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Alzheimer’s Los Angeles – COVID-19 Caregiver Tip Sheets

March 3, 2021/in Uncategorized /by PortervilleADS
http://alzheimersla.org/covid-caregiver-tip-sheets/

COVID-19 Caregiver Tip Sheets

COVID-19 is disrupting routines and turning care for someone with dementia into a potential nightmare for families. Below please find four tip sheets to help caregivers manage those living with dementia during these difficult times.

English

  • HYGIENE

  • PLANNING

  • STRESS

  • ROUTINES

en Español

  • HIGIENE

  • PLANES

  • MANEJANDO EL ESTRES

  • RUTINAS Y ACTIVIDADES

If you want to talk to someone about these issues or any other challenges you are facing during this difficult time, please call our Helpline at 844-435-7259 and ask to speak to our dementia experts, our care counselors.

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COVID-19: Activities to do at Home

March 3, 2021/in Uncategorized /by PortervilleADS

COVID-19: Activities to do at Home

During the COVID-19 Safer at Home order, older adults are being asked to stay indoors to lower risk of exposure. Many things are changing fast and we are being forced to adapt quickly. Staying home might be easier said than done.

To help organize your days, we have put together lists of activities to do at home with someone who has a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or another dementia, regardless of their stage in this journey.

          • Early Stage

            Middle Stage

          • Late Stage

            https://www.alzheimersla.org/covid-activities/

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Additional COVID-19 Guidance for Caregivers of People Living with Dementia in Community Settings

March 3, 2021/in Uncategorized /by PortervilleADS
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/caregivers-dementia.html

Additional COVID-19 Guidance for Caregivers of People Living with Dementia in Community Settings

Updated Sept. 11, 2020
Print

Caring for People Living with Dementia in Long-term Care Facilities (LTCFs): For information on how to care for people living with dementia in LTCFs including nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities, and assisted living facilities with memory care units/wings, please see CDC guidance for preparing these facilities for COVID-19.

Older adults and people with serious underlying medical conditions are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19, according to public health and clinical experts.1–2 Among adults with confirmed COVID-19, those aged 65 years and older are more likely to be hospitalized, to be admitted for intensive care, and to die. In fact, 8 out of 10 deaths associated with COVID-19 in the United States have been among adults aged 65 years and older.1–2

Older adults also have the highest rates of dementia. An estimated six million adults have some form of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, the most common type of dementia.3

Given the risks that older adults face from both COVID-19 and dementia, CDC is providing this additional guidance to caregivers of adults with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and to help them manage their patients’ physical and mental wellbeing as well as their own wellbeing. Not all people living with dementia require caregivers. Therefore, the degree of assistance a person needs will depend on the extent that their dementia has progressed. For people living with dementia, changes in behavior or worsening symptoms of dementia should be evaluated because they can be an indication of worsening stress and anxiety as well as COVID-19 or other infections.

If you care for someone living with dementia, it’s important that you know what you can do to protect yourself and others during the COVID-19 pandemic and what additional steps you can take to protect your loved one:

  • Know when you need to seek medical attention for your loved one.
    • Call a healthcare provider if your loved one has symptoms of COVID-19.4
    • Be aware that older adults with COVID-19 may not always have typical symptoms5 such as a fever or cough.
    • Use CDC’s Self-Checker1 guide to help make decisions about your loved one and know when to seek appropriate medical care.
  • If your loved one has advanced dementia and needs to be hospitalized for COVID-19, make sure hospital staff know that your in-person assistance might be required to communicate important health information and emergency support. Here are several important issues to consider:
    • Be prepared to be in a healthcare setting with your loved one. Be prepared to use personal protective measures as recommended by the hospital staff if you are in the room with your loved one.
    • Be aware that you and healthcare providers may face difficulties caring for your loved one because he or she:
      • May not cooperate with care and may not follow personal protective measures such as wearing a mask or practicing social distancing
      • May refuse diagnostic procedures

In this case, do as much as you can, or as much as you are allowed to, to help the person living with advanced dementia to follow CDC guidance.6

  • If you get sick, follow CDC guidance7 and have a backup caregiver for your loved one.
  • Incorporate CDC guidance into your daily routine and the daily routine of your loved one:
    • Wear masks8 and make sure that others wear them.
      • Do NOT place a mask on anyone who has trouble breathing, is unconscious, is incapacitated, or is unable to remove the mask without assistance.
    • Wash hands often.
    • Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue.
    • Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
    • Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.

Caregivers: Be Aware of the Symptoms for COVID-19

The first step in caring for people living with dementia in any setting is to understand that changes in behavior or worsening symptoms of dementia should be evaluated because they can be an indication of COVID-19 infection or worsening stress and anxiety. Not everyone with COVID-19 has symptoms, but when people with dementia do have COVID-19 symptoms,4 they can include the following:

  • Increased agitation
  • Increased confusion
  • Sudden sadness
  • Coughing
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Repeated shaking with chills
  • Muscle pain
  • Headache
  • Sore throat
  • New loss of taste or smell

Caregivers Can Be First Responders Under Stress: Know How to Take Care of Yourself

As a caregiver,9 you provide care to people who need some degree of ongoing assistance with everyday tasks on a regular basis. During this pandemic, you may also be a first responder, providing the first line of response and defense to your loved one living with dementia. First responders often experience stress due to heavy workloads, fatigue, and other situations that come with an emergency. There are important steps you should take during and after an emergency event to help manage and cope with stress.10 To take care of others, you must be feeling well and thinking clearly. Here are some tips on how to take care of yourself:

  • Eat a healthy diet, avoid using drugs and alcohol, and get plenty of sleep and regular exercise to help reduce stress and anxiety. Activities as simple as taking a walk, stretching, and deep breathing can help relieve stress.
  • Establish and maintain a routine. Try to eat meals at regular times, and put yourself on a sleep schedule to ensure you get enough rest. Include a positive or fun activity in your schedule that you can look forward to each day or week. If possible, schedule exercise into your daily routine.
  • Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting.  If you want to stay up-to-date on the pandemic, visit CDC’s website for the latest recommendations on what you can do to protect yourself and those you care for.
  • Make time to unwind. Try to do activities you enjoy.
  • Connect with others. Reach out to family and friends. Talking to someone you trust about your concerns and feelings can help.
  • Call your healthcare provider if stress gets in the way of your daily activities for several days in a row.
  • Find a local support group. Support groups provide a safe place for you to find comfort in knowing you are not alone.
  • Have a backup caregiver. In case you become sick with COVID-19, a backup caregiver will ensure that your loved one continues to receive care. You can focus on caring for yourself.7
More Information
  • Older Adults
  • Caring for Someone Sick at Home

References

  1. Razzaghi, et al. Severe Outcomes Among Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) — United States, February 12–March 16, 2020. MMWR Early Release. 2020; 69
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Coronavirus Disease 2019: Older Adults. 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/older-adults.html
  3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Alzheimer’s Disease. 2019. https://www.cdc.gov/aging/aginginfo/alzheimers.htm
  4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Coronavirus Disease 2019: Symptoms of Coronavirus. 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html
  5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Coronavirus Disease 2019: Preparing for COVID-19: Long-Term Care Facilities, Nursing Homes. 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/long-term-care.html
  6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Coronavirus Disease 2019: How to Protect Yourself & Others. 2020. https://www.cdc.gov//coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html
  7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What to Do If You Are Sick. 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/steps-when-sick.html
  8. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Use of Masks to Help Slow the Spread of COVID-19. 2020.  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html
  9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Caregiving: Who are caregivers? 2019. https://www.cdc.gov/aging/caregiving/index.htm
  10. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Coronavirus Disease 2019: Stress and Coping. 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html
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Tulare County Covid-19 Vaccine

February 25, 2021/in Uncategorized /by PortervilleADS
https://covid19.tularecounty.ca.gov/covid-19-vaccine/

COVID-19 Vaccine

Updated February 24, 2021

COVID-19 vaccine information is evolving rapidly and know COVID Vaccine Supply is VERY LIMITED. This page provides emerging information and may change rapidly. Please check this page often for updates. To view the entire CDC page with the most up-to-date information regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, visit the CDC’s COVID-19 Vaccine webpage.

Vaccination appointments are currently FULL for Tulare County Public Health Clinics. All vaccinations are by appointment ONLY. No walk-ups. More vaccination appointments will open as soon as more vaccine arrives in Tulare County. Please view other vaccination opportunities below.       WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.

OptumServe COVID Vaccination Locations

The State is now providing vaccine allocations directly to four OptumServe Community Testing sites in Tulare County. Residents who meet eligibility criteria can now get vaccinated at these locations. Those interested in scheduling an appointment to get their COVID vaccine at an OptumServe location can register for vaccine on the statewide COVID Vaccination platform, My Turn at: https://myturn.ca.gov/. For those without internet access can call 1-833-422-4255 to make an appointment. The following OptumServe locations are now offering COVID Vaccinations:

  • Dinuba Veterans Memorial Building located at 249 S. Alta Ave. in Dinuba.

  • Earlimart Veterans Memorial Building located at 712 E. Washington St. in Earlimart

  • Porterville Veterans Memorial Building located at 1900 W. Olive Ave. in Porterville

  • Woodlake Community Center located at 145 N. Magnolia St. in Woodlake

Tulare County Rural Healthcare Providers

Tulare County Public Health has partnered with local healthcare providers in providing the COVID vaccine to their patients and community members that meet current eligibility criteria. These healthcare providers are now offering their services in vaccinating Tulare County. For a complete list of local healthcare providers currently offering COVID vaccinations visit our COVID Vaccination Sites in Tulare County webpage.

 

COVID Vaccine Federal Retail Pharmacy Program

Vaccinations are now available at local pharmacies through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program for Tulare County residents age 65 an older and healthcare workers. Below is a list of our pharmacy partners in Tulare County currently scheduling appointments for the COVID vaccine.

Pharmacies in Tulare County:
CVS Pharmacies, Make an Appointment at: https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine
•    CVS Store #02944 – 53 E. Olive Ave. in Porterville
•    CVS Store #05551 – 109 South West St. in Tulare
Rite Aid Pharmacies, Make an Appointment at: https://www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/covid-qualifier
•    Rite Aid Store #05798 – 262 North Highway 65 in Lindsay
•    Rite Aid Store #05806 – 5212 W. Walnut Ave. in Visalia
•    Rite Aid Store #06459 – 1735 E. Walnut Ave. in Visalia

Walgreens Pharmacies, Make an Appointment at: https://www.walgreens.com/findcare/vaccination/covid-19
•    Walgreens Store #9844 – 416 W. Olive Ave. in Porterville
•    Walgreens Store #3476 – 100 W. Walnut Ave. in Visalia
•    Walgreens Store #11407 – 3010 N. Demaree St. in Visalia
•    Walgreens Store #6683 – 5328 W. Cypress Ave. in Visalia
•    Walgreens Store #10201 – 170 W. El Monte Way in Dinuba
•    Walgreens Store #10002 – 1418 E. Prosperity Ave. in Tulare

COVID Vaccine Information

Tulare County COVID Vaccine Interest Form
Tulare County COVID Vaccine Interest Form

Sign up to get vaccinated through Tulare County COVID Vaccine Interest Form. Officials will contact you directly for an appointment when you are eligible and vaccine is available for you.

Make a Vaccination Appointment
Make a Vaccination Appointment

Now Vaccinating: Phase 1A Eligible, Individuals age 65 and older, Phase 1B, Tier 1 Eligible ONLY. By Appointment ONLY. No Walk-Ins.

Vaccine Plan & Distribution in Tulare County
Vaccine Plan & Distribution in Tulare County

Information on vaccine schedule, distribution phases, Tulare County Vaccine Data Dashboard, and COVID Vaccine Playbook.

Vaccine Information for Health Care Providers
Vaccine Information for Health Care Providers

Healthcare Providers seeking information on how they can help distribute COVID-19 Vaccine. Learn more for health facilities seeking to conduct onsite vaccinations.

Calling All Volunteers!
Calling All Volunteers!

We need YOU! Seeking volunteers with medical experience as well as anyone willing and able to assist in the massive vaccination effort to end the COVID-19 pandemic.

Benefits of Getting a Vaccine
Benefits of Getting a Vaccine

Learn more on the benefits of getting vaccinated for COVID. Together we can end the pandemic in Tulare County!

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VADS Resuming Services

February 19, 2021/in Uncategorized /by PortervilleADS

Valley Adult Day Services (VADS) has had a change in management. VADS will be reopening it’s doors February 22, 2021 at 7:30 am – 5:30 pm, Monday through Friday. Staff is excited to open to our participants and serve the Porterville and surrounding communities. VADS serves those with cognitive impairments; such as acute memory loss, traumatic brain injuries, Alzheimer’s and other forms of Dementia.

A lot of times these individuals are still aware and functioning, but cannot stay at home alone.

Our goal is to provide respite for caregivers, so that they may work without worrying about their care receiver being alone or just simply need rest and/or a break.

At VADS, we provide a care plan for your care receiver that consists of goals. These goals are targeted towards maintaining improving the skills of the care receiver. We do activities that help them improve their cognitive abilities such as reading, writing, math, board games, memory games, guided meditation, therapeutic coloring, sensory games, etc,. We do daily walking and exercise as well as physical activities that help maintain and improve the care receiver’s physical abilities. We provide a fun, open and safe environment. Our priority is to make the care receiver feel like they have a purpose at VADS through a range of activities catered towards what they used to do or like to do.

We want to help them maintain their independence, dignity and quality of life so that they may continue to live at home.

Other things we provide:

  • 2 meals and an afternoon snack
  • Assistance in the restroom
  • Showers 3x a week
  • Transportation
  • We can assist with setting up Covid-19 appointment

Fees

  • $55.00 for a full day
  • $45.00 for a half day (4 hours)

We offer help for those with a restricted income

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The Collective Exhale: Family Caregivers and the Coronavirus Vaccine

February 19, 2021/in Uncategorized /by PortervilleADS
https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/stories/info-2021/covid-vaccine-brings-relief.html

The Collective Exhale: Family Caregivers and the Coronavirus Vaccine

As loved ones get vaccinated, caregivers breathe a big sigh of relief

by Lee Woodruff, AARP, January 27, 2021

man in a wheel chair raising his hands in joy after receiving a coronavirus vaccine. a healthcare working sitting next to him is laughing

GETTY IMAGES

“I got the vaccine!” My mother’s voice on the phone sounded pleased and a bit confused. “But I felt sleepy afterward. I took a three-hour nap.”

I was jealous and relieved. Jealous at the thought of a three-hour nap and relieved that my sisters and I could relax just a little. One more booster shot to go!

For older adults and the medically compromised, the vaccine brings a palpable sense of liberation. Watching images on the news of smiling people getting inoculated, flashing the two-fingered “V” for victory, I feel hopeful, despite the fact that the virus continues to burn through our country at an astounding rate, disrupting lives and families and limiting human interaction.

During the pandemic, caregivers have layered on the extra stress of keeping everyone safe from the virus, including themselves. Once minor events, such as going to the grocery store or having a family member relieve you of caregiving for a few precious hours, must now be weighed against the risks. For all of us, it’s exhausting. But for many caregivers, it’s like an extra set of ankle weights.

Newfound freedom

As a Sacramento, California–based restaurant reviewer and mother, Kate Washington, 48, is also a caregiver for her husband, Brad, 50, a cancer survivor who is immune-suppressed. “When I heard that he was eligible to get the vaccine, it was like letting out a breath I didn’t know I was holding,” she says. “It will mean he can get out more, our kids can see a few friends and, selfishly, I won’t be doing all the grocery shopping.” Washington, who has written a memoir about her unexpected caregiving journey called Already Toast: Caregiving and Burnout in America, describes her thought process as they all went into lockdown in 2020. “It activated all my old reflexes on how to be an advocate and support a person during a health crisis,” she says. “I found myself mentally rehearsing exactly who I’d call and what I’d do if Brad got exposed or sick. It didn’t hit me until several weeks into the pandemic that I could get sick myself, and I had no plan for that!”

Tears of joy — and relief

Jenna McKinney, 63, of Harrison, New York, has been making the two-hour drive to see her mother in New Jersey for decades. The trips increased when her stepfather died and her mom was no longer able to live independently. Despite having a sibling nearby, the responsibilities — and the joys — of caregiving have fallen almost solely on McKinney. In the past few months, with the lockdown of her mother’s facility, she made the drive just to be able to see her mother through her window, where they had a routine of placing their hands on each side of the glass. After her mother got the vaccine last week, McKinney burst into tears while relaying the story to a friend. “I don’t think I fully realized how much I was walking on eggshells, praying that she wouldn’t catch the virus.”

Cheers for vaccinators

Those administering the vaccines at long-term care facilities have a unique vantage point. Bob Atighechi, 48, is a CVS pharmacist from Rocky Hill, Connecticut, who administered one of the first five vaccine shots in the country. “It was incredible to witness the immense relief, not just of the residents, but their caregivers,” he remembers. “The extreme isolation that our elderly have been enduring is hard to witness.”

Emad Habash, 41, a regional CVS pharmacy director in Indianapolis, describes his first week of vaccinating as “nothing like anything I’ve seen in my career.” Caregivers, residents and staff greeted his team with loud cheers, applause and raised hands. One woman broke down in tears. “I’m so excited,” her husband told Habash. “We’ve had to be so careful with her diabetes, and now maybe we can see our family and grandkids.”

Caring for each other

As a resident of Newbury Court, in Concord, Massachusetts, author Katharine Esty, 85, had a decision to make when the lockdown came: Should she cohabitate with her newish boyfriend or should they stay in their separate apartments and not be able to see each other at all. With a few hours to act, they moved some of his things into her apartment, where they could care for each other.

“Many of the spouses here are primary caregivers to their loved ones, some of whom have dementia and other issues,” she says. “I worried about my friends and tried to stay in touch by phone.” She was determined to be by her boyfriend’s side when he got the vaccine, because he had experienced allergic reactions to medications in the past. “He handled it all like a champ, with no side effects,” she says. “Seeing people again was a reminder that relationships are what matter most.”

And in a final reminder that frontline health care workers wear multiple hats, Benjamin Skov, 26, a CVS pharmacist from Coventry, Rhode Island, was able to vaccinate his own grandparents at one of the clinics. When he stopped by afterward to check on them, his grandmother dissolved into tears. “Out in the field, we see the reactions of patients and staff, but rarely the rest of the family,” he says. “I think the biggest thing for us all to remember is that for every patient who’s glad to be vaccinated, there’s an entire family who we put at ease.”

Lee Woodruff is a caregiver, speaker and author. She and her husband, Bob, cofounded the Bob Woodruff Foundation, which assists injured service members and their families. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

Learn More About Family Caregiving

  • These nursing home workers are the pandemic’s unsung heroes
  • Military and veteran caregivers who advocate for our sick and wounded warriors
  • COVID spotlights need for employers to expand family leave policies
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Care Connection Webinar: Coping with COVID

January 12, 2021/in Uncategorized /by PortervilleADS

Care Connection Webinar: Coping with COVID

January 14 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm EST

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a major stressor for many Americans. During their lives, most older Americans have contended with many society-wide stressors but COVID is unique among them. This presentation will discuss how COVID-19 has affected the mental well-being of older Americans and some things that people can to do cope better with it.

 

Guest speaker:

Gregory A. Hinrichsen, Ph.D., ABPP

Associate Clinical Professor, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Adjunct Professor, Teachers College, Columbia University

 

 

Click here to register

Details

Date:
January 14
Time:
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm EST
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COVID-19 Vaccine: Answers for Dementia Caregivers and People Living with Alzheimer’s

January 12, 2021/in Uncategorized /by PortervilleADS

COVID-19 Vaccine: Answers for Dementia Caregivers and People Living with Alzheimer’s

COVID-19 Vaccine: Answers for Dementia Caregivers and People Living with Alzheimer’s
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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of multiple COVID-19 vaccines brings hope to many, especially those living with Alzheimer’s and dementia and their caregivers who have been critically impacted by the pandemic. Learn more about what you can expect once a COVID-19 vaccine becomes available to you.

  • About the vaccine
  • Information for caregivers
  • Information for people living with dementia

 

About the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine

Several vials of the COVID-19 vaccine are lined up on a table.

Who gets the vaccines first?

The Alzheimer’s Association strongly supports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendation to prioritize front-line health workers and residents and staff of nursing homes, assisted living and other long-term care settings for receiving vaccines. The Association believes that vaccination must begin with our most vulnerable and where the threat is the greatest.

Vaccinating residents and staff in these settings is a critical first step to allowing residents to reunite with their families after months of separation, which often accelerated the decline of those with dementia.

Are the vaccines safe for people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias? 

Based on information from the FDA, the COVID-19 vaccines were tested in large clinical trials to make sure they meet safety standards. Many people were recruited to participate in these trials to see how the vaccines offer protection to people of different ages, races and ethnicities, as well as those with different medical conditions. If you are concerned about the safety of these vaccines, it is important to talk to your health care provider.

How many doses do the vaccines require?

To be fully vaccinated, individuals will receive two doses over a period of 3-4 weeks.

What are the potential side effects?

In clinical trials, side effects reported from the vaccines were mild and temporary, including fever and muscle pain. Symptoms reported typically went away on their own within a week. If your family member or friend living with dementia is vaccinated and severe side effects occur or persist for more than a week, contact their health care provider immediately.

Should people with severe allergies get vaccinated?

During the initial rollout of the Pfizer vaccine, there were isolated reports of adverse reactions for people with severe allergies. These complications were not life-threatening. If you have concerns about a loved one living with allergies, it is important to consult the person’s health care provider.

Who is actually giving the vaccine to the long-term care residents? Pharmacists from CVS/Walgreens? Or medical staff from the long-term care settings?

Each state is responsible for developing and administering a vaccine distribution plan. We recommend talking to your contact at the long-term care community — the administrator or director of nursing — about the specific vaccination plan.

COVID-19 vaccine information for people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia

A health care worker administers a COVID-19 vaccination to an older Black man who is wearing a mask.

Should people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias get the COVID-19 vaccine?

Vaccines are an important step in protecting the health and safety of long-term care residents and staff, and the Alzheimer’s Association strongly encourages their use. It is important that individuals and families consult with health care providers about any questions related to an individual and the vaccine.

When will those living in a long-term care setting get the vaccine?

We know that health care workers and those living in long-term care communities like nursing homes and assisted living are the priority for the vaccine. Each state is responsible for developing and administering a vaccine distribution plan. We recommend talking to your contact at the long-term care community — the administrator or director of nursing — about the specific vaccination plan.

My family member or friend has dementia but doesn’t live in a long-term care setting. When will they have access to the vaccine and how will they get it?

At this time, the CDC recommends that front-line health workers and residents and staff in long-term care settings be the first groups to receive the vaccine. High-risk populations and individuals living with multiple diseases or medical conditions (including Alzheimer’s and other dementias) are expected to be in the second group of distribution.

My family member or friend is in long-term care, and I want/don’t want them to be vaccinated. What do I need to do?

It is important to ask your long-term care provider about the current availability and status of vaccine delivery. It is also important to discuss the risk and benefits with the resident’s health care provider. With this important information, discuss the choices regarding vaccines directly with their health care provider.

What if the person living with dementia is unable to provide consent for vaccination?

Consent for the coronavirus vaccine should be considered in the same manner as other vaccines and health care decisions. If a resident cannot consent, health care providers will talk to the individual’s dedicated power of attorney or other determined family member.

What if someone elects not to take the vaccine?

We believe vaccines are an important step in protecting the health and safety of long-term care residents and staff, and we strongly encourage their use. Forced vaccinations are extremely rare in any situation for any disease. If vaccines are not used, other protocols including PPE, rapid point of care testing and other safety measures must be implemented to ensure a secure and safe environment for visitation.

How can I be sure that staff at my loved one’s long-term care community are being vaccinated?

While vaccines are an important step to protect the health and safety of residents and staff in long-term care settings, vaccines are not currently mandated. If you have concerns, ask your provider about their staff vaccination policy.

COVID-19 vaccine information for dementia caregivers

As a caregiver in close contact with the person living with dementia, should I get vaccinated even though I am not in the priority group?

Currently, the vaccine is only being given to high-risk groups, so you may not have the option to be vaccinated. However, we would encourage caregivers to get vaccinated as soon as they are able to do so.

Even with widespread vaccination on the horizon, it is important to consider the risks and take additional safety precautions for people living with dementia. Read the Alzheimer’s Association dementia caregiver tips for promoting your loved one’s safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, whether at home or in a residential care setting.

My loved one in long-term care has been vaccinated. Is it safe for me to visit?

Visitation is appropriate when it is safe, and that determination of safety must ultimately be made by public health infectious disease experts.

The Association recognizes that ending social isolation and reuniting families is of the utmost importance and we now have the tools and resources to make this possible. We believe vaccinations are a very important step in protecting the health and safety of long-term care residents and staff. Even as vaccines are used, other protocols including PPE, rapid point of care testing and other safety measures must continue to be implemented to ensure a secure and safe environment for visitation.

For additional information on dementia care, read the Association’s emergency preparedness tips for professional dementia caregivers.

COVID-19 Help Center

Stay updated with 24/7 support, resources and tips about the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic for caregivers, people living with dementia and their families.

Get Help and Support

 

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Tulare County Public Health Releases COVID-19 Vaccine Schedule

January 12, 2021/in Uncategorized /by PortervilleADS
Tulare County Public Health Releases COVID-19 Vaccine Schedule
COVID-19 – Vaccinations Are Underway for Phase 1A of Distribution Plan, County Offers COVID-19 Vaccine Interest Form for Tulare County Residents
Thursday, January 7, 2021
The COVID-19 virus continues to spread at alarming rates throughout Tulare County. In the midst of an ongoing surge of infections following holiday social gatherings, Tulare County Public Health releases its COVID-19 Vaccine Schedule for distribution and delivery of the much-anticipated vaccine to end the pandemic.
For the COVID-19 Vaccine Schedule in Tulare County and for the latest information on the COVID-19 vaccine, visit: https://covid19.tularecounty.ca.gov/covid-19-vaccine/.
Due to limited supplies of COVID-19 vaccine, Tulare County is currently distributing COVID-19 vaccine to those eligible in Phase 1A ONLY. If you meet the eligibility requirements for Phase1A, you can register to get vaccinated at: https://covid19.tularecounty.ca.gov/…/tulare-county…/
Those receiving vaccines in Phase 1A will be required to show proof of eligibility with either of the following: employer ID badge, employer payment stub, or official letter from employer.
Currently, Tulare County Public Health is ONLY vaccinating those who are eligible in Phase 1A. Once COVID-19 vaccine supply expands and those who qualify for Phase 1A have been vaccinated, Tulare County Public Health will begin vaccinating residents that meet the requirements of distribution to Phase 1B and Phase 1C of the COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan.
Tulare County COVID-19 Vaccine Interest Form:
Tulare County residents who don’t qualify for Phase 1A can inform County health officials of their intent to get vaccinated for COVID-19 by completing the Tulare County COVID-19 Vaccine Interest Form.
Residents can sign up for vaccine notifications of when they are eligible and where they can go to get vaccinated by completing the Tulare County COVID-19 Vaccine Interest Form online at: https://arcg.is/0KKez4.
For the latest information on COVID-19 vaccinations in Tulare County visit: https://covid19.tularecounty.ca.gov
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Alzheimer’s Foundation of America Educational Conference

December 7, 2020/in Uncategorized /by PortervilleADS

Educating America Tour: Nebraska

December 8 @ 10:00 am – 12:30 pm CST

To protect the health and safety of participants and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic, this conference will be held virtually over the Internet.

Click here to register

 

Conference Agenda

10:00 am – 10:15 am CT

Welcome & About AFA

Charles J.  Fuschillo, Jr.

President & CEO, Alzheimer’s Foundation of America

10:15 am  – 10:30 am

Special Guest Speaker

Dr. Oz

Mehmet Oz, MD, FACS

Host of The Dr. Oz Show

10:30 am – 11:15 am

Alzheimer’s Research in Nebraska

Howard Fox, MD, PhD

Senior Associate Dean of Research and Development, University of Nebraska Medical Center

Daniel L. Murman, MD, MS

Professor, Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center

Matthew Rizzo, MD

Frances & Edgar Reynolds Chair, Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center

 

11:15am – 11:45 am

Legal Documents and More – Protecting Yourself and Your Family

Catherine N. Swiniarski, Esq.

Managing Attorney and Owner, Elder Law of Omaha, P.C., L.L.O.

11:45am – 12:30 PM

Prepare to Care

Charles Williams

Executive Council Member and Volunteer, AARP

 

Click here to register

 

Thank you to our sponsors:

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