CONTACT: Pamela D. Wilson 303-810-1816
Email: Inquiry_For_Pamela@pameladwilson.com
Golden, Colorado – March 7, 2020
Golden CO- The coronavirus and press about the spread of the virus pose growing concerns for healthcare workers and consumers. Healthcare workers fear being diagnosed with the coronavirus and spreading the virus to family members. More attention to providing concrete steps and practical advice to consumers can reduce misperceptions about the coronavirus.
Practical Tips for Preventing the Coronavirus
Caregiving expert, Pamela D. Wilson, eases concerns about the coronavirus. She offers context about viruses including the history of the 1918 flu pandemic, frequency of the flu, pneumonia, the norovirus, and practical tips in a detailed article about the coronavirus in her Caring for Aging Parents Blog.
Risks of Implementing Infection Control Protocols
According to Wilson, "It is difficult for the public at large to understand the stress placed on healthcare workers while organizations implement infection prevention and control recommendations. A shortage of healthcare workers in all areas: hospitals, nursing homes, and eldercare communities places organizations in a position of hiring pool workers who may not be as well trained or committed as regular employees."
Healthcare worker shortages result in employees working work longer hours and overtime. Committed healthcare workers show up on the job sick, which in the case of the coronavirus, may pose greater risks to coworkers and patients.
Federal and state regulations require healthcare organizations to follow universal precautions to prevent the spread of viruses. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid have released recent updates about procedures for the coronavirus.
Healthcare organizations can test visitors, employees, patients, and residents of communities for the coronavirus. In the case of Lifecare of Kirkland, Washington, a 190-bed nursing home facility where the coronavirus is active, nursing homes can also impose lockdown conditions restricting visitors while focusing on infection control protocols.
Transmission of the Coronavirus
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the most common means of transmitting the coronavirus is coughing and sneezing that carries airborne droplets to nearby persons. The elderly, children, persons with multiple chronic diseases, and those with weak immune systems are most affected by the coronavirus.
The coronavirus in elderly and young populations with weak immune systems is more likely to advance to viral pneumonia, not treatable with antibiotics. Fending off the coronavirus and pneumonia requires a healthy immune system.
Healthy adults are more likely to recover without adverse or long-lasting side effects. Containment of the virus requires all consumers to follow hand-washing and surface cleaning activities. Precautions for sneezing and coughing by covering the nose and mouth are mandatory to prevent further spread of the coronavirus. Wearing a face mask is recommended for persons with an active respiratory infection.
Health and Prevention is a Consumer Responsibility
Wilson's belief is that health, well-being, and prevention are consumer responsibilities. The healthcare system treats diseases after diagnosis.
Multiple companies are pursuing a vaccine for the coronavirus. Developing a virus can take time. Until then, infection control protocols in the healthcare system and proactive consumers are the solutions to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
For more than 20 years, Wilson has owned and operated companies providing in-home care for the elderly, care management oversight, and fiduciary services. Today Wilson speaks, educates, and develops content and digital programs for consumers and corporations.
Corporations interested in digital support programs for working caregivers can contact Pamela for more information about workplace caregiver programs. Pamela speaks and provides content for corporations desiring to reach consumers interested in health, well-being, and planning for care. More information is available on Pamela's website.
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Check Out Podcast Replays of The Caring Generation® Radio Program for Caregivers and Aging Adults HERE
The podcast replays are great to share with family, friends, social groups, and the workplace. Listening to the Caring Generation podcasts are a great alternative for weekly book clubs. The Podcast replays are also an educational activity used at senior
Pamela D. Wilson, MS, BS/BA, CG, CSA is a national caregiving expert, advocate and speaker. More than 20 years of experience as a direct service provider in the roles of a court-appointed guardian, power of attorney, and care manager led to programs supporting family caregivers and aging adults who want to be proactive about health, well-being, and caregiving. Wilson provides education and support for consumers and corporations interested in supporting employees who are working caregivers. To carry out her mission, Wilson partners with companies passionate about connecting with the caregiving marketing through digital and content marketing. Her mission to reach caregivers worldwide is accomplished through social media channels of Facebook, YouTube, Linked In, Instagram, Caregiving TV on Roku, and The Caring Generation® radio on Internet radio. She may be reached at 303-810-1816 or through her website.