CDC: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Checklist: Older Persons

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While most (but certainly not all) people under the age of 50 will handle a COVID-19 illness reasonably well - and will likely recover at home without medical intervention - those of us of more advanced years are more likely to see severe illness and even death.

There are reports of young adults, even teenagers, in ICUs around the world, however. So no age group is truly immune. 

But older people - and anyone with significant comorbidities - are generally at greatest risk. Which is why I have promoted the notion of having - and being - a `Flu Buddy' for more than a dozen years (see Time To Line Up A `Flu Buddy').

Recognizing that some populations are at greater risk than other, yesterday the CDC published a checklist for older persons (and those with comorbidities) to prepare for COVID-19.  Hopefully, you've already done many of the things on this list.

I've only reproduced part of the list, so follow the link to read it (and act on it) in its entirety.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Checklist: Older Persons

If a COVID-19 outbreak happens in your community, it could last for a long time. Depending on the severity of the outbreak, public health officials might recommend community actions to reduce exposures to COVID-19. These actions can help slow the spread of COVID-19 and reduce the impact of disease.

If you are an older adult or someone who has severe chronic medical conditions such as heart or lung disease, or diabetes, you are at higher risk for more serious COVID-19 illness. It is very important for you to take steps to stay healthy. 

Protect Yourself

Stay informed and up to date with your local news for COVID-19 updates.

Take everyday actions before, during, and after the event to protect yourself and others:

• Stay home when sick.
• Avoid crowds and people who are sick.
• Delay all travel, including plane trips, and especially avoid going on any type of cruise.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the inside of your elbow. Then wash your hands.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Clean your hands often. Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds. If you don’t have soap and water, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Clean AND THEN disinfect surfaces and things you touch often, such as tables, chairs, doorknobs, light switches, elevator buttons, handrails, countertops, remote controls, shared electronic equipment, shared exercise equipment, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.

Keep your homes cleaned and disinfected by following these instructions.
Make a plan for if you get sick:

• Call your doctor about checking for symptoms that might be COVID-19.
• Stay in touch with others by phone or e-mail. You might need to ask for help from friends, family, neighbors, community health workers, etc. if you become sick.
• Seek out a “buddy” who will check on and help care for you if you become sick.
• Have an emergency contact list.
• Have a list of your daily medication and time of day you take them, so a caregiver will be able to help you if you get sick.
• Determine who can provide you with care if your caregiver gets sick.

Make sure you have enough supplies

• Contact your doctor to ask about getting extra medications (at least a 30 day supply) to have on hand in case there is an outbreak of COVID-19 in your community and you need to stay home for a few weeks.
• If you cannot pick up extra medications, consider using mail-order.
• Be sure you have over-the-counter medicines and medical supplies (e.g., tissues) to treat fever and other symptoms. Many older adults will be able to recover from COVID-19 at home.
• Have enough household items and groceries so that you will be comfortable staying home for a few weeks.

(Continue . . . )

One of the most important, yet often neglected items, is having a brief, but concise medical history - particularly including any medications you might be taking.  Nearly every Thanksgiving  I write about this (see Reminder: Thanksgiving Is National Family History Day), and I show ways to prepare and keep this vital information handy.

And a couple of other items that, while not exactly a medical history, may merit discussion in your family as it has recently in mine.

• First, all adults should consider having a Living Will that specifies what types of medical treatment you desire should you become incapacitated.
• You may also wish to consider assigning someone as your Health Care Proxy, who can make decisions regarding your treatment should you be unable to do so for yourself.
• Elderly family members with chronic health problems, or those with terminal illnesses, may even desire a home DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) Order.

Without legal documentation, verbal instructions by family members – even if the patient is in the last stages of an incurable illness – are likely to be ignored by emergency personnel.

These are all things you should consider doing regardless of whether a pandemic is knocking on our doors. 

While admittedly not the cheeriest topic of conversation in the world, a few minutes spent putting together medical histories and other legal documents now, could spare you and your family a great deal of anguish down the road.