Let’s stay connected during COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 outbreak is a global health challenge that requires preventive actions and diligence in our community by maintaining good health by practicing proper hygiene and social distancing. We must stop, contain, control, delay and reduce the impact of this virus at every opportunity.

Every person has the capacity to contribute, to protect themselves, and protect others whether inside their home or out in the community. We deeply stress the importance of the five P’s as endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Prevention, preparedness, public health, political leadership and, most of all, people.

At the Area Agency on Aging, clients are primarily over the age of 60. The agency’s priority is to remain connected with clients during the pandemic.

“We as a community need to be mindful of the needs of every individual affected because adjusting to our new lifestyle of practicing social distancing is very hard and can be very lonely for everyone,” according to the agency.

Here are a few ways you can stay connected to your loved ones and neighbors:

■ Call and check-in often

■ Shop and drop off needed items ■ Introduce them to technology so they can communicate with loved ones, doctors, friends, and shop online to safely obtain essential items that can be delivered to their home or picked up curbside at the store.

Ark-Tex Area Agency on Aging wants to always stay connected to our clients and continue to reach out to our community during this COVID-19 pandemic.

Here are some of the services and resources it provides to help improve the quality of living in our region:

■ Case Managers – are available to arrange supportive services with clients via phone calls or emails to assist with in home care needs and provide some limited supplies such as food, personal care items, and emergency response buttons. Our case managers are available to help arrange in-home care and respite care to give stressed caregivers a break from their responsibilities.

■ Benefits Counselors – are committed to staying connected with clients via phone calls, emails and conference calls to follow up with any state program benefits questions, status of applications, renewal application assistance and appeals. The benefits counselors can help clients to apply for utility assistance, Medicaid and SNAP benefits via phone or walk a client through the process online. The benefits counselor can answer any Medicare benefits questions that a client may have and keep clients updated on any changes or additional help available to them in this time of crisis.

■ Information and Referral Specialist – Providing clients with community resources for food, transportation, help with paying for medications, utility bills, obtaining supplies and assisting clients in finding meal sites that will provide free meals for pick up or home-delivered meals to our 60 plus community.

■ Long-Term Care Ombudsmen – Helps ensure that residents receive the care they want and are treated with the dignity they deserve. Our staff ombudsmen have gone to the facilities to visit and encourage residents from the windows of the nursing facilities during COVID-19 and continue to advocate for residents and families in order to help identify and resolve any concerns that affect residents. Ombudsmen help to protect Residents Rights, support resident-directed care, respect resident choices and independence, and provide information about resident and family councils.

If you know someone that is affected during this time and needs assistance, call 1-800-372-4464.

Angela Glass is the benefits counselor with the Area Agency on Aging.