The flu, the common cold, strep, COVID-19 are all viruses that can greatly impact your parents’ health. Your immune system may fight it off, but theirs may not be as strong and require medical help in order to recover. You can’t prevent a virus from hitting, but there are steps you can take to lower their risk.
Get Someone Else to Shop
Your parents should avoid public areas as much as they can. Places were people congregate and touch terminals, shelves, seating, and items are going to get covered in germs. Stores, restaurants, and banks are all places where germs can spread.
Ideally, your parents can avoid germs by having someone else do the shopping. They could also do the shopping online and pick it up curbside. If they must do the shopping on their own, they should carry hand sanitizer and use it regularly until they get home and can wash their hands.
Wash Hands Often
A good rule of thumb is to wash hands every time you walk past a sink. Your parents need to wash their hands for a full 20 seconds. One of the easiest ways to do this is to suds up the palm of the hands for a slow count of 10.
Move to between the fingers and suds up there well for a count of 10. Move to the tops of the hands and fingers for another count of 10. Once all three areas have been scrubbed to the wrist, rinse and allow to air dry.
Eat Well
Your parents need to make sure their daily diet includes a lot of produce for antioxidants and vitamins. Foods that are high in vitamin C may help the immune system work as effectively as it can.
A daily smoothie made from frozen berries, orange or naturally sweetened cranberry juice, and chia seeds will help boost antioxidant intake. Chia seeds are also packed with omega-3 fatty acids and fiber, which also benefit your parents’ health. It’s a good way for your mom and dad to start the day.
Get Fresh Air
Ideally, your parents want 30 minutes of exercise each day. A half-hour walk around the yard, a local park, or neighborhood can help your parents breathe some outside air over sale indoor air.
Stay Home if You’re Sick
If you are sick and are your parents’ caregiver, what do you do to keep them from getting your illness? Hire respite care and allow yourself time to recover. Elder care services can send a caregiver to your parents’ house in your place. They have the help they need, and you keep your germs away. Call an elder care agency to make arrangements.
If You Or An Aging Loved One Are Considering Hiring Elder Care in Seminole, FL, Please Contact The Caring Staff At Assisting Hands Home Care Today! 727-748-4211.
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Becky Moultrie is Owner and Administrator of Assisting Hands Home Care Serving Pinellas. Guided by a motto to Do Good with Love, she’s well positioned to do just that at Assisting Hands. She has a passion for helping families keep seniors and those who are diabled happy and healthy at home. She serves on a number of boards in Pinellas County including the Pinellas Park Gateway Chamber and Better Living Seniors (BLS), leading the Membership Committee. Annually, she hosts a Silver Santa Party, collecting donations for nearly 100 low income seniors in the county. She attends Blessed Sacrament Church, Seminole where she is an Ascribed Member of the Rosminian Order. When not busy Doing Good in the community, Becky is at home with her husband David & their 4 children, tending to their beehives and digging in the garden.
