True Care Blog

Sitting at home day after day can not only become monotonous; it can take a toll on us emotionally and physically. The stress of hearing the news from outside, combined with the stress of home confinement, can weigh on us, and you may start feeling run down. 

It's important to find some meaning in your days to combat feelings of apathy. What gets you up in the morning? What keeps you going when you start feeling down? If you're searching for more meaning, you might find it in helping others during this time. 

The COVID-19 pandemic is bringing many issues to light, particularly around healthcare and hospitalization. Many people don’t think about preparing for admission to the hospital until it’s too late. It’s imperative to do this ahead of time. Now is the perfect time to gather your medical records, health care proxy, power of attorney, and plan for pet care if needed.

First, create a go-bag full of extra supplies for your pet, in case someone needs to care for your animal. Include extra food, medications, a leash/harness, a pet carrier, pet waste supplies (litter/litter box or plastic bags), and medical/vaccination records. New York City has created a document that helps you plan for your pet in case of an emergency.

So, who’s feeling a little anxious right now? I am! I’m sure most of us are, and that’s okay. It’s a perfectly normal reaction to our current world situation, and it’s not shameful.

This is an unsettling time in our lives. Suddenly, we are confronted with phrases like "social distancing" and "self-isolation" and left to wonder if we're standing far enough away from other shoppers at the grocery store. If we have loved ones near or far, do we take the risk to ride the train, to drive, or to fly to see them? These are dilemmas I'm personally grappling with, and I know these questions resonate across the world right now.

As a social worker, I can't overstate the importance of maintaining human contact for our emotional well-being, and I'm concerned about our global mental health during this crisis. We need to find ways to keep our anxiety at bay and stay connected with our friends and family while practicing social distancing. We need to find ways to be together, apart.

True Care is fully committed to the safety of its clients and staff. As the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak continues True Care has been examining the protocols and precautions that are necessary to protect our clients and staff. Our Emergency Preparedness Team (EMT) is closely monitoring information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and other experts.

As a nurse, I love my visits with Esther. She is a sweet lady in her 90s, who lives alone in an apartment building complex. Her home health aide visits every day to help her out, but Esther is mostly independent.

Esther is full of energy and personality, and like a lot of mothers and grandmothers, she is always eager to feed me. Esther and I have long conversations about what she and the aide prepare for dinner and where the recipes originate. One of Esther’s favorite foods is herring. Herring is a common ingredient in Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine, served pickled or brined, which makes it high in sodium content. This is a big problem for Esther since she has heart disease.