The threat of COVID-19 in nursing homes and assisted living facilities is changing the way seniors, and their families, approach where and how they receive care.

Occupancy in senior housing has hit a 15-year low with more families bringing loved ones home, and facilities being unable to admit or attract new residents due to the threat of the pandemic. A majority of older Americans prefer to age in place in their own homes, which is the safest place to be right now according to the CDC, but often don’t see that as an option based on the availability of assistance they may need from a family member or caregiver.

Friendly Faces Senior Care, a Houston, Texas agency which provides non-medical professional caregivers and services for seniors at home, has seen a steady increase in both the number of families requesting assistance to help elderly loved ones stay safe at home and training and mandates to help care for seniors at home in the age of COVID-19.

“The number of seniors who are choosing to age in place at home is growing,” said Qiana James, Founder and CEO of Friendly Faces Senior Care. “The pandemic has hit elder care and senior living facilities so hard with outbreak issues and having to close their doors to visitors, cancel activities and isolate residents. Its driving change not only in where seniors are choosing to live now, but also how we, as caregivers, can keep our aging population safe in that environment with a raging pandemic outside.”

Friendly Faces Senior Caregivers typically provide in-home services that help make it easier for families to care for aging loved ones by assisting with things such as meal preparation and reminders, medication reminders, safety, bathing, grooming, toileting, and companionship. The on-going pandemic has required their staff of professional caregivers to undergo additional training on COVID-19, the proper use of PPE for staff, clients and family members, Infection Control, and signs and symptoms to watch for when screening senior clients, especially those who are unable to communicate their own symptoms.

Additionally, Texas mandates require each Caregiver to be screened for COVID-19 prior to each daily shift, COVID-19 screening and reporting for each client, as well as anyone in the home, and temperature checks for both the senior client and caregiver.

“It is an on-going adjustment for our staff, and especially our clients, who suffer from memory loss or are often confused by the protocol of mask-wearing, continual hand-washing, social distancing and the restrictions dictated by COVID-19,” said James. “Our number one priority is to keep our seniors and our staff safe while we provide whatever assistance is needed to help families who have chosen to care for aging loved ones at home, and seniors who need help living independently, during the pandemic.”

The continuing threat of COVID-19 and the damaging effects of isolation on seniors is prompting more families to question whether they should consider moving an aging parent or grandparent into their home right now. James said there are a number of factors families should consider first, but caregivers should also remember that there are trained, qualified professionals that can take some of the weight off their shoulders when their loved one need more assistance than they can offer.

For more information on options for senior care assistance visit https://www.friendlyfaces.com.