Caregiving During COVID-19: Helpful Tips on Staying Safe, Reducing Stress, and Finding Local Supports and Services

Guest Contributors: Maria Donohoe and Emily Winker

Family caregiver specialists at the AAAs continue to work with family caregivers to provide support and encouragement during this extra-stressful time. Family Caregiver Specialists are available to help connect caregivers to resources in their communities, provide one-on-one options counseling and emotional support. Here are a few tips to make your caregiving responsibilities easier during this trying time.

In-home safety

• Place signs in the home reminding of handwashing
• Keep a supply of hand sanitizer around the home, if safe to do so
• Take both your temperature and the temperature for whom you are caring on a daily basis
• Encourage wearing a mask when in public spaces
• Reduce risk of exposure by having others assist with groceries and other essential items
  • Ask family and friends to help get groceries and deliver to your home
    • Some stores are providing additional services and dedicated shopping hours (see additional information at the bottom of this page)
  • Ask your pharmacy to provide a 30-day supply of your medications
    • Ask family and friends to pick up and deliver your medications
• If you can, work from home to limit exposure
• Arrange for telehealth appointments

In-home stress reduction

• Put puzzles together
  • This activity also exercises the brain
• Exercise with the person for whom you provide care
• Video chat with or make a phone call to family and friends
• Home-delivered meals may reduce the stress of obtaining food and making meals

In times where emotions and stress are running high an increase in burnout can be seen among our caregivers. Burnout is a state of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion that is caused by excessive or prolonged stress. Signs of burnout may include feelings of being overwhelmed and feelings of being physically or mentally drained, exhausted. The good news is that there are simple steps that can be taken to reduce the chance of burnout.

Exercising is a great way to reduce burnout, as this increases endorphins, which triggers a positive feeling in your brain. The exercise does not have to be high intensity. A simple walk around the block can do wonders. Eating a balanced diet filled with fruits, vegetables, proteins, and less processed food has also proven to be a natural antidepressant (Jacka, et al., 2017; LaChance & Ramsey, 2018). Our bodies need time to rest and reset, which is why we must practice healthy sleep habits to reduce the risk of burnout and illness.

Tips to reduce burnout

• Find times to take a break
• Practice mindfulness
  • Here’s a link to help with mindfulness https://www.mindful.org/how-to-meditate/
• Visit with family and friends
  • Write a letter or send emails
  • Use available technology to connect with others
    • Phone calls
    • Video calls
  • Window visits
    • Play games, share pictures, or make phone calls through a window in your home
• Write in a journal or diary
• Read a book
• Eat healthy foods
• Maintain a routine
• Exercise
  • Here’s a links to improve strengths and balance for older adults https://www.lifeline.ca/en/resources/14-exercises-for-seniors-to-improve-strength-and-balance/
• It is okay to ask for help
  • Ask a friend to bring a food dish
  • Hire in-home help
  • Request respite services from your AAA
• Want more ideas on reducing burnout? Here are two links that you might enjoy
  • https://www.healthline.com/health/tips-for-identifying-and-preventing-burnout#prevention
  • https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9225-caregiver-burnout

More caregiving during COVID-19 resources

• Contact your local Area Agency on Aging to find support groups in your area
• Administration for Community Living: https://acl.gov/COVID-19
• Caregiver Alliance: https://www.caregiver.org/coronavirus-covid-19-resources-and-articles-family-caregivers
• National Respite Alliance: https://archrespite.org/Covid-19-Respite-Resources
• Caregiver Action Network: https://caregiveraction.org/covid-19

Grocery Services

Below is a list of grocers and links to their websites. Contact your local grocer to find out about special shopping hours or delivery options available to you. Please note that we are not endorsing any grocer or service listed. There may be fees from the grocer or from associated services. You are encouraged to contact your local grocer to learn more.

• Aldi: https://www.aldi.us/en/shop-now/grocery-pickup/

• Costco: https://www.costco.com/

• Fareway: https://www.fareway.com/

• Hy-Vee: https://www.hy-vee.com/grocery/

• Target: https://www.target.com/c/grocery/-/N-5xt1a?Nao=0

• Walgreens: https://www.walgreens.com/storelistings/storesbycity.jsp?state=IA

• Walmart: https://grocery.walmart.com/

References

Jacka, F.N., O’Neil, A., Opie, R., Itsiopoulos, C., Cotton, S., Mohebbi, M., Castle, et al. (2017). A randomised controlled trial of dietary improvement for adults with major depression (the ‘SMILES’ trial). BMC Med, 30(1). Accessed at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28137247

LaChance, L.R. & Ramsey, D. (2018). Antidepressant foods: An evidence-based nutrient profiling system for depression. World Journal of Psychiatry, 8(3), 97-104. Accessed at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6147775/