Parenting a Parent During Covid19 Pandemic

Everyone agrees the elderly and the older adult populations rate highest for serious complications from the Covid19 (corona) virus creating challenging for parenting a parent during this pandemic. Many adult children understand this and are trying to protect their parents from the illness. Many adult children are also facing parents who are not cooperating in following proper safety rules and regulations.

How to parent a parent?

Do not assume the parent completely understands the situation. Explain clearly how contagious Covid19 is and explain the risk to their age group. This is the time to empathize with their feelings of loneliness and isolation. Assure your parents you will be calling every day and encourage the grandchildren to do so also.  Try to teach them to use zoom or video calling so they can see their family members face to face.

Your parent staying home is the most important and effective way your parent will stay safe. However, it is up to you to make sure parents have all their needs being met even when not venturing out to stores, doctor appointments, and pharmacies.  It is often challenging for older adults to navigate shopping online and managing the medical system virtually. You will therefore need to research and organize shopping and health management during this time.

Most communities and health funds are stating clearly their hours and delivery service. Having this information and telling your parents it is taken care of, will go a long way to keeping the parent compliant with the stay at home order.

If things are not going as smoothly as stores and health funds are promising, be prepared to shop for your parents for the most important necessaries.  If you do not live near your parent, see if you can find “angels” in their community that are helping the elderly at this time.

If a parent continues to go out in public he/she must:

1. Wear mask

2. Wear gloves

3. Keep hands away from face

4. Wash hands thoroughly after removing their gloves

Remember there is only so much you can do to protect your parent from Covid 19.  If a parent is not cooperative, express your disapproval strongly. Ultimately, each person makes their own decision in these matters.