As we continue to hear about the spread of coronavirus, or COVID-19, it is only natural to become increasingly concerned about this potentially deadly virus. It is important to make sure you are doing everything possible to keep yourself and your loved ones safe by adhering to common sense guidelines and avoiding unnecessary travel and situations that present a higher risk of contracting the disease.

Older individuals, especially those with dementia and other underlying health conditions, are particularly vulnerable to contracting coronavirus and may suffer severe complications from the disease. Therefore, if you are caring for an elderly loved one with dementia you must make sure you are complying with the guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and doing everything possible to keep your loved one, and yourself, safe.

Here are some suggestions:

1. Keep all surfaces in the home clean (use alcohol-based cleaning agents).
2. Wash hands (yours and loved one’s) frequently (count to 20 for each washing).
3. Eliminate public outings.
4. Limit visitors to the home.
5. Stock up on non-perishable food items to minimize trips to the store.
6. Monitor your loved one for signs of COVID-19 which include: high fever, cough, trouble breathing, exhaustion.
7. Notify physician immediately if signs of illness are present.
8. The CDC has a comprehensive Q&A which you can access here.

Anthem Memory Care communities are taking extra precautions to keep residents and staff safe

We want you to know that at Anthem Memory Care communities, there is no higher priority than the safety and wellness of our residents and team members. Our commitment to Protect, Engage and Love our residents is a responsibility we take seriously. That is why we are closely and continuously monitoring the evolving coronavirus situation and have already implemented numerous measures to protect our Anthem communities.

We welcome you to contact any of our communities for more information on how we are safeguarding our buildings and those who live and work within them, adhering to the stringent guidelines of the CDC.

It is important for all of us to use an abundance of caution as we go about our daily lives and to follow the recommendations from the CDC and other accredited health agencies. While we may not yet know the future extent of this disease, we can take our own measures to protect ourselves and those around us.