a child, a parent, a dear friend, a coworker, or someone you only met once, imagine what you could have done differently to save their lives, and consider this moment to be your second chance to do something in your own little way to stop the spread of the virus, what will you do?
Many families especially our senior citizens have experienced a great decline in health because of COVID 19, and some are still battling with some of those impacts till today.
So Whatever we can do in our own little ways, such as washing our hands, wearing a face mask, keeping 6 feet away from each other, getting vaccinated and above all loving one another, cherishing one another and being there for each other, especially in a time like this, could mean another step closer in putting an end to this monster.
The Healthy5 