Going beyond video when checking on seniors in your care

Checking on Seniors: What Video Doesn’t Reveal

The social isolation of the ongoing pandemic’s social isolation, along with extended stay hospitalizations, increased depression and cognitive decline, have become the norm for seniors. Being separated from senior loved ones can be especially difficult during the holidays. Often, isolation’s side effects can be worse than COVID-19 according to healthcare experts.

In all, 27% of Americans over the age of 60 live alone – that’s a larger share of the population than in any other place in the world. In just the first few months of the pandemic, seniors’ loneliness has doubled, according to a new study.

This year, time-honored holidays traditions such as gathering for a meal, going door-to-door singing carols and being with our families will not happen. The risk of COVID-19, which is especially high for seniors, is prompting us to bypass these enjoyable activities — at least for now.

Family members who can’t visit their loved ones in person have turned to technology to connect. Video chat has replaced in-person visits as the primary way to stay in touch in 2020. As you’ll recall, we talked about the value of video chats last month. While video is better than not connecting at all, interacting with seniors online often masks the very truth most friends and family members want to know – how are their seniors are really doing? Unfortunately, cognitive decline hides behind the image seen on the screen.

To check seniors’ physical and mental health, friends and family members need to go “old school.” As limited as the opportunities may be, it is important to visit seniors in person. “Most people are unable to witness the decline over video,” explained Linda Kadan, founder of Kadan Homecare. “The best way to determine how your senior is doing is to see him or her in-person. Of course, you’ll need to stand six feet away and wear PPE.” It is important to have the same objective person in this observer role, she pointed out, so that accurate comparisons can be made overtime.

With multiple vaccines on the horizon, there is hope that the current surge of COVID-19 will begin to peak soon. However, the geographical separation now common in multi-generational families may continue to make video the primary connective lifeline for seniors and those who love them. That’s why an ongoing series of in-person visits with a single, objective observer will be key to spotting cognitive decline in real-time.

Pandemics and vaccines aside, health experts point out that everyone has an obligation to take care of America’s older adults whether they are family members or not. “As the pandemic continues, it will be critical to pay attention to how well we as a society support the social and emotional needs of older adults,” says John Piette, PhD, professor,University of Michigan School of Public Health.

Could you be that objective observer for a senior you know?

Dina Kadan White2023-11-09T17:21:45+00:00December 15th, 2020|

About the Author: Dina Kadan White

As Vice President of Kadan Homecare, White oversees the day-to-to day operations and assists with strategic planning for company. White has worked with Kadan full-time for the past 11 years, although she has been engaged with the family-run firm at some level for most of her adult life. Prior to joining Kadan, White served as Director of Product Development at Equifax and previously was a Marketing Director with Wachovia. These jobs prepared her well for a position where she works for the benefit of all aspects of this highly client-focused agency. White holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from the Georgia Institute of Technology. She is a member of the National Private Duty Association, a membership organization for firms whose homecare model is to employ, train, monitor and supervise caregivers, create a plan of care for the client and work toward a safe and secure environment for the person at home. White is also a member of the National Association for Home Care and Hospice.