A Covid Care Guide for Seniors Stay Safe Stay Healthy A message from the Founde

A Covid Care Guide for Seniors Stay Safe Stay Healthy A message from the Founder’s desk When times get tough,we must fight to emerge healthy and strong. We can do this by being cautious and treating our seniors with utmost care. We’re all in this together. Let’s strive to keep our seniors & ourselves safe.   Founder & Managing Director, Primus Lifespaces Pvt. Ltd. Table of Contents How can elders check their oxygen levels at home during the pandemic? Importance of six-minute walk test for Covid infected elders Home isolation tips for mild and asymptomatic elders How to manage infected elders with mild symptoms at home How to take care of elderly during Home Isolation: Advisory for caregivers Post Covid-19 care for seniors Covid-19 Vaccine: Benefits and Side effects 01 03 05 07 09 10 12 How can elders check their oxygen levels at home during the pandemic? Steps to check your oxygen level using pulse oximeter: *Ideal pulse oximeter readings: What causes inaccurate readings? Make sure batteries are inserted in the device. Make sure your finger is dry and clean. Position your finger so that it faces the LED light inside. The probe should not be too tight or too loose. Wait for half a minute and observe the readings. There are 2 different readings shown a) Oxygen saturation % of blood b) Pulse rate If the SpO2 is above 94%, then the oxygen level is considered to be normal.        An oxygen saturation level of 94% to 100% is considered normal. • Nail polish and tattoos • Movement of the body • Poor perfusion • Carbon monoxide poisoning 94% 100% 1 Don’t rely solely on your device. Oxygen level below 94 is an alarming sign. In that case, primarily you have to get down in a prone position and check your oxygen level after some time. This might help to increase the oxygen level. If SpO2 is decreasing to less than 94, then report to your doctor immediately. Low oxygen level could also be a symptom of pneumonia. Normal oxygen level readings will not apply to people with other medical conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma and cardiovascular diseases, sleep apnea. Keep a track of other signs that your blood oxygen levels could be low, such as: Shortness of breath or trouble in breathing I Tightness in the chest I Worsening cough Restlessness or discomfort I Fast pulse Be cautious and don’t panic! Check for existing health issues. How frequently should your oxygen level be monitored? Your oxygen levels should be monitored once in 4-6 hours. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-CWTqKiIhQ https://www.who.int/patientsafety/safesurgery/pulse_oximetry/who_ps_pulse_oxymetry_tutorial2_advanced_en.pdf 2 Importance of six-minute walk test for Covid infected elders The entire country is battling the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. Lakhs of cases are being reported everyday. The shortage of beds and oxygen has worsened the situation in the whole country. Therefore mild and asymptomatic elders are advised to be in home isolation. Elders are advised to perform a six-minute walk test to monitor their oxygen levels regularly. A six-minute walk test is recommended to check the oxygen level of patients who are isolating at home. It helps those who are mild and asymptomatic Covid-19 patients. What is a six-minute walk test? 3 Why is a six-minute walk test needed? Sometimes infected elders have low oxygen levels, they don’t experience any discomfort. Such a condition is called ‘happy hypoxia’. Hence a six-minute walk test helps us understand the working capacity of the lungs and the extent of damage and hypoxia. How can you perform a six-minute walk test? Firstly, monitor your oxygen level before you start walking. This can be done 2-3 times a day to monitor the oxygen level. Then take a walk inside the room for six minutes and again check your oxygen level. After six minutes of walk, if the oxygen level does not go down & the reading is above 94% the patient’s health will be considered normal. Seniors above 60 years of age can run this test by walking for three minutes instead of six. Note: This test is not advisable for asthma patients. Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news/covid-19-the-six-minute-walk-test-to-check-your-health-status/photostory/82372729.cms https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/health/doctor-explains-six-minute-walk-test-covid19-oxygen-level-7284446/ 4 Isolate yourself in a separate room with an attached bathroom • Take enough rest and stay calm. • Connect with your doctor and update your health status on a regular basis. • Keep yourself busy reading books, watching your favourite TV shows. • Avoid watching the news or any shows which lead to stress. • Talk to your friends and relatives through video calls to avoid loneliness. Keep your room windows open • Open windows to keep the air circulating. • Ventilation is a must and it helps prevent suffocation. 1 2 5 Home isolation tips for mild and asymptomatic elders Sanitize your hands and surfaces Wear a double or triple layered mask • Whenever you open the room door, ensure both you, the patient, and family members are wearing a mask covering the nose and mouth during conversations. • Always remember to maintain physical distancing between family members. • Dispose of your mask after 8 hours of using it or if it is wet or visibly soiled. • Wash/sanitize your hands frequently. • Sanitize frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs, light switches, tables etc. • Clean your room with 1% hypochlorite solution on a daily basis. 3 4 Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/treating-covid-19-at-home/art-20483273 6 Only have medicines prescribed by the doctor • Avoid self-medication. Only have medicines prescribed by the doctor. • Don’t forget to have Vitamin C and Zinc tablets that boost your immunity. Do steam inhalation and warm water gargles • Take steam inhalation 2-3 times daily for 5 minutes. • Perform warm water gargles twice a day. • They help prevent the load of viruses and infection. Stay hydrated and eat nutritious food 1 2 3 Infected elders above 60 years old and with co-morbid conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, chronic lung disease, liver or kidney disease, cerebrovascular disease etc. shall only be allowed home isolation after a proper evaluation by the treating doctor. • Drink 3-4 litres of water daily (use boiled and cooled water). • Have a lot of fluids to maintain adequate hydration. • Eat healthy food even if you are unable to taste it. Eating healthy food helps speedy recovery and boosts immunity. 7 How to manage infected elders with mild symptoms at home Monitor oxygen level • It is important to have a pulse oximeter at home to keep track of your oxygen level. • Monitor your oxygen level every 4-6 hours. • If your oxygen level is less than 94%, report to your doctor immediately. Do breathing and yoga exercises (Follow your doctor’s advice) • Breathing exercise helps to get air deep into your lungs and clear secretions. • Simple and basic yoga asanas help you to feel energised and keep your mind calm. 5 4 Caregivers should be available 24/7 • Caregivers should be available 24/7 to take care of the patient. • Communication between caregiver and hospital must be maintained throughout the duration of home isolation. 7 Reach out to your doctor or healthcare helpline 6 • Contact your doctor or healthcare helpline immediately in case of high fever, breathlessness, severe cough or any new symptoms. Source: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/coronavirus-health-ministry-releases-revised- guidelines-for-home-isolation-of-mild-covid-19-cases/article34441263.ece Disclaimer: It is advisable to take home isolation guidelines from the medical officer based on your health conditions. 8 Wash your hands for 40 seconds with soap and water before and after helping the older individual. Always wear a triple-layered mask, gloves and a plastic apron. The apron should be always disinfected with sodium hypochlorite solution. If the mask gets wet or dirty, dispose of it immediately. Avoid coming in direct contact with the patient's cough, sneeze and items used by the patient like bed sheets, utensils, towels, etc. Patient’s bed sheets and clothes should be washed at 60-90 degree temperature with detergents and disinfectants like Dettol. Dry the clothes in the sun. Use 1% sodium hypochlorite solution while cleaning the floor to disinfect it. Always use gloves while serving food and giving medicines to the patient. Wear disposable gloves while washing the utensils used by the patient. Wash the utensils properly. The caregiver should also monitor their health. Keep monitoring your temperature and other symptoms on a daily basis. If any variations in health are seen, report to the health care team immediately. Take medicines regularly as advised by the doctor. Caregivers should be healthy without any medical conditions such as BP, diabetes and respiratory issues. They should always be in touch with a medical helpline or health workers.           9 How to take care of elderly during home isolation: Advisory for caregivers Take enough rest • Stay isolated for another week. Viruses will be present in your body even after symptoms disappear. • Try to have complete rest and enough sleep which help you with a speedy recovery. • Don’t rush to a uploads/Geographie/ covid-guide.pdf

Tags
Administrationoxygen level elders should doctor
Documents similaires
  • 38
  • 0
  • 0
Afficher les détails des licences
Licence et utilisation
Gratuit pour un usage personnel Attribution requise
Partager