By Roberto Muñiz
It’s in times of adversity like these that I’m most amazed by the resilience of our team at Parker. We have seen leaders and more importantly the front-line staff rise up in the midst of all the work we are doing to keep our residents and employees safe. It’s not surprising to me that even the quietest caregivers have stepped up to take the helm and lead others. Everyone on our team is doing their part, and it’s really a joy to see.
We continue to follow all the steps and recommendations from the CDC and the NJ Department of Health to reduce the potential for exposure. There is nothing more important than the health and welfare of the people we care for and serve and it’s for this reason we have taken every step possible to ensure their safety. Yet we are seeing an equally important need: the need to keep our Elders engaged, bring them meaning and moments of joy in the midst of what would seem to be our new norm.
Without being able to socially interact with friends, venture out, or have visitors, the days could get lonely. Yet our staff has brought moments of meaning to a whole new level. Our horticulturist, Lee, recently provided a session from the ground courtyard of our assisted living while residents watched from their balconies. One of our Landing Lane nursing residents celebrated their 60th anniversary over Skype with their spouse. Some of our recreation staff created a happiness cart which delivers assorted beverages, music, dancing, bubbles, spontaneity and some good old-fashioned silliness to our residents at their doorstep. Rehab and personal exercise therapies are being given in resident rooms and suites.
We realize that we work with a vulnerable population and it is our responsibility and privilege to protect them. We will continue to do so and hope this virus comes to its end soon. Until that comes, I urge you to take a moment to notice the positives in the midst of the storm and it’s important that we see them.
Godspeed and stay healthy!
Roberto
By Jennifer Nelson for Next Avenue
Part of the THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW SPECIAL REPORT
Roxanne Hawn, 52, of Boulder, Colo., jokes that she came out of the womb anxious, so she’s had a lot of time to deal with anxiety. “I always said that being anxious makes me exceptional in an emergency, because I’m used to functioning while feeling like this when others aren’t,” says Hawn.
But since the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis began, Hawn realizes that only applies to acute situations, not so much the COVID-19 pandemic.
“With the long-lasting pandemic, I’ve adjusted some things, like giving up coffee in the morning, because I’d wake up anxious and the coffee made it worse,” she says.
There’s a good chance even if you’ve never experienced serious mental health issues, such as significant anxiety or depression, or something like obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), you could now be having some symptoms.
If you already have any of these mental health issues, this coronavirus crisis may not only trigger your symptoms but make it more difficult to keep them at bay, says Haley Neidich, a licensed clinic social worker and mental health professional in St. Petersburg, Fla.
“Anyone who has a history of depression, anxiety or OCD is going to be experiencing symptoms right now.”
“Anyone who has a history of depression, anxiety or OCD is going to be experiencing symptoms right now,” says Neidich. “The symptoms could be severe or they could be just a general sense of concern that symptoms will onset.”
She says having some anxiety right now is normal. It’s when the anxiety keeps you from sleeping, functioning, working or taking care of day to day activities, that it becomes a problem.
Here’s what you might be feeling if you have any of these common issues, and some tips that could help you get through these weeks of physical distancing, working from home and worrying about the health or financial ramifications of the pandemic:
Anxiety
Symptoms include a decreased ability to sleep, constant worrying about the future, obsessing about the news and talking about and trying to plan the future, even through the unknowns.
“We know that stress impacts our body’s ability to fight infection and to manage our overall health,” says Neidich. So, it’s important to take steps that feel helpful and improve your symptoms.
Hawn says three things that usually help mitigate her anxiety are long walks with her dogs outside, reading and knitting. “As weather allows, I try to do all three every day,” she notes.
Tips for getting through the COVID-19 crisis when you have anxiety:
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- Stick to a daily routine. You’re looking to create a sense of normalcy to ground yourself.
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- Be proactive about sleep hygiene. Go to bed at the same time and wake up at relatively the same time every day to keep your internal clock functioning normally.
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- Try meditating. Introspection and mindfulness can be helpful for soothing yourself. There are many meditation apps — such as Calm and Headspace — that can guide you on how to do this.
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- Practice gratitude. Getting to stay home? Spending more time with kids? Tackling projects around the house? These are things to feel grateful for, and gratitude can help plant you in the present rather than thinking ahead.
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- Schedule worry time. Annie M. Varvaryan, a licensed clinical psychologist in San Jose, Calif., recommends picking a time of day, say, 4 p.m., to sit down and worry about all the things going on. Set a timer for 20 minutes. That’s the only time you let yourself worry. “It forces us to reduce worry behavior throughout the day,” says Varvaryan.
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- Help someone else. If you can deliver a bag of groceries to a neighbor’s door or mow someone’s lawn, help out. “Feeling like you’re helping someone gives you something else to think about other than anxiety and worry,” Hawn says.
Depression
Symptoms of depression include feeling deep sadness, crying frequently, moodiness, not being able to sleep, not being able to find enjoyment in the things you used to and feeling alone or even suicidal.
One protective factor for people with depression is having something to look forward to, explains Neidich. Maybe before the coronavirus crisis, there was a birthday party to attend, a big project at work or other events you were looking forward to enjoying. Now, those things may be postponed.
Tips for getting through Covid-19 when you suffer from depression:
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- Make specific goals. Focusing on goals gives you a semblance of something to look forward to doing. You might read 30 pages of a book, write in a journal each day or organize the garage. You could reach out to two people for phone or video calls daily. If you could use some people to talk to, you might want to try Well Connected, a free service that gathers small groups of older adults on the phone for weekly talks, based on common interests.
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- Find a healthy distraction. “There is a difference between healthy and unhealthy distractions,” says Varvaryan. Examples of healthy distractions: watch a movie, text a friend, clean a closet, go for a walk. Unhealthy distractions: binge watching TV from bed all day, binge eating junk food or scrolling endlessly through social media when it makes you feel worse.
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- Try teletherapy. Even through the coronavirus crisis, many mental health practitioners are still seeing their clients via teleconferencing or telehealth technology. If you have a therapist, ask if you can talk to them via your computer, tablet or smartphone.
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- Maintain the status quo. Neidich says now’s the time to practice all the coping tools you’ve learned when it comes to your treatment, such as exercise, plenty of sleep, eating well and connecting with others through technology.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Symptoms of OCD include feeling a lack of control, intrusive thoughts that you try to control with rituals and thoughts and rituals around germs, contamination or cleanliness.
Tips for getting through Covid-19 when you have OCD:
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- Push back against rituals or try to delay them. Neidich has her patients ask, “If I have a harmful behavior or activity, what can I do to delay doing that?” Then, come up with a list of other things you can try, such as playing with your pet, doing a puzzle or working in the garden to prevent or delay rituals.
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- Tackle projects you enjoy. Cook, bake or take up a creative hobby or art project. Things that give you structure and keep your hands busy help you feel less like performing rituals.
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- Amp up self-compassion. Changes like social distancing and working from home can trigger symptoms. So, be compassionate with yourself. You don’t have to be perfect.
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- Laugh. Hawn watches stand-up comedy specials on Netflix to end the days with a giggle.
Jennifer Nelson is a Florida-based writer who also writes for MSNBC, FOXnews and AARP.
By Rabbi Laura Geller for Next Avenue
Part of the THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW SPECIAL REPORT
(We asked some of the Next Avenue Influencers in Aging to offer their thoughts and insights about the coronavirus pandemic. Here is one of them. — The Editors)
At a time like this, some people turn to their religious tradition for comfort. A beautiful example of this is a poem by Rev. Lynn Ungar called Pandemic.
What if you thought of it
as the Jews consider the Sabbath—
the most sacred of times?
Cease from travel.
Cease from buying and selling.
Give up, just for now,
on trying to make the world
different than it is.
Sing. Pray. Touch only those
to whom you commit your life.
Center down.
And when your body has become still,
reach out with your heart.
Know that we are connected
in ways that are terrifying and beautiful.
(You could hardly deny it now.)
Know that our lives
are in one another’s hands.
(Surely, that has come clear.)
Do not reach out your hands.
Reach out your heart.
Reach out your words.
Reach out all the tendrils
of compassion that move, invisibly,
where we cannot touch.
Promise this world your love–
for better or for worse,
in sickness and in health,
so long as we all shall live.
–Lynn Ungar 3/11/20
The Most Important Lesson of the Pandemic
I love this poem… and yet it troubles me.
Yes, the Sabbath is a time to be, not to do, a time when we sit with what is without trying to change it. The invitation to view this challenging time through that lens is empowering. We can slow down, center down and perhaps through the quiet, remember what matters most in our lives. This is indeed a gift.
But maybe not for everyone.
We are connected in ways that are terrifying and beautiful, and our lives literally are in each others’ hands.
Not for those who are losing their jobs or trying to balance taking care of their kids while they work from home or worrying about aging parents in long term care facilities that they can’t visit.
Not for those first responders, risking their own health to respond to a public health emergency. And not for older adults living alone.
Maybe we should never give up on trying to make the world different from what it is until the world really does understand the most important lesson of this pandemic: we are connected in ways that are terrifying and beautiful, and our lives literally are in each others’ hands.
We are all connected to each other, wherever we live. What happens to a stranger in China or Italy or Iran matters to me. What happens to my neighbor happens to me.
How Religious Communities Are Reaching Out
Religious communities are reaching out their hearts. While some speak about social distancing, what is happening in many religious communities is more aptly described as physical distancing but social connecting.
While we are sheltering in place, the real shelter is the community. So, no one is really alone.
One example is ChaiVillageLA, the synagogue-based Village in the Los Angeles area I co-founded. It includes 230 older adult members aging in place, many of whom live alone. ChaiVillage leadership has committed to connecting every Village member with a buddy who will be in touch regularly over the phone. The buddy’s commitment is to check in, find out if there is anything the member needs, and share that with the leadership who will try to find a member volunteer to provide that help in a way that is safe for everyone.
Members are offering virtual gathering opportunities, from virtual afternoon tea to film discussions to book discussions to a workshop on how to host a virtual seder for Passover and make sure every Village member is invited.
While we are sheltering in place, the real shelter is the community. So, no one is really alone.
Ironically, the recent Torah portion speaks of the construction of the portable sanctuary that accompanied the Israelites on their journey through the wilderness. All the Israelites contributed to its construction — through their labor, their skill and their contributions in response to God’s request: “Build me a sanctuary so I can dwell among them.” Not, “so I can dwell in it,” but “so I can dwell among them.”
And the section right before this… is the instruction about the Sabbath.
Yes, we center down, and then we build together the shelter of community.
By Liz Seegert for Next Avenue
Credit: Sabrina Crews
Part of the THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW SPECIAL REPORT
Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or other dementia is hard enough during normal times. As the coronavirus pandemic continues to affect communities around the U.S., though, it’s not surprising that family caregivers are anxious, unnerved and confused.If you’re caring for a family member with dementia during this global health crisis, there are ways to minimize stress, care for your family and care for yourself, too.
Dementia itself does not increase the risk of COVID-19; however, dementia-related behaviors may increase risk. People with dementia may forget to wash their hands or take other precautions recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to avoid contracting the virus. And if they do fall ill, cognitive impairment may worsen.
One of the first signs of illness for people who have dementia is a sudden onset of increasing confusion, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. If you notice this in your loved one, contact your health care provider right away.
Maintain a Calm Environment
One of the most important things you can do as a caregiver is to remain calm. The Alzheimer’s Foundation advises caregivers not to raise the alarm about the virus to the person you care for. Limit what you say about it and try not to watch the news if they’re in the room.
It takes a lot more attention and responsibility from family caregivers to make sure all of the home’s occupants are safely cohabiting, according to Lisa Winstel, chief operating officer of the Caregiver Action Network.
“Anything you can do to just keep the routine as consistent as possible, minimizing disruptions as much as possible, will help.”
If an older adult lives with you, she says, “this is probably a really good time to review your household policies about policing things that are left around, like small items that could be mistaken for candy.”
Safety issues warrant a second look. You can help reduce fall risk by ensuring that things, like books, are not left on the floor. If your loved one wanders, be sure to remind others not to leave the door unlocked. Keep medications in a locked drawer or cabinet to ensure no unsupervised access.
People living with dementia may need extra or written reminders and support to conduct important hygienic practices from one day to the next, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. That advisory group suggests placing signs in the bathroom and elsewhere to remind people with dementia to wash their hands with soap for 20 seconds. You can help by demonstrating thorough hand-washing.
Whether they live with you or on their own, routine is also very important for everyone involved, Winstel says. “Anything you can do to just keep the routine as consistent as possible, minimizing disruptions as much as possible, will help,” she notes.
Have a Backup Plan
However, it’s also important to have a backup plan during this time, especially if your loved one lives far away. Is there a trusted person available to help out if the home health aide falls ill? Can a neighbor or friend help prepare or deliver meals? Will the local drugstore deliver necessary medications or supplies?
The Alzheimer’s Foundation recommends planning ahead for possible changes in program schedules or plans to shelter in place. You could have activities ready like word puzzles and games, picture albums, music to listen to, special movies to watch and small tasks to engage in, such as folding towels or putting socks together.
Caregivers should also make sure their loved ones are drinking enough liquids. Staying hydrated fortifies the immune system and they might already have weakened systems due to other underlying health conditions. Along with this advice, remember that if you are encouraging the person to drink more, they might have to use the bathroom more often or have increased incontinence.
If it’s possible, try to take your loved one out for a walk, suggests Caroline Cicero, associate professor at the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.
“We’re told to stay home, but if you live in a place where you’re not going to be touching other people, I think we should all be going outside getting fresh air and exercising a little bit. This includes taking those with dementia outside and walking around,” she says.
It’s an important activity for everyone’s health and emotional well-being right now.
People in Memory Care Units
The CDC has issued guidance for health care and long-term care facilities on how to minimize the risk of infection of COVID-19. Most facilities are not allowing visitors during this outbreak. So, caregivers are likely feeling additional stress, since it’s that much harder to check up on loved ones, says Winstel. “They worry what will happen when the choices are made about care. Are they taking the right medicine?”she says.
If visits are not allowed, the Alzheimer’s Association recommends asking the facility about options for engaging with your family member — whether by phone, video chats or email. If that’s not possible, find out what else they’re doing to ensure you get regular updates.
Your Self-Care Is Crucial
As caregivers, we need to keep our own state of mind positive, which can be difficult. Stress can trigger changes in eating or sleeping patterns; difficulty concentrating; worsening of your own health problems and increased use of tobacco, alcohol or drugs.
The CDC recommends:
- Take breaks from watching, reading or listening to news stories, including social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting.
- Take care of your body. Take deep breaths, stretch or meditate. Try to eat healthy and well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep and avoid alcohol and drugs.
- Make time to unwind. Try to do activities you enjoy.
- Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.
Even though everyone is staying close to home due to the pandemic, caregivers should still reach out for help. It can be difficult to ask, but it’s important to do so, Cicero says.
“Caregivers are probably worn out, tired and maybe frustrated. And with no end in sight, the uncertainty is so hard,” she says.
Cicero suggests caregivers literally take it one day at a time and not feel guilty if they need to take a break.
The Caregiver Action Network Help Desk, staffed by caregiving experts, can provide information to help caregivers navigate complex challenges. These pros can be reached by phone (855- 227-3640) or by online chat and are available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT.
Caregivers also can reach out to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America at 866-232-8484 or the Alzheimer’s Association of America at 800- 272-3900.
By Liz Seegert
New York-based journalist Liz Seegert has spent more than 30 years reporting and writing about health and general news topics for print, digital and broadcast media. Her primary beats currently include aging, boomers, social determinants of health and health policy. She is topic editor on aging for the Association of Health Care Journalists. Her work has appeared in numerous media outlets, including Consumer Reports, AARP.com, Medical Economics, The Los Angeles Times and The Hartford Courant. @lseegert
By Roberto Muñiz
I am so pleased to announce that I will be gaining and sharing perspectives of aging services on a global scale as part of the Board of Directors of The Global Ageing Network.
The Global Ageing Network is a worldwide organization of service providers, businesses, academics, scholars and others. Its mission is to connect and support care and service providers worldwide to enhance quality of life for global aging. This mission is to advance education, leadership, collaboration and research.
As a new board member, I will sit alongside colleagues who are deeply passionate about senior care across our world; France, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, the Dominican Republic, Belgium, Switzerland, South Africa and many other countries.
Some of the challenges of aging are the same worldwide. We are only as strong as our weakest link. Sharing knowledge of what works and what doesn’t, so that we can ensure a future that best meets the needs of all who we care for, is what true leadership is about.
Whether it’s meeting the needs of more people with residential or at home services and programs, making care more affordable for all, or sharing technologies that will better meet the needs of the new generations that will need care, there is so much to be learned from each other. By learning more of what is going on in the world, it will help enlighten us on best practices and next steps.
I have shared my concerns about the limited aging services available in my native island, Puerto Rico. Although part of the U.S., there are limited services of this kind available. I’m optimistic about what new ideas I will gain for all of us by being a part of the Global Ageing Network.
I am grateful to LeadingAge National for nominating me and look forward to what my participation on this board will bring. More to come.