Like many of you, I’ve been following the recent coronavirus developments closely.
In March, I devoted my twice-monthly Helping Older Parents members calls to this topic.
Here is a video commentary I recorded on 3.27.20. Although the statistics about COVID numbers in the US quickly fell out of date, I am leaving this video available as the information on what to expect regarding hospitalization should be relevant for quite a while. This video covers:
- What I’d recently learned about the clinical course of COVID
- If you think you (or your older relative) might be sick with coronavirus
- What to know about hospitalization for this, and how a “surge” situation might affect that
- Options for care at home, including palliative care
- My recommendations on planning ahead and then hoping for the best.
Also, in the video, I forgot to mention that one of my favorite clinical sources is currently making its coronavirus topic free to the public: Uptodate.com: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
The video is below, or get the audio-only through the podcast here.
(For those who have asked about transcripts: I wish I could but right now we are too short on funding; transcripts cost $1.25/minute to produce plus more time to format and finalize.)
Please stay as safe as you can, and take care!
Related resources:
News & Updates:
- C.D.C. Weighs Advising Everyone to Wear a Mask (NY Times, 3/31/20)
- GeriPal: COVID in NYC & on Front Lines
Resources:
- Uptodate.com: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
- What is a pulse oximeter
- Center to Advance Palliative Care COVID Response Resources – see info in the symptom management section.
- PrepareForYourCare.org
- POLST.org
- Learn how POLST helps frail and seriously ill adults get better care, and find out what is available for your state.
- A Model Hospital Policy for Allocating Scarce Critical Care Resources
Services and Products:
- Institute on Aging Friendship Line
- This free service provides trained volunteers to talk to older adults who are lonely or depressed; they are also qualified as a crisis line for anyone contemplating harming themselves
- Care.coach (formerly Gerijoy) virtual companion service for older adults
- This service provides companionship, medication reminders, and more. We have had a Helping Older Parents member give us very positive feedback about it recently.
- If you would like to be part of our Better Health While Aging group trying this service at a discount, please let us know via email. You will get 20% off the set-up fee (usually $279) and ongoing monthly charge (usually $279/month). (BHWA is forgoing any commission in order to enable a larger discount for our community.)
Have you come across any resources or services that are especially helpful to older adults and families during this time? Please share below in the comments, thank you!
(This post was updated on 4/3/20.)
Jerry Soucy, RN, CHPN says
Excellent update and important issues – thanks Leslie. Here’s a video I developed on advance care planning – use and share
https://youtu.be/4KBnBCkxvzI
James Michael Broadway says
I sure appreciate your thoughtfulness, compassionate tone and – especially – professionalism. I feel so much better informed, better prepared, after I read a message from you or listen to your explanations. You’ve helped me to plan in ways that will make it a lot easier for my children when I reach the end. But I assure you, I don’t think that will be any time soon. I’ll be 77 in July, but I’m quite healthy, physically and mentally active, engaged with friends and the community. Still, you are an excellent part of my routine.
Nicole Didyk, MD says
Thanks for visiting the site, and I’m so glad that you’re an active and engaged soon to be 77 year old. Stay well!
Barkow Ben says
Update Mar 27, best info I’ve seen on real-world situation. Thanks.
Many folks – esp those more at risk – take steroid breathing meds (for example, with cortisone). I heard that propels covid-19. If true, a very serious matter and likely to be overlooked and so spread the word.
Nicole Didyk, MD says
Hi Ben. I’m glad you found the update informative. Regarding steroids, it doesn’t appear that treatment with higher dose steroids is helpful in those who have a severe illness from COVID, but we can’t say that someone who is taking inhaled steroids on a chronic basis is at increased risk now, or that inhaled steroids “propel” the virus. I think most doctors would advise that people who have been prescribed inhaled steroids should not stop them right now.
Deborah Boxer says
You are a godsend. I have no words to say thank you – except thank you!
netmouse says
This YouTube video has this morning’s coronavirus live update by Gov. Andrew Cuomo of NY. It begins on the video at 1:01:00.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqdU-Codz5E
Anita Osborn says
My son was a middle school teacher. He is now home schooling his 4 and 3 year old daughters, whom I miss SO much. So he instituted a “Story Time with Nana” on FaceTime for each day. It is keeping me sane and its fun. This weekend we start “Weekends With DadO” so grandfather can tell them stories.
Nicole Didyk, MD says
I love those ideas! What a great way to visit virtually. Have you listened to Dr. K’s podcast about grandparenting from a distance? Might have some good ideas too.
netmouse says
I watch the daily update on cable (MSNBC or CNN) that starts about 11:30 a.m EST by Gov. Andrew Cuomo of NY. He talks with charts for about an hour. He seems the most reasoned and thoughtful one out there explaining things on the ground, especially as NY is leading the way for dealing with this horrible virus.
Mary Berglund says
Thank you for all the information, especially concerning issues with hospitalizations. Very good advice to avoid that if possible. We’re the very healthy “older parents” who appreciate your health advice.
wayne Ferguson says
thank you very much for your update
Richard Guthrie says
This posting is confusing. The video won’t show, and the article in the link is frankly far geekier than this (MA) geezer can follow.
Nicole Didyk, MD says
Hi Richard. I’m sorry you had trouble playing the video. It might have something to do with your computer settings? Please try again and thanks for visiting the site.