How Are Patients At Hospices in Pasadena Managing Their Chronic Illnesses During The COVID-19 Pandemic?

How Are Patients Managing Their Chronic Illnesses During The COVID-19 Pandemic?

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Published May 31, 2020

As the COVID-19 pandemic carries on for yet another month, this diabolical disease maintains its first-place status as most talked about topic on all the daily newscasts, social media, and talk shows. Many of us including hospice employees at Pasadena have learned to embraced unfamiliar phrases when we have daily conversations with our co-workers at the palliative care centers in Los Angeles, friends, and family that would be strange in normal circumstances.

For instance, sayings such as “flattening the curve,” “social distancing,” “N95 masks,” and “clusters” have become the norm. Furthermore, since the COVID-19 pandemic is on everybody’s tongue, we have become better educated on what symptoms of the virus to look out for such as a fever of 100.4F or higher, a cough, shortness of breath as well as finding it very hard to breath. Unfortunately, what has not changed is that masses of people around the world are still struggling with these persisting conditions.

How Do You Cope With Chronic Illness And COVID-19?

Patients who suffer from chronic illnesses such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, congestive heart failure (CHF), heart disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis (MS) and renal disease still need access to treatment and healthcare. However, receiving this sought-after treatment has transformed drastically ever since the COVID-19 pandemic took center stage.

Unfortunately, there have been reports of limitations and shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks, gloves, and gowns which has led many healthcare clinics and medical professionals to donate what they currently have available to hospitals or restrict opening times and even access. Also, hospitals and hospice in Burbank CA have new regulations and procedures concerning the time, place, and how people can get into their facilities.

In this current situation, various long-term care facilities are completely banning visitors and even some institutions are prohibiting entry of health care and hospice workers to visit and help care for patients.

Due to extraordinary circumstances that has led many to quarantine, stores are finding it a challenge to have enough over-the-counter medications for their customers.

Because of this, medications and other essentials may be harder to get your hands on and a lot harder to keep on the shelves.

How Do You Get Treatment For Non-COVID-19 Illnesses?

Hospices understand that there is a lot going on in the world at the moment, so many people are trying to understand the “new ways of living” and if you or someone you know needs healthcare treatment like those in Pasadena how do they continue? Sadly, there isn’t just one simple answer to this question. On a positive note, there are some obvious ways that people can go about their healthcare routine.

Try to make arrangements in advance.

Take a look at what medication supplies you currently have and don’t put it off till the last minute to call your doctor or pharmacy for more provisions. Although some clinic are currently not accepting routine patient appointments, the office is still likely to be staffed. You can call the clinic or even request a refill online.

Check to see whether your insurance company permits 90-day supplies instead of the more common 30 days so you can limit the number of trips you have to make to the pharmacy. There are a few pharmacies that are offering medication delivery or curbside pickup to avoid high-risk patients from having to walk inside the outlet.

Keep your eye out for any changes in the condition. Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you do notice any.

Follow the advice from your doctor concerning your current treatment regimen.

Try not to miss or forget to take your medications as prescribed or pass up on necessary medical appointments.

Carry on monitoring blood glucose levels (if you have been ordered to do so by your doctor).

It is important to eat healthily and stay hydrated, especially during the pandemic, and even more so if you are trying to control chronic conditions. Diabetics should follow a low carb diet, people with congestive heart failure should make sure their food intake has very little salt and heart disease patients should maintain a diet low in cholesterol.

Avoid snacking out of boredom by scheduling out your daily meal and snack times.

Staying hydrated not only helps to replenish the body of liquids but may also help you to eat less. Sometimes as we age our hormones don’t signal us that we have to drink something, therefore our bodies might need water rather than an unhealthy snack.

Follow these easy but efficient approaches.

Sleep a sufficient amount every night.
Try to lower stress levels with activities such as reading a book, taking a walk, getting some fresh air, and try your best to disconnect yourself from time to time from all the news and social media that are constantly covering the COVID-19 pandemic.
Find simple things you can do at home that give you a sense of enjoyment while you are obeying state and federal suggestions to stay at home.

Be conscious of your healthcare plan.

Now is the best time more than ever to have a thorough look at your healthcare plan. You might have the option of a telehealth visit that can save you from a normal trip to the doctor’s office.

Try to avoid going to the hospital (when you can).

Whether you have COVID-19 or not, you still have to manage your chronic medical conditions. When patients do not manage their chronic conditions well enough on their own, it is highly likely they put themselves at greater risk of having to go to the emergency room and hospital. These are places you want to avoid at the moment since COVID-19 patients are more than likely there to be treated and hospital staff and hospice in Pasadena are overloaded ever since the pandemic started.

One of the most recommended ways to keep yourself healthy is to stay home, continue with good well-being, and keep connected with friends and family using technology.