Category: Health & Wellness

Sage Advice®

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10.13.20 | Community

Advice for Older Adult Caretakers During the Pandemic

Caretakers shoulder a heavy responsibility; afterall, the health, wellbeing and happiness of another person is in their hands. Even on an ordinary day, caretaking can be an intense task — add a global pandemic on top of that, and many caretakers are feeling the weighty responsibility more than ever. We spoke with Rear Admiral (ret) James M. Galloway, MD, FACP, FACC, to compile advice (and helpful insights) to guide older adult caretakers through the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Galloway is a medical doctor and Public Health physician, as well as a member of the Sage Collective leadership team.

Starting with the Basics: Health and Safety

When working with vulnerable populations, like older adults, it’s more vital than ever to follow health and safety guidelines. “There are basic personal prevention practices that everyone should follow,” explains Dr. Galloway. “These include practicing social distancing, wearing masks at all times, isolating or quarantining when necessary and regularly cleaning your environment.” These are steps that many are familiar with, and the most up-to-date basic health and safety guidelines can always be found on the CDC website. 

However, many caretakers serve clients living in high-risk environments such as independent living facilities and retirement communities, and with increased risk, feel the need for increased precaution. Dr. Galloway provides a few additional tips and tricks: “Limiting the number of nonessential visitors is important. As we all know, the more people you interact with, the more at risk you are of encountering and contracting COVID-19. Beyond that, if you wear a reusable cloth mask, washing that mask regularly is vital. Another good practice is to increase indoor air circulation whenever possible by opening windows — but this of course can be a safety risk depending on your client.”

All in all, Dr. Galloway recognizes that each circumstance is unique. We’re all familiar with the risk COVID-19 poses and know the easiest way to prevent spread of the virus is total isolation. But of course, humans have other needs that conflict with basic health and safety — like our need to socialize with others and engage with the world to stay mentally well. “What we’ve outlined here are general guidelines,” Dr. Galloway explains, “but ultimately every decision we make is going to weigh the balance between risk and benefit, and that’s an individual decision.”

Balancing Emotional Wellbeing for Both Client and Caretaker

As addressed above, emotional wellbeing is a crucial component to a person’s overall health during the pandemic. For caretakers, ensuring their client remains engaged and connected has taken on new significance and importance. “It has become important for caretakers to take more time with their clients,” says Dr. Galloway, “to make a point to engage them in conversation and to help them stay connected with their loved ones. Caretakers have begun assisting clients in making regular phone calls or facilitating the use of FaceTime.” 

But for as much attention as caregivers put into ensuring the physical and emotional wellbeing of their client, it’s more important than ever to give that same attention to themselves. “Taking care of yourself ensures you can take your best care of others,” says Dr. Galloway. “Caring for a client or loved one can place stress on even the most resilient of people. So how can you take time to replenish your own wellbeing?”

Image of one person's hands holding another's, with text on top that reads Taking care of yourself ensures you can take your best care of others

In response to this question, Dr. Galloway has several pieces of advice. “First and most important: know the signs of unmanageable stress and know when to ask for help. Think about ways people you trust can help you, such as getting groceries for you during a long shift. Secondly, focus on what you’re able to provide. Nobody is perfect, even caregivers, so it’s important to acknowledge you’re doing the best you can. In that same vein: my third piece of advice is to set realistic goals. Creating a list of tasks allows you to check items off as you go, so you know you’re accomplishing things — and also, say no to tasks that are draining, like hosting Thanksgiving dinner!” 

There are many ways to self-manage stress, but Dr. Galloway also provides one other invaluable tip: “Get connected. Join a support group for caregivers! Many people see joining a support group as a weakness, but really it’s a strength. It’s an opportunity to gain new friends, and to develop your own strength and resiliency as you move forward. It’s so important to know you’re not alone in this struggle.”

Additional Resources:

JAMES GALLOWAY
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Sage Advice®

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10.08.20 | Sage Advice®

Overcoming Challenges Posed by COVID-19

COVID-19 poses many challenges — particularly to vulnerable populations such as older adults — but with every challenge is an opportunity to overcome it. We spoke with Dr. John K. Holton, PhD., to discuss lessons learned and positive outcomes during the pandemic. Holton is Director of Strategic Initiatives for Social Policy and Research at the Jane Addams School of Social Work at the University of Illinois at Chicago and board member at Sage Collective. 

Finding New Ways to Connect

With older adults at higher risk of being severely affected by COVID-19, many are taking CDC safety guidelines more seriously than the average American, which can lead to increased social isolation and loneliness. “While no one is happy to see the quality of life for older adults affected,” explains Holton, “increased awareness of the risk of social isolation has created a positive impact: people are now more concerned about the wellbeing of older adults than ever before.”

The increased attention and care for older adults in our communities has led to inventive, highly organized solutions. “We’ve seen responses raised, like setting up phone banks or block-by-block check-ins on homes led by local faith institutions,” says Holton. “These solutions are being used to blanket communities with networks that were always there informally, but that have now taken on a more formal responsibility of influence.”

Holton goes on to say: “During the pandemic, the slogan we’re all in this together has arisen. But what should go hand-in-hand with that slogan is the additional call to action: and here’s how you can be helpful. That kind of thinking is what takes the spirit from passive connection to fruitful action, making the power of the collective come alive.”

Graphic reads During the pandemic, the slogan We're all in this together has arisen, but what should go hand in hand with that slogan is the additional call to action: and here's how you can be helpful

Making Solutions Accessible

Every challenge (and subsequent solution) is a learning experience. Holton echoes this sentiment: “There are lessons we’re learning from experiencing this pandemic, and best practices we’re evolving for the years to come, because while this is the first pandemic in over a hundred years, it certainly won’t be the last, and we need to be prepared. We’re gaining invaluable understanding and insight as we go, as this pandemic continues to reshape our economy and our social practices.” 

But as we invent new solutions, they can’t be one size fits all. Different circumstances call for different approaches, and Holton stresses the importance of accessibility and consideration for more vulnerable populations (such as older adults). “In other words, as we develop best practices writ large, are we making sure to adapt them to apply to our most vulnerable populations?” challenges Holton.

Learning Lessons, New and Old

One example Holton uses is the 1995 Chicago heat wave. Over a period of five days, 739 heat-related deaths occurred in the city, with the majority of victims being elderly residents. Many could not afford air conditioning or were unable to open windows in their homes, and as a community we failed to check in on them and ensure their needs were being met. “That was a wake-up call for everybody,” reflects Holton, “including city government. We knew then we had to do better. Failing to meet that challenge led to posthumous solutions like cooling stations and phone banks organized by the Illinois Department of Human Services [IDHS]. In these periods of extended crisis, we learn to create solutions that fit the needs of our most vulnerable populations, because we have to, to do better as a public body.”

Another example comes from widespread criticism of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) response after Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. Many felt FEMA did an inadequate job of encouraging evacuation in target areas before the hurricane hit. “What we learned from FEMA,” explains Holton, “is that the protocols it had in place to help people understand the urgency of the situation only worked for a certain class of folks — in other words, folks who had transportation and were able to organize belongings and jump in their cars. Meanwhile, folks who weren’t in that position needed other types of assistance to help them evacuate. Borrowing from that example, we learned then and will learn now what does and doesn’t work with certain pockets of our population.” 

We’re facing parallel challenges today: meeting the needs of nursing homes and skilled care facilities during the pandemic. Early on, many were hit hard and were scary places to be for vulnerable populations. But as time goes on and we learn more, communities are taking more civic responsibility for the health and safety of each and every person, because as Holton says, we’re all in this together, and we need to do what we can to help. And when we do work together for a better future, wonderful things arise from it. 

JOHN HOLTON
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10.01.20 | Sage Advice®

Understanding the Role of Smart Design in Our Lives

As a leader in older adult living, Sage Advice prides itself on cultivating an extensive library of knowledge on relevant trends and best practices in the field of senior living and wellness. One such trend, smart design, is a uniquely adaptable, constantly evolving concept that grows with new findings daily. Today, we’re exploring what exactly smart design is, what role it plays in older adults’ lives and how its unique adaptability makes it suitable for any home.

What is it and who is it for?

Smart design is anything that combines research, technology and creativity to develop devices that improve user experience. Although a prevalent tool used to provide solutions for older adults, smart design is not limited to one specific age group — it is just coincidental that many challenges smart design seeks to address are ones that come with age. 

Smart design is employed in private residences and communal homes alike. In both, smart design (which often involves smart technology) creates an environment that is safer and more accessible for its residents, often focusing on challenging areas such as kitchens and bathrooms. Design solutions can be as simple as installing grab bars or shower benches, or as complex as wearable, data-tracking technology. 

Ultimately, resident (and caregiver) preferences determine which smart design solutions are a best fit for each unique situation. Everyone’s physical, cognitive, financial and emotional needs vary, and smart design solutions can be made custom to match.

The end goal

Meanwhile, why we pursue smart design is quite nuanced. Smart design seeks to address a broad continuum of unique challenges: from basic physical safety and functionality needs, to more high level goals such as mental wellbeing and the ability to flourish and be happy in one’s environment. 

Smart design pursues these end results in a triage-like manner. In following the hierarchy of needs, safety needs are always the first to be addressed. If a person is not fundamentally safe in their environment, nothing else matters initially. Once those safety needs are met, then concerns can move up the scale to address things such as mental wellness. At this stage, it becomes a question of how smart design can enhance a person’s quality of life, from their ability to remain connected and engaged to even how their environment influences their self-image. 

Smart design, technology and the future

Naturally, smart design evolves in parallel with technology. These days, smart design can do everything from remotely controlling lighting to providing video surveillance to utilizing data sensors to predict fall risks or other health factors. The ability of smart design tech to transfer information to caretakers streamlines many previously archaic processes and provides increased security and protection — but with it comes potential privacy concerns. 

Voice-activated smart technology (like Amazon Echo and Alexa) can provide increased capability and convenience. Smartphone assistants like Siri also give access to incredibly handy apps able to assist with shopping, banking and making appointments. While this technology has benefits, it is not without its challenges. Some smart design users are tech averse and prefer not to go this route, while for others still this type of tech is inaccessible or unaffordable. There are also concerns that a person’s reliance on tech can potentially decrease their independence. 

When looking towards the future of smart design, these will be the field’s biggest challenges: retaining balance, and overcoming issues of equity and spatial justice. But in the world of smart design, where every solution is person-specific, that flexibility provides degrees of freedom and space for inventive thought as we continually seek how to live our best lives — and support best lives for others. 

As Sage Collective continues to pursue its mission of building a vibrant, affordable housing campus on Chicago’s South Side, smart design will become integral to our vision of comfortable, convenient and inclusive homes. Whether a resident of our future community or a follower of our vibrant living manifesto, we’ll always champion best-in-class knowledge and practices to be shared with our audience.

Graphic reads "Smart design is anything that combines research, technology and creativity to develop devices that improve user experience."
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