The Caregiving Crisis Magnified by COVID-19

20 Mar
Mar , 20 , 2020 Chanda M. Crutcher

The impact of the war waged by COVID-19 on our Senior Tsunami has created the perfect storm! As a Senior Services Veteran with over 25 years of experience in serving Older and Disabled Adults and their Caregivers, we have never experienced anything like this in my lifetime.

Professional Caregivers are being stretched significantly by the impact of the Coronavirus and family Caregivers are being devastated. I work for a non-profit intergenerational adult day program that serves older adults with Alzheimer’s, Traumatic Brain Injuries, and Developmental Delays. On Monday, March 16th, we placed calls to all of our clients informing them that our Center would be closed at least until April 6, 2020, per the Alabama Department of Public Health recommendation. We offered comprehensive support, and no call lasted less than 30minutes to ensure that our families felt both informed and supported. Tuesday morning I arrived expecting to be greeted by an empty building. Which in hindsight I’m reminded that this was a disingenuous position, with a clear understanding that the need for care doesn’t stop during a Crisis. My experience has shown that the need for care is magnified when our traditional health care and social support systems are stretched.

Mr. Smith arrived just before 8:30 am on Tuesday, wife in tow as if it were just another day without imposed restrictions to having 25 or more people in a group setting. He was adamant that he be allowed to leave his wife who has lived with Alzheimer’s for almost 6 years. “If anyone needs help, I do!” His words were desperate and piercing. We stood our ground, committed to honoring the “social distancing mandate”. He wet his pants in desperation. We escorted her into the building and encouraged him to go and take care of himself and to pick her up at his regular time. This scenario repeated itself several times over the next couple of hours with varying details, but the same theme. Caregiving is Hard. Most can’t do it alone. Caring Communities can’t just turn off a switch when crises show up and not expect undesired outcomes, even when the intent is to protect.

AgingStats.gov reports that currently 40% of adults 65 years and older require assistance with activities of daily living. Care needs in time of a pandemic that is disproportionately impacting our older adults are rapidly on the rise to not only keep them safe but to avoid a mass social recession. Professional Caregivers can’t be encouraged or mandated to stay away from those that need them most; especially in times of extreme uncertainty. Falls would increase, stress-related illness would increase for family members, isolation would be even more of an issue, and many seniors will die from the indirect impact of interventions put in place to combat the pandemic.

The United States was experiencing a shortage of caregivers before the Coronavirus. Trained, vetted, professional caregivers cannot be removed from the healthcare narrative. Companions and caregivers can be prudent and intentional in employing sound infection control standards of practice.

Competent, compassionate caregiving has a place in this crisis. Caregivers are bridges to ensure that a continuum of care exists when social distancing is in place.

Consider a trained caregiver that has been professionally vetted to ensure that our most vulnerable populations are cared for well during this crisis.

Professional Trained Caregivers:

1. Utilize effective Infection Control practices to minimize the spread of viruses to include COVID-19. The pictures and video of untrained individuals with good intentions incorrectly using gloves are disturbing.

2. Can provide valuable social stimulation necessary to prevent isolation.

3. Can ensure that essentials such as groceries, medicine, and durable medical equipment are in place and properly used.

4. Can identify if there is a need for clinical intervention in case of an acute medical situation.

Coronavirus is Here. It has impacted the world, our nation, and it is in the Tennessee Valley. No one is immune from being infected by this virus; however, prudence in following the recommendations by the Alabama Department of Public Health, along with Federal Agencies, can protect you and stop the spread to others even if you do not currently have symptoms.

There are many resources to assist older adults and those that care for them. I participated in a call hosted by AARP Alabama with over 12,000 individuals today and there are so many questions from our aging communities. Consider these resources to stay on top of the latest information related to COVID-19 and Older Adults:

Chanda Crutcher is the CEO of Alabama Aging Resources, Inc. and has over 25 years of experience in Senior Services. 

www.LetsTalkASAP.com

chanda@letstalkasap.com