By: Generations United
Our country and the world are facing a pandemic unlike any many of us have seen before. People over the age of 60 and those with compromised immune systems are among the highest-risk populations COVID-19 is impacting. While grandparents are being advised to isolate themselves physically from grandchildren, it is nearly impossible for older caregivers to distance themselves from the children they are raising. You are on the front line for your family every day. Today’s challenges are making it much tougher to care for them. It’s important to stay calm and do everything you can to stay healthy, informed and connected. Here are a few suggestions.
Finding Factual, Up to Date Information
Center for Disease Control (CDC): The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has up to date, accurate information and recommendations about COVID-19.
- General Information: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
- Frequently Asked Questions COVID-19 and Children: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/children-faq.html\
- Older Adults and Medical Conditions: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019ncov/specific-groups/high-risk-complications.html
- CDC Guidance for Workplace, School, and Home: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/workplace-school-and-homeguidance.pdf
- World Health Organization (WHO): Useful information can be accessed at https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
- County Health Department: Contact your state’s https://www.naccho.org/membership/lhddirectory to learn more about your state’s response and recommendations.
- Kinship Navigators and Other Grandfamilies Support Programs: For information specifically to help grandfamilies, contact your local kinship navigator or other grandfamilies support programs. Visit www.grandfamilies.org for a list of local programs in your state.
- Area Agency on Aging: For information to help older caregivers contact your area agency on aging. You can find them through the eldercare locator at 1-800-677-1116 or visit eldercare.acl.gov
Continue reading by visiting the COVID-19 Fact Sheet for Grandfamilies and Multigenerational Families.
