Caregiving in the Era of COVID-19

Even in ordinary times, the more than 840,000 unpaid family caregivers in Washington state face a daunting set of daily tasks. Oftentimes with little or no training, they may be responsible for wound care, tube feedings, dressing, managing the finances and medical bills of their loved ones, transportation, and more.

Of course, these are no ordinary times.

The coronavirus pandemic has complicated the lives of family caregivers, especially those with older loved ones who are most susceptible to COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. It has added fear, anxiety, and isolation to an already-stressful situation. Here in Washington, routines have been upended as communities cope with this disease. Governor Inslee has issued a “Stay at Home” order and many adult living facilities are closed to visitors.

Since the outbreak of the virus, AARP has been urging family caregivers to develop a plan in case they get sick or their loved one does. Our recommendations include:

• Pull together a team. Develop a list of family and friends who can perform daily caregiving tasks.  If available, identify local caregiving services who may offer a respite for family and friends.
• Identify local services. In response to the virus, many restaurants and pharmacies are adding or increasing their delivery services. In Seattle-King County, Community Living Connections can help you find support services, and can be contacted by calling (toll-free) 1-844-348-5464. The new online AARP Community Connections enables people to enter their zip codes and find informal groups of neighbors and friends offering help right in their own communities.
• Inventory essential items. Determine how much food, medication, and basic supplies your care recipient has on hand. We recommend a two-week supply of food, water, household cleaning supplies, and medical materials and equipment.
• Get prescriptions in order. Make sure you have a list of medications, medical contacts, and important information about your loved one, such as drug allergies. If there are upcoming routine medical appointments, reschedule those or, if possible, switch to a virtual visit.  The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) recommends having an extra 30-day supply of essential medications on hand. Don’t forget over-the-counter medications such as cough suppressants and fever reducing drugs like acetaminophen.
• Stay connected. Isolation is a big issue as we all follow the social distancing guidance from the CDC; however, social distancing doesn’t have to lead to social disconnection. Develop a communication plan and identify times when members of the care team will check in on your loved one. Skype, Zoom, and Facetime are useful digital apps that can help, but so are lower-tech options like e-mail and telephone calling. To help fight the isolation, encourage people to send cards, letters, magazines, puzzles, or other items a loved one would be happy to receive.
• Protect yourself. Like they tell you on an airplane, “Put your own mask on first.” Now more than ever, it is important for family caregivers to take care of themselves. Follow the CDC guidelines of washing hands frequently, avoiding crowds, practice social distancing and, if you feel sick, by all means stay home. If you develop the virus, you will be of little use to those who are counting on you.

To help caregivers, AARP has a dedicated, toll-free family caregiving line for people looking after a loved one. Agents are available to take calls Monday–Friday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. (ET) at 877-333-5885. AARP also has a Facebook group where caregivers get tips from experts, share their own stories and sometimes just get a little encouragement from others in a similar situation. You can also find answers to many of your questions online at the AARP Caregiver Resource Center aarp.org/caregiving.

For more information on taking care of yourself and your loved ones during the coronavirus crisis, visit www.aarp.org/coronavirus or www.aarp.org/wa. You can also call the Washington State Novel Coronavirus Call Center at 800-525-0127. Phone lines are currently staffed from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.

You do not need to be an AARP member to access our caregiving resources. The information and services are available to everyone. Our founder, Ethel Percy Andrus, said, “What we do, we do for all.” That has never been more important than in the face of this coronavirus as we all pull together to find our way through it.

Contributor Doug Shadel is state director of AARP Washington.