Commentary: How to keep loved ones safe this holiday season

Although the distance may change, the responsibility and dedication as a caregiver remain the same. Whether you check in by phone, by videochat or in person, Easterseals Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore has some advice to help you keep your loved ones safe during the holidays and throughout the year.”

If you are one of the many people caring for an aging loved one, take the time to check in with them this holiday season, whether you live close by or are separated by hundreds of miles. It is more important now than ever before, as visits may have become less frequent due to pandemic restrictions.

Although the distance may change, the responsibility and dedication as a caregiver remain the same. Whether you check in by phone, by videochat or in person, Easterseals Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore has some advice to help you keep your loved ones safe during the holidays and throughout the year.

• Ask people from the community for help, such as neighbors and friends. This can be key if you live farther away or are unable to visit. Take the time to get to know your loved one’s neighbors and friends, so you can turn to them in a time of need, or they can alert you if they see a problem.

• Compile a list of medications and schedules in case of a medical emergency and update it frequently. Consider medication reminders and organizers. Easterseals case managers may have suggestions for you.

• If your loved one has fallen or is at risk for falls, use this list to learn more about it and when to talk to your loved one’s health care provider: tinyurl.com/tzh3tdex. Look through the home for possible hazards, such as unsafe stairs or loose rugs. Use this list from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help guide you, whether in person or virtually: tinyurl.com/hlrsxgm. Arrange for necessary home modifications, such as stability bars in the shower or seat lifters for the toilet, which you can learn about through the staff in Easterseals’ Resource Center.

• Easterseals has many types of assistive technology for people with disabilities or aging conditions. Check out the virtual tour of our Resource Center at https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=2317363225056259

• Turn to Easterseals’ Caregiver and Assistive Technology Resource Center in New Castle and Sussex counties for resources and information. The case managers are available to help people find answers. Contact them today at resources@esdel.org.

Whether you are caring for an aging loved one or someone with a disability, Easterseals is there to help make this and every season easier and safer. Easterseals has caregiver resources through the Community Outreach Program and case managers to help you navigate with confidence through the path of caregiving. Reach out to them at 302-324-4444.

Easterseals Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore offers a range of services, including children’s therapies, assistive technology, recreational camping, day programs for adults with physical or intellectual disabilities and respite services for caregivers. To learn more about how Easterseals helps children and adults with disabilities, call 800-677-3800 or visit de.easterseals.com.

Nancy Ranalli is the director of community outreach and assistive technology for Easterseals Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore.