I am the primary caretaker for my mother who is in a private independent care facility--but she is hardly independent. I have a nurse in with her Monday through Friday, but on weekends and evenings either I'm with her most of the time or a member of my family when I'm sick. Yesterday when I went to see her I discovered the facility wouldn't let me in at all--only medical personnel. My mom just got out of the hospital due to congestive heart failure and she has advancing Alzheimer's. I can't believe I can't even get in to see her.
How do you know you're not a carrier? You very well could be. And the mortality rate for elderly is between 15-20%. That's very high for a viral infection.
I haven't been able to visit my mother in almost a week because her facility is in lock down. It's for the best. My mom has congestive heart failure too and it's likely she wouldn't survive the infection.
Our family (husband, myself, and kids) are self-quarantining for the next two weeks. Most of our local small business have chosen to shut down for two weeks and my kids schools are closed. Some of their afterschool activities don't even reopen until late-April (and those organizers tell us that is pending).
We still do activities outside (walking, going to trails, etc...), but we are avoiding other people, and we don't plan to hit a grocery store until the panic shopping mellows out.
I've been reading a lot of international news. If the US follows the cycle Italy is going through it will be okay to go to a grocery store in about a week, but only 1 person from each household at a time—preferably with protection (gloves and maybe a mask—though it is debatable how well they work based on fit and type). By that time, though, hospitals will possibly be overloaded.
Currently, I'm cleaning, cleaning, cleaning. I don't know why. I'm not a domestic kind of person, but it seems to bring me...comfort... I'm nervous we could end up with a lock down as so many people in our region are not taking this seriously (besides clearing out the grocery stores—from what I hear).
https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/shelter-in-place-San-Francisco-Mayor-London-Breed-15135075.php
I just talked to the nursing facility and they are setting up an ipad to allow family members to talk to residents at a designated time.
Just a thought!
Good luck!
And as far as I can figure out a "burner phone" is simply a prepaid phone, supposedly they are readily available and cheap enough to be disposable but my "cheap" phone cost me $160 (plus tax).... but then maybe you Americans can get stuff cheaper.
https://www.greatcall.com/phones/jitterbug-flip-cell-phone-for-seniors
Over a hundred in my state as well. Two deaths in New Orleans 😞.
My daughter is graduating this year and her graduation was canceled (LSU) so they will mail out diploma. My husband is at home too.
Our governor asked everyone 60 and over to self quarantine. Places are closing earlier than normal. Restrictions placed on how many can eat in restaurants and so on.
This coronavirus crap is reminding me of the devastation that our city dealt with during Hurricane Katrina. Okay, yeah it’s nothing compared to Katrina. Our city was under water and it looked like a freakin war zone where bombs went off with the destruction from the high winds and all. Some businesses weren’t able to recover, others slowly made their way back. Others came back with a vengeance and became better than they ever were.
I don’t know, bad memories from the devastation. Good memories from our city pulling together. Dealing with this situation, a different kind of crisis, still kind of brings it all back. People struggling to cope. Know what I mean?
I better shut up. I don’t want to depress you. I am wishing for the very best for your daughter and my daughters. We love our kids so very much, don’t we? 😊
With all the closings they are one family amongst millions if likely not more that will bear great loss. The big stores can manage especially as they are selling out of so much. All the restaurants closing will also affect so many. I understand the need for safety but I fear greatly that an isolating affect will triple down for a long long time. Will all landlords turn into understanding citizens?
As I write this she and her husband are being shamed into staying open even though they are not in a hot spot for the disease. They need to stay open for any possible business they might have. Who has that audacity to be critical of them?
I realize that the world is in this together. Some businesses will survive given their prominence in the marketplace as well as certain benefits employees may be entitled to. What will happen to countless others once reserves dry up?
This particular daughter of mine is generally of the mindset that a glass is always half full. To hear her in tears with great fear is beyond heartbreaking. There is no way I can find positivity for my life knowing what she is going through. Yes there is help out there but there is tremendous red tape to go through to find that relief.
I am sorry to say this but if a person at an advanced age with compromising circumstances passes from this disease perhaps it is for the best. I wish the ages of those succumbing was reported more accurately. There are so many here sharing stories of great sacrifice caring for the elderly with little to no quality of life left. I understand I am not God but how much despair can we expect to feel in those cases. The youth represent the future,both in our lives and hopefully for the good in the world moving forward. To witness so many of them suffering is catastrophic.
Places that traditionally stay open 24/7 like Cafe Du Monde on Decatur Street will be closing at 9:00 P.M. Guess I better not crave any coffee and beignets late, huh?
All restaurants and bars will be closing early. Oh man, this will hurt a lot of business owners.
Safety comes first but I feel for the businesses. Sad.
It’s starting to feel like a freakin sci-fi novel or movie, right? I get the safety aspect but it’s a strange feeling.
Tons of cancellations of events, school closures, graduation ceremonies cancelled, limiting number of people in public places such as restaurants and bars, etc. Earlier closing of bars and restaurants too. Our zoo closed, museums are closed and Sanger Theatre closing too.
We are going to take a hit. We rely on tourism. Travel is not going to occur during this virus outbreak.
As of yesterday nursing homes in BC were allowing one family member in to visit. My former mil has her birthday on St Patrick's Day and I had planned to surprise her with her first great grandson for a visit. It is not safe for either of them, so I will send a card.
Other than being sane and not freaking out--we just need to wash out hands and practice social distancing--which, for me has been easy, I've been semi-quarantined for 9 months due to chemotherapy induced immunosuppression.
We only have, what, 9 cases? And all of those are people who came into the state with the virus.
I think our kids will be back in school April 1st. If not, OK we ride the wave.
My mom is 90 and housebound. She will miss her one day out for Bingo.
This quarantine puts everything in a different perspective, doesn't it? My family is handling it with humor and it's helping.
Sad for my son who is in the Seattle area and they are completely locked down. He's working from home with his 4 kids who are all on 'distance learning'. and their Nanny just quit (boo hoo!) His wife is a dr and still is working---and probably will through the whole thing.
I did receive an automated call this evening from one of the county execs advising of a phone call session tomorrow addressing safety and care for elderly people (which includes me even though I don't always consider myself in that category).
Apparently it's some type of county wide phone call-in and/or advice section. I will call, but I suspect that most of the questions will reflect situations already addressed, or raise issues that can't be answered such as length of shutdowns.
Still, I'm impressed that the county is reaching out to the older folks in this area. Thus far the elected officials in my state seem to be very proactive.
I am confused by all this though. I understand that this is a new virus which is little understood and which is highly contagious, but so far this season in the US, the regular flu has caused over 12,000 deaths compared to 63 for covid-19. 12,000! According to the CDC, there were over 35,000 deaths in the US during the 2018-2019 flu season. Globally, the flu causes up to 650,000 deaths annually. Why don’t we have the shutdowns and quarantines for regular flu season? Do we just accept that there will be this high death rate for our garden variety flu? If anything, I suspect the covid-19 measures are going to provide a huge reduction in influenza deaths world-wide.
If you look at this link, it's explained fully:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/world/corona-simulator/?fbclid=IwAR3__I7HldG2ZBaUwGHdDuhUjlnFbHUyErFaCQRgB9sIHmxPYsukY62JO2o
i went to Costco today, on a Sunday and was surprised it wasn’t that crowded and feel like I won the lottery because I got 2 cases of water!! If I had gotten my hands on some TP I would have ran out and bought a lottery ticket LOL!
All schools in my county are closed until 3/31 at least. All care facilities are locked down, no visitors. Can’t get in to the ER without first going in to white tents in the hospital parking lot first. The city has closed the libraries and rec centers. I believe the police department is closing the lobby starting tomorrow. All sports have been postponed.
We, as a country, are trying to 'flatten the curve' by keeping this virus from hitting everyone at once. Check out this article to gain a better understanding of the intent behind social distancing in situations such as we're facing:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/world/corona-simulator/?fbclid=IwAR3__I7HldG2ZBaUwGHdDuhUjlnFbHUyErFaCQRgB9sIHmxPYsukY62JO2o
We certainly do not want to carry this virus into the elder care communities, so most people are fine with taking a break from visiting their loved ones. It can be hard, but no harder than trying to save their lives once the virus hits them!
Good luck