How to Help The Immunocompromised During COVID-19

During this global pandemic, all of us are concerned about our health. This concern is heightened for the elderly and those with compromised immune systems, as coronavirus has proven to be more dangerous for this percentage of the population [1]. While it is important to practice self care to maintain your own health, there are also things you can do to help the immunocompromised during the COVID-19 outbreak. 

1. Offer to shop for the immunocompromised

If you know anyone in your community who is at high risk, check in with them. Offer to go grocery shopping, or to the pharmacy for them. A task as simple as this can allow them to avoid potential exposure from the public. Deliver the items on their doorstep instead of directly handing them off, to maintain social distancing protocol.

If you are caring for someone with a compromised immune system in your home, here are some extra precautions to take for safe grocery shopping and food handling. 

• The CDC recommends wearing a mask in public areas, such as grocery stores, to protect yourself and others. Protecting yourself lowers the risk of spreading the virus to someone in your home who is at high risk. [2]
• After entering your home, place bags on the floor and go wash your hands.
• Put away the groceries, avoiding contact with any unnecessary surfaces. If you do place groceries on a countertop before putting them away, wipe the countertop down after. 
• Wash your hands again after all the items are put away. 
• Wipe down any door handles or other surfaces you touched upon entering your home before washing your hands. This will prevent the spread of germs through surfaces to other people in your home. 

2. Stay in touch

Self-isolation might be necessary for the elderly and immunocompromised during this time, which can result in loneliness. Loneliness itself can affect one’s physical and mental health [3]. Luckily, self isolation does not mean social isolation. Nowadays, there are various ways to stay connected with friends and family through technology. 

• Facetime, Zoom, text, or call. Facetime and Zoom calls are easy ways to stay connected face-to-face. Try to set up a weekly, or daily, Facetime or Zoom call with someone you know who is at high risk. Just chatting to other people, and seeing someone else’s face may help to combat loneliness.
•  Start a virtual book club! Even if it is just you and one other person. Read the same book, and then discuss it over email, call or text. Having a book to read will also help to occupy some new found free time. 
• If your at-risk loved one struggles with the new technology required by Zoom or Facetime, you can drive by their house with signs letting them know you care about them. Maybe even play their favorite song on your car radio. They can admire it from their doorstep or driveway.

3. Help keep the immunocompromised informed

Some of the elderly population might not engage in all the platforms that help keep us informed on updates of the global COVID-19 situation. Even if they are informed, it can’t hurt to share new, credible, information that you’ve heard regarding the pandemic. Whether it’s new safety measures, or an update of the situation in your area, keeping each other informed is important during this time. By doing so, it helps to increase awareness of protocols and suggestions, so that we can all do our parts to maintain our health, and that of others. 

4. Reach out to caregivers

If you know someone who is caring for an immunocompromised person, ask them if they need anything! This time can be stressful for caregivers, as they need to be extra cautious for their high risk patients. Letting them know you appreciate their hard work can mean a lot. You can leave a baked good on their doorstep, a book you think they’d enjoy, or even just a little card. 

5. Do YOUR part!

One of the most important things you can do to protect the immunocompromised is to be responsible for yourself. Be aware that the stay-at-home orders are in place for a reason, and complying to them can and will save lives.

• Stay home. Only leave your house if it is essential. According to the director of the CDC, Dr. Robert Redfield, as many as 25% of infected individuals may be asymptomatic [4]. The less you go out, the less chances there are for you to contract the virus if you aren’t sick, or to pass it on to others without knowing.

• Respect elders only hours at supermarkets. Many stores have started implementing “seniors only” hours during certain times of the week [5]. This is in effort to protect elderly people if they must go grocery shopping themselves. If you need to go shopping, avoid going during your local supermarket’s senior hours.

• Practice self-care to keep your head and your body healthy! Both your physical health and mental health play into the strength of your immune system.

• Avoid unnecessary trips to the doctor’s office or hospital. If you had any appointments planned that aren’t of immediate concern, try to postpone them until the coronavirus situation has settled down. The elderly and immunocompromised are more likely to have to go to the doctor during this time, which can be an easy place for them to contract sicknesses brought in by other people.

Again, stay-at-home orders and social distancing are both extremely important to follow to protect your health and that of others. A great video posted by the Ohio Department of Health shows how beneficial social-distancing is during this pandemic [6].

Conclusion

The COVID-19 situation is stressful for everyone. There are many uncertainties that can be worrisome, but if we all work together to love our neighbors, our communities can actually grow from this time of trial. This article listed some ways to care for your immunocompromised neighbors. If you would like to help in other ways, check out our blog post on volunteering. 

Written by Grace Haass, blogger at Safe Harbor International Ministries. For more articles please visit our blog page at https://safeharborim.com/articles/