5 in-home senior care services families find especially helpful during COVID restrictions

Despite progress in certain areas to combat the prolonged spread of COVID-19, many restrictions remain that place an especially difficult physical, emotional and social burden on seniors. As adverse effects such as loneliness, isolation, and missed appointments persist we have seen some consistencies in what families are seeking in a Comfort Keepers Care Plan for their senior loved one and we would like to share them with you.

Following are 5 common in-home senior care services families have found helpful over the last several months.

1. Running errands: This plays out in a few ways. Some seniors appreciate having a reliable Caregiver who can drive them to and from the store or on other errands, with the added benefit of getting out of the house to break up the isolation of the day. On the other hand, some seniors enjoy staying home while a Caregiver can run errands solo and take care of all the things that might otherwise go undone, like prescription pick-up, mailing packages, dropping off donations to a thrift store, etc.
   
   
2. Grocery shopping: Seniors who do not have family members who can routinely drop off groceries appreciate having a Caregiver who can pick up groceries and help ensure consistency in nutritious meals and snacks. And again, some seniors like to grocery shop with their Caregiver and together plan for upcoming meals.
   
   
3. Meal preparation: If unchecked, proper nutrition can slowly decline, especially if depression, isolation, or diminished capacity to cook are in play. Caregivers ensure that seniors are getting their proper nutrition and hydration throughout the day by preparing meals and snacks, and meal planning with seniors to prepare small meals in advance that can be easily reheated in a microwave once the Caregiver has gone.  
    
4. Reducing social isolation: Caregivers find physical, mental, and social activities that seniors look forward to doing and make them the happiest, and families are great at providing helpful insights about what their senior loved ones enjoy most. And while puzzles, planting, word games and other engaging activities are fun, sometimes seniors appreciate just having a Caregiver quietly with them to watch a movie or listen to music.
   
   
5. Cleaning and disinfecting: Caregivers do a very thorough job to maintain a clean and safe home environment and go the extra mile to proactively and regularly wipe down and disinfect surfaces throughout their shift to help prevent cold and flu viruses. 

We understand the importance of making the best choices for you and your loved ones, and the five services above are just a sampling of some of the common services families are most drawn to at this time. Call our Comfort Keepers office at (651) 796-2540 to discuss more about your unique situation and how we might schedule just the right Caregiver for you or your loved one.

 Our Comfort Keepers Caregivers are ready to provide care services that keep seniors engaged, connected and healthy.