Where To Find the Covid-19 Vaccine Near You

In an earlier article, we listed out the guidelines for who gets vaccinated when. When your turn comes up, that leaves the question of where to go to get the vaccine. The actual distribution of doses is being managed by state and local authorities, as well as some private companies like CVS and Walgreens. A Google search of “where to get the Covid vaccine near me” returns some local and some national results.

But there is one central location to get up to date information on vaccine availability nationally. The CDC has a VaccineFinder website that collects information from healthcare providers offering shots, listing both the location and their inventory. While your state Health Department is a good place to start, this can also be a nationwide resource if your local resources aren’t up to date.

It appears that patience is the word of the day when it comes to vaccine distribution. At Home Eldercare will continue to provide you with the latest information as we find it. In the meantime, please continue to take precautions and follow the 3 W’s.

What Is the Difference Between Non-medical and Medical Home Care

We wanted to share some insights on the types of Non-medical care that can make aging in place safer and easier for your elder loved ones. There is a difference between non-medical and medical care, and knowing the difference helps families to better understand their options for care leading to better choices.

Offering non-medical care generally means assisting elderly or disabled persons to perform their activities of daily living. Examples include assistance with eating, bathing and maintaining personal hygiene, dressing, toileting, and basic mobility, preparing meals, transportation assistance, light housecleaning, laundry, and shopping for essentials. Non-medical care may also include companionship and supervision. Assistance with medication is an area that toes the line between medical and non-medical care. Medication reminders for taking pills is considered non-medical, but medication administration, by nebulizer or with hypodermic needles, for example, is considered medical care

Non-medical care is also known as personal care, attendant care, custodial care, domiciliary care, companion care, and non-medical home care. Some financial assistance programs use the phrase, “assistance with the activities of daily living”, instead.

Non-medical care can play a critical role in assisting to stay in their own homes and age in place gracefully. Sometimes the need is temporary, such as during recovery from an illness or injury, and sometimes it is needed indefinitely due to the natural process of aging. In many cases, without in-home, non-medical assistance, the likelihood that seniors might need to move in with a family member or relocate to an assisted living residence is greater. For seniors who live with a relative who provides them with regular care assistance, non-medical care can be received in the form of in-home or out-of-home respite care allowing families a break from their caregiving duties. Furthermore, non-medical care can provide peace of mind for family members.

This type of care is often provided by friends, spouses, and other family members. However, there is a whole industry of private caregivers and even public employees who provide care, typically on an hourly basis. Home care is one of the safest options right now, and studies show that aging in place has a number of benefits.

At Home Eldercare offers a level of care that is industry leading, backed by a leadership team with decades of experience in the senior care industry. For more information, stay tuned for our contact information at the end of the video, including an opportunity to own your own senior care business.

For more information, or to find an At Home Eldercare office near you, go to our Locations page.

When Will I be Vaccinated Against the Coronavirus?

Many of you have asked that question recently, and we have attempted to find the answer for you. As of writing this article (1/8/21), there are 2 Coronavirus vaccines that have been approved in the US, with more on the way. Part of the process of developing these vaccines was beginning production of doses before the approval process was complete. This allowed the vaccines to be administered almost immediately after the FDA issued the Emergency Use approvals.

But there is still a limited number of doses of either version, so the CDC has issued guidelines to the states on how to best distribute them to maximum effect. You can read their recommendations here, but we are going to boil it down for you. These are only guidelines, so your state may change the order and have their own methods of distribution.

The CDC is issuing guidelines only, so the states can then create their own plans based on local needs.

The first group of people on the list include those most vulnerable to the disease and their caregivers. Phase 1a includes healthcare workers and the residents of long term care facilities. As of November 6th, nearly 40 percent of the deaths from COVID-19 in America were residents of long term care facilities. Healthcare workers are at greater risk from exposure to the disease. The CDC considers those on this list to be in the greatest need of the protection of a vaccine:

Examples of healthcare personnel include:

• Emergency medical service personnel

• Nurses and nursing assistants

• Physicians

• Technicians

• Therapists

• Dentists

• Dental hygienists and assistants

• Phlebotomists

• Pharmacists

• Students and trainees

• Contractual staff

• Dietary and food services staff

• Environmental services staff

• Administrative staff

Again, each state may have their own standards, in some cases, healthcare workers that don’t have direct patient contact, including roles like administration and marketing, may not be in the first group.

Phase 1b covers frontline essential workers, including First Responders, Teachers, grocery store workers and anyone else considered on the forefront of keeping society running. It also vaccinates anyone over 75 not in long term care.

Then Phase 1c offers coverage for Seniors not in long term care, including anyone from 64-75, again not in a care facility. You are also in this phase if you are 16-64 and have a condition that increase your risk of dying from COVID-19, like COPD or Diabetes. Finally, the secondary essential workers, including food service, IT, and public safety are added to the list

As of the publication this article, there is no concrete plan for a Phase 2, which includes everyone else. The CDC has promised to update the list as more vaccine becomes available. We recommend that you check with your state or territorial health department for specifics. The CDC has a comprehensive list here. At Home Eldercare is here help you elder loved ones when their turn comes up.