2020-04-16_amanda_AprilContent_HomeCare_Draft1_13April2020.docx

Keep calm and clean on. 
Article one / March 2020

Spring cleaning has new meaning this year - especially if you’re helping a high-risk senior stay safe at home. How can you keep a loved one’s home cleaner and safer in the midst of COVID-19? Whether you’re diving in yourself, or guiding an elderly loved one remotely, keep these five cleaning best practices in mind:

Know the difference between cleaning and disinfecting.

Make no mistake: cleaning and disinfecting are two very different pieces of the puzzle. Both matter in the battle against COVID-19.

Cleaning means removing germs, dirt and impurities from surfaces, which lowers their numbers and reduces the risk of spreading infection. Disinfecting uses chemicals to actually kill germs on a surface that you’ve just cleaned.

What does that mean in a household where you’re trying to prevent sickness? Do both. Clean dirty surfaces using a soap or detergent and water first. Then, disinfect. Be sure to consult guidelines specifically for people who are already ill with COVID-19 if cleaning a home where someone already has it.

Use the right products for the job.

Most of us now know the feeling of heading into the cleaning aisle, only to find familiar brands have disappeared from shelves. Still, don’t panic. While not all disinfectants are created equal, Health Canada has approved hundreds of different options to fight COVID-19. Many of them are made right here in Canada.  Whatever you choose, follow the directions carefully. Taking a minute to actually read the label and understand exactly how to disinfect a given surface can help you deliver a better kind of clean.

Don’t go off script unless it can be done safely.

From social media to neighbourhood Zoom meetings, we’ve all heard stories of friends and relatives mixing up their own cleaning potions. If you’re intent on making your own, stick closely to safety recommendations, and assess your situation before diving in. For example, talking a self-isolating senior through a higher-risk activity like mixing bleach or other chemicals can open up a world of new worries that no one wants. Focusing on doing what you can with whatever ready-to-use disinfectants you can source may be a safer bet.

Don’t boil the ocean.

We know COVID-19 spreads mostly through respiratory droplets created by a cough or sneeze; close and prolonged physical contact (think shaking hands); or touching something with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, eyes or nose. We also know this germ can live on cardboard for up to 24 hours, and on other surfaces for up to three days. Those facts can cause real anxiety, and make it hard to know just where to start in terms of cleaning. Focusing your efforts on the highest-touch areas can help you stay calm, and ensure the riskiest areas of the home are cleaned on a regular basis.

Doorknobs, toilet flushers, sink handles, fridge doors, computer keyboards and smart phones are high on most lists. Ask yourself what the top five or 10 high-touch surfaces in a senior’s vicinity are, and make sure they’re getting regular attention.

Add clothing to the list.

There’s a lot of discussion over whether clothing, and shoes in particular, can bring germs into a house. Anyone caring for someone who’s ill should pay extra attention to cleaning their clothes and know this: public health tells us it’s safe to wash clothing belonging to an ill person along with the regular laundry.

More broadly, keeping clothes – and the hampers or bags that house them – clean can’t hurt as we aim to curb the spread of COVID-19. Like everything, think about where people have been, wash what they’ve worn, and keep the laundry bubbles, hot water, and dryer cycle rolling.

Closing thoughts

Keeping seniors safe at home can certainly feel like a lot right now. Staying focused on cleanliness can be a real, tangible way of helping to keep COVID-19 at bay. Remember to keep your own safety in mind. Wear gloves while you clean, or wash your hands for at least 20 seconds once you’re done. Keeping yourself safe goes a long way for the very loved ones you’re trying to protect.

Facebook

Cleanliness can help fight COVID-19. But knowing where to start can be overwhelming while working hard to keep a senior loved one safe at home. We’re cutting through the noise and offering 5 tips to help you make the most of your cleaning right now. [link to website post]

Instagram

Can an honest clean be clean enough? Keeping these 5 tips in mind can help you dial up cleanliness, and dial down COVID-19 risks, as you aim to keep seniors safer at home [bit.ly]

Happiness isn’t cancelled. 
Article two / March 2020

Want some good news? You can help a senior travel the world, explore their passion or find a little joy even as they self-isolate to stay safe at home – all at the click of a mouse.

We know stressful or traumatic events can trigger anxiety among seniors. Even before COVID-19 upended daily routines and in-person activities, research showed strong connections between social network structure and symptoms of anxiety and depression in older adults. That’s why factoring mindset into a senior’s care plan is so important right now.

How can you help loved ones feel engaged or even distracted? We’ve uncovered a wealth of mini escapes that might be just what your loved one needs:

Nothing says spring like cherry blossoms

Got a nature lover on your hands? Google Earth enables anyone to travel the world’s most beautiful, blossom-lined streets right from home. If you prefer, why not help someone jump into a short, narrated tour of the famed Kew gardens outside of London? From there, you’re a hop, skip and a click away from a visit to Claude Monet’s waterlilies direct from Giverny, France, or Hawaii’s Tropical Botanical Garden, in the South Pacific. Seniors can even chart their own virtual path through The Gardens of Versailles.

Animals do the darndest things

Closer to home, Montréal’s Biodome may be closed, but a number of other Canadian zoos and aquariums are offering up live feeds from some of their favourite exhibits. You can zero in on the Calgary Zoo’s PandaCam to watch Er Shun and Da Mao during daytime hours, explore Sea Lion Beach on British Columbia’s Hanson Island, or pop into the penguin exhibit at the Vancouver Aquarium. Live views of the Shark Cam at Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada are another great way for seniors to safely interact with stimulating content.

A painting speaks a thousand words

Studies show aesthetic experiences have a noticeable impact on physical and mental health. Art aficionados can reap that benefit and get a colour-filled dose of some powerful displays all from the safety of their living room. Why not boost morale by taking a peak inside the Vancouver Art Gallery, or stepping right into the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto? Make a daily habit of checking into the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts daily culture offering, too. Further afield, New York’s Museum of Modern Art, Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts, and Paris’ Louvre are all welcoming visitors remotely. If someone’s looking for an unparalleled hit of optimistic colour, the Georgia O’Keefe Museum in Sante Fe has six virtual tours for at-home visitors to revel in.

Stories inspire storytelling

History buffs may want to step back in time through Pointe-à-Callière’s virtual tour of their permanent exhibits, explore the Canadian Museum for Human Rights with an on-screen guide, or scroll through dozens of other offerings many Canadian museums are serving up. And if someone’s missing the good old hockey game – not a problem. Encourage them to get their fix remotely, with a little help from the Hockey Hall of Fame’s 3-D tour. Or cheer on some historic expos as TSN begins airing classic games.

Closing thoughts

Doom and gloom breeds doom and gloom. Offering a little respite for high-risk seniors who are self-isolating at home is essential. Watching virtually with them by phone or from the right distance can be a nice way to dial down your own stress level in the process. Even in such extraordinary times, a little happy can go a very long way.

Facebook

Finding safe ways for house-bound scenarios to feel engaged can make a big difference as we all cope with the realities of COVID-19. This month, we’ve done the digging to bring you a range of ideas for virtual tours, visits and activities that can help lift a senior’s spirits, even while self-isolating at home. [link to website post]

Instagram

A little happy goes a long way for seniors self-isolating at home. Check out our guide for virtual and interactive ways to bring mini escapes – and bigger smiles – to seniors while they focus on staying safe at home. [bit.ly]

Tim’s personal LinkedIn

We’re continuously evolving our policies and practices to help keep seniors safe at home. We’ve put a few of our best tips for keeping a loved one’s home clean in the midst of COVID-19. Whether you’re doing the cleaning personally, or guiding a senior by phone, keep these ideas in mind. [share article 1 here with link to Home Care website]

Everyone’s feeling the mental strain of COVID-19 – particularly high-risk seniors who are self-isolating at home. It’s tough out there. So, we’re focusing on the little things that can make the biggest impact. Here are a host of great options to help an elderly loved one stay virtually engaged, combat loneliness, and set their sights on bright days. [share article 2 here with link to Home Care website]

Subject line for newsletter

Top tips: Cleaning & Mental Wellness for Seniors