May is Family Reunion Month, but it may not feel like much to celebrate. Not this year. Even though some states are beginning to loosen up their stay-at-home restrictions, there’s a lot to be concerned about. For those at assisted living, it may not be possible yet to visit with family and other loved ones.

You might be excited about the prospect of seeing your grandmother once again, but is that the best decision just yet?

Health and safety are the first priority.

That’s true of every assisted living facility. The health and safety of their residents and staff are the utmost priority to them. They want to make sure that the coronavirus is not going to come strolling through their front door, especially after all the tireless work and effort they’ve put into keeping residents safe.

What can family do in the meantime?

If an assisted living facility is beginning to allow family members and friends to visit, there will likely be some restrictions. You might have to go through a screening process where they take your temperature. If you show any signs of a fever, you may not be permitted inside.

It’s also important for each family member and friend to be on guard for themselves. If there’s any potential risk somebody you know or came in contact with during the past couple of weeks has been diagnosed with COVID-19, you should self-isolate.

That means you should avoid a visit to your grandmother at assisted living at this time. You may have been looking forward to spending some quality time together and talking face-to-face, but her health is the top priority.

Can you still ‘visit’ with a loved one at assisted living?

Your grandmother may not have a tablet or smartphone or even a laptop and that’s fine. However, there are probably some, including staff members, who do. As such, there may be a way you can talk to her with a video teleconferencing app or other feature.

Skype and Facetime are just two quick ideas that can allow seniors and their families to communicate by video conference.

It may not be the ideal circumstance, but it’s a way to keep seniors protected during these difficult times.

If you are able to visit in person, you may want to withhold excessive physical contact. Unless you can be completely sure you’re not a carrier of coronavirus, maintain social distance and let’s allow people to remain safe until a vaccine or other verifiable treatment is available.

If you or an aging loved-one is considering a move to Assisted Living in Fountain Hills, AZ please contact the caring staff at MD Senior Living today. 480-267-9200