Life after pandemic will take some adjustments

Now that California has reopened after more than a year of social distancing guidelines, it’s understandable that fears and anxieties can hold older adults back from getting out there and returning to “normal life.”

These anxieties can be fueled by the fact that COVID-19 has disproportionately affected those with pre-existing conditions and adults older than 65. Fortunately, if you’re fully vaccinated, you can now safely return to society and spend time with other vaccinated friends and family members.

In Long Beach, 53,000 residents older than 65 — equivalent to 99% of the senior age group — and 66% of eligible citizens have been vaccinated against COVID-19, according to city data. This is a very promising rate for Long Beach, but across the region, rates are much lower.

In Los Angeles County, more than 86% of those at least 65 years old have been vaccinated with at least one dose, according to the Department of Public Health. The Orange County Health Agency reports that only about 26% of older adults have been vaccinated with at least one dose in that county. These low vaccination rates can cause increased anxiety about a potential exposure,

but as long as you’re fully vaccinated, you can safely return to your pre-pandemic activities.

It’s important to know that if you haven’t been vaccinated or aren’t fully vaccinated, you should continue following strict social distancing, hand washing and masking guidelines. Although California’s restrictions have been lifted, this change only applies to fully vaccinated people.

You’re considered fully vaccinated, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says, two weeks after your second dose in a two-dose series, such as with the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. If you don’t meet these requirements, regardless of age, you aren’t considered fully vaccinated and should continue precautions until you’re fully vaccinated.

After you’re fully vaccinated, the CDC says, you can resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal or territorial laws, rules and regulations, including local business and workplace guidelines.

Reducing anxiety

As an older adult, it’s not unusual to continue feeling anxious or vulnerable to serious illness from a COVID-19 infection, even after being vaccinated. It’s important to recognize that all COVID-19 vaccines are effective in protecting you from getting sick. Some tips to ease anxieties include:

• Talk about your feelings: If you feel nervous about being in public places or being around other people, don’t dismiss your feelings. Talk to a loved one and ask for their advice and reassurance.

• Take it slow: After being in quarantine for so long, you may have become comfortable staying home and being isolated from others. Make sure to get back out there at your own pace and comfort level. You can start by visiting those you trust, going to wide open areas and limiting the amount of public places you visit.

• Create a new routine: If your daily routine dramatically changed throughout the pandemic, consider which activities you stopped or changed and which became a part of your new schedule. Select the best pieces of both your pre- and postquarantine lifestyles and create a new routine that improves your overall quality of life.

• Know you’re in control: It’s important to realize that you can control your time and surroundings. If you’re not ready to visit a crowded restaurant, stick with an outdoor picnic. Only you know, and should decide, when you’re ready.

• Continue following safety precautions: Although public places no longer require masks or social distancing for fully vaccinated people, if wearing a mask or staying distanced from others makes you feel safer, continue doing so, especially going into the fall, which is when we typically experience flu and other respiratory illnesses. It’s also still important to continue practicing good hand hygiene by washing your hands frequently.

• Get back to happier times: Many people, especially older adults, have felt lonely and sad throughout the pandemic.

If you need additional help reducing your anxiety and sadness, consider talking to your doctor about mental health resources.

As we continue to progress past the coronavirus pandemic, continue relying on the support from your loved ones and health care team to help get back to what you enjoyed doing. We’re all going through this change together; know that you’re not alone.

If you need additional support from a medical professional or have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine, find a primary care doctor who can help at memorialcare.org/ Providers.

For the most up-to-date information on the COVID-19 vaccine, visit memorialcare.org/ COVIDVaccine.