Coronavirus Preparation & Prevention Plan

I care for my 98-year-old father. I’ve created a plan for us and other family members. I thought it might be helpful to share how we’re managing our situation. This is for general information only; please contact your health care team for guidance on your particular situation.

Minimize Exposure

Minimize visitors to your caree’s home

• Communicate the plan to minimize visitors in advance
  • Prepare and distribute a note
    • Neighbors
    • Eucharistic ministers
    • Professional caregivers
• Place a note on the door explaining that visitors will be limited due to an at-risk resident

Avoid Crowds

Minimize your exposure to the virus in order to minimize your caree’s exposure

• Work from home if possible
• Workout at home or outside rather than at a gym
• Stock up on food and supplies to minimize trips to the store – sample list below
• Research food and medicine delivery options
• Minimize trips to refuel vehicles and use disposable gloves

Discuss or revisit wishes

Legal Considerations

• Health Care POA
  • Determine if the care recipient has empowered someone to make health care decision in the event that they are not able to make decisions for themselves
  • Locate the document
• Locate an Elder Law Attorney
  • National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
  • naela.org
  • 520-881-4005

End of Life Wishes

• Determine if a living will has been created and locate it
• If there is no living will in place:
  • Discuss end of life wishes
  • Use Five Wishes to help with and document the conversation
    • “Five Wishes is a complete approach to discussing and documenting your care and comfort choices. It’s about connecting families, communicating with healthcare providers, and showing your community what it means to care for one another.”
    • The Five wishes include
      • Designating the person to make health care decisions for the care recipient when they are not able to make the decision for themselves
      • The kind of medical treatment wanted or not wanted
      • How comfortable the care recipient wants to be
      • What the care recipient wants loved ones to know
• Discuss a Do Not Resuscitate order. This form is
  • A yellow form
  • Obtained from and signed by a physician
  • Placed on the refrigerator so that emergency services are aware of the order
• Discuss the preference of your care recipient to go to the hospital or not if they should become sick

Have a Plan

Back up care plans for your caree

• Have a plan in case you develop symptoms
  • Locate resources before you need them
    • Eldercare Locator for community services
      • https://eldercare.acl.gov/Public/Index.aspx
      • 1-800-677-1116
  • Create a care plan in case someone else will be responsible for the care of your family member:
    • Diet restrictions or needs
    • Medicines
    • Providers
    • Clinical Supports
    • Treatments
    • Care needed
    • Method of communication between you and caregiver
• Talk to your home care company about their protocol for an outbreak
  • What precautions are they taking to keep your family member safe
  • What plans are in place if there is a staff shortage
• Prepare for school closures and the challenges that might arise
• Discuss possible care needs with local family members, develop a plan  
• Have a plan in case you need to spend the night or a few with your caree
• Make sure that your caree’s neighbors know how to reach you 
• If your caree is in an assisted living facility or a long-term care facility, ask about their emergency protocol plan for an outbreak
• How to Prepare Your Home for the Coronavirus NPR
• Download caregiving.com‘s Family Emergency Plan
• Tips to Create a Plan for the “What If’s” Including the Coronavirus

Medical Professionals

• Determine how to contact doctors by phone or video chat 
• Talk with your PCP about steps to take if you or a family member develop symptoms
• Talk with providers about back up plans for regular treatments, i.e. dialysis, chemotherapy, wound care

Best Practices

Practice good hygiene

• Wash hands as soon as you or anyone walk in the door and wash for 20 seconds
• Don’t touch your face with unclean hands
• Use hand sanitizer 
• Cough in your elbow
• Throw away used tissue
• Keep high touch surfaces clean with household cleaning spray or wipes

Stay Healthy

Focus on the basics

• Sleep
• Healthy eating
• Hand washing
• Stay well hydrated

Self Care

• Thrive or Survive: Self Care and Caregiving
• The Four M’s
  • Suggested by Donna Benton, Ph.D., Director, University of Southern California Family Caregiving Support Center
  • Mail
    • Keep in touch with friends and family
    • Email, snail mail, texting, phone calls
  • Music
    • Relaxing
    • Distracting
  • Movies
    • Entertainment
    • Educational
  • Meal
    • Keep it interesting
    • Treat yourself
  • Practice all with Mindfulness

Mask

• Wear a mask if you are sick to protect others from germs
• Do not wear a mask if you are well
• Details are available here, Face Masks: What Doctors Say About Their Role In Containing Coronavirus

Stay Informed

Fear may spread faster than the virus, so know the sites to trust for information

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

Know the symptoms

• Medline Plus

Stock up on staples and minimize shopping 

• What delivery services are available
• Have a plan for items that must be kept in stock

This video takes less than 15 minutes to watch and could make a lifetime of difference.

Non-perishable food

• Protein
  • Tuna (Safe Catch)
  • Beans
  • Frozen Edamame
  • Oatmeal
  • High protein cereals 
  • Nuts
  • Soups
  • Health bars
• Fruits
  • Dried
  • Frozen
  • Plastic containers ie Dole
  • Canned
• Vegetables
  • Frozen
  • Canned
  • Soups
• Beverages
  • V8
    • Vegetable
    • Fruit
  • Ensure
  • Coffee/Tea
    • Creamer
    • Sweetener
• Other
  • Rice
  • Pasta
  • Cereal

Non-food essentials

• Bathroom
  • TP
  • Wipes
  • Soaps
  • Shampoo/Conditioner
  • Toothpaste
  • Lotion
  • Incontinence supplies
• Kitchen
  • Dish soap
  • Dishwasher soap
  • Hand soap
  • Paper towels
• Misc
  • Tissue
  • Laundry detergent
  • Hand Sanitizer
  • Surface cleaner 
  • Disposable gloves
  • Trash bags

Medicines

• Prescription
• OTC
  • Ibuprofen
  • Acetaminophen

Please share additional tips in comments.

Navigating the Caregiver River: A Journey to Sustainable Caregiving is available on Amazon. Also, check out the Self-Caregiving Strategies Podcast.

Schedule Theresa Wilbanks to speak on caregiving and empower the caregivers in your workplace or community with the 12 Sustainable Caregiving Strategies.

Advice offered is for general information only; please contact your healthcare team, legal or financial advisors to guide your particular situation.