Working together to stop coronavirus

We are elderly and we are disabled, so we are at high risk of severe consequences. And we live close together in housing developments, our "public" spaces. These are spaces that can spread the infection. Door handles, elevator buttons, stair railings, chairs, tables...Wherever there is a surface, the virus can lie in wait for us to touch it and then we touch our face and begin the process of infection.

What can we do as individual tenants, tenant associations and groups, and what can and should the landlord an management do to protect against the spread of coronavirus?

Talk to your landlord about things they can do that we as tenants cannot.

And a big challenge, is that we need to stay away from each other to avoid spreading the virus.

Consider sharing this information from the CDC below with your neighbors, your housing landlord, housing authority, and management, as well as your local senior center, your family and friends. Don't panic---take action. If we all follow the simple ways to protect ourselves, we will be protecting each other. And the people in charge of your residential setting need to act for the good of the community, don't let them pretend they have no responsibility.

My local health department advises to focus on the need for cleaning with attention to “high-touch” surfaces.

As far as responding to someone who is ill, the recommendation is that if someone appears ill with a fever or respiratory illness, bystanders should try to remain approximately 6 feet away until such time as the ill person can be transported for medical care by personnel wearing appropriate personal protective equipment.

CDC: People at Risk for Serious Illness from COVID-19

If you are at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19 because of your age or because you have a serious long-term health problem, it is extra important for you to take actions to reduce your risk of getting sick with the disease. You are at higher risk if you are:

Older adults
People who have serious chronic medical conditions like:
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Lung disease

Get Ready for COVID-19 Now

Have supplies on hand

Contact your healthcare provider to ask about obtaining extra necessary medications to have on hand in case there is an outbreak of COVID-19 in your community and you need to stay home for a prolonged period of time.
If you cannot get extra medications, consider using mail-order for medications.
Be sure you have over-the-counter medicines and medical supplies (tissues, etc.) to treat fever and other symptoms. Most people will be able to recover from COVID-19 at home.
Have enough household items and groceries on hand so that you will be prepared to stay at home for a period of time.

Take everyday precautions

Avoid close contact with people who are sick
Take everyday preventive actions
- Clean your hands often
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, or having been in a public place.
- If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
- To the extent possible, avoid touching high-touch surfaces in public places – elevator buttons, door handles, handrails, handshaking with people, etc. Use a tissue or your sleeve to cover your hand or finger if you must touch something.
- Wash your hands after touching surfaces in public places.
- Avoid touching your face, nose, eyes, etc.
- Clean and disinfect your home to remove germs: practice routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces (for example: tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, toilets, faucets, sinks & cell phones)
- Avoid crowds, especially in poorly ventilated spaces. Your risk of exposure to respiratory viruses like COVID-19 may increase in crowded, closed-in settings with little air circulation if there are people in the crowd who are sick.
- Avoid all non-essential travel including plane trips, and especially avoid embarking on cruise ships.

If COVID-19 is spreading in your community, take extra measures to put distance between yourself and other people to further reduce your risk of being exposed to this new virus.

Stay home as much as possible.
- Consider ways of getting food brought to your house through family, social, or commercial networks

Have a plan for if you get sick:

Consult with your health care provider for more information about monitoring your health for symptoms suggestive of COVID-19.
Stay in touch with others by phone or email. You may need to ask for help from friends, family, neighbors, community health workers, etc. if you become sick.
Determine who can provide you with care if your caregiver gets sick

Watch for symptoms and emergency warning signs

Pay attention for potential COVID-19 symptoms including, fever, cough, and shortness of breath. If you feel like you are developing symptoms, call your doctor.
If you develop emergency warning signs for COVID-19 get medical attention immediately. In adults, emergency warning signs*:
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- New confusion or inability to arouse
- Bluish lips or face

*This list is not all inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning.

What to Do if You Get Sick

Stay home and call your doctor
Call your healthcare provider and let them know about your symptoms. Tell them that you have or may have COVID-19. This will help them take care of you and keep other people from getting infected or exposed.
If you are not sick enough to be hospitalized, you can recover at home. Follow CDC instructions for how to take care of yourself at home.
Know when to get emergency help
Get medical attention immediately if you have any of the emergency warning signs listed above.

What Others can do to Support Older Adults

Community Support for Older Adults

Community preparedness planning for COVID-19 should include older adults and people with disabilities, and the organizations that support them in their communities, to ensure their needs are taken into consideration.
- Many of these individuals live in the community, and many depend on services and supports provided in their homes or in the community to maintain their health and independence.
Long-term care facilities should be vigilant to prevent the introduction and spread of COVID-19. Information for long-term care facilities can be found here.

Family and Caregiver Support

Know what medications your loved one is taking and see if you can help them have extra on hand.
Monitor food and other medical supplies (oxygen, incontinence, dialysis, wound care) needed and create a back-up plan.
Stock up on non-perishable food items to have on hand in your home to minimize trips to stores.
If you care for a loved one living in a care facility, monitor the situation, ask about the health of the other residents frequently and know the protocol if there is an outbreak.

Resources

CDC=Centers for Disease Control and Information
CDC: RELIABLE INFORMATION on Coronavirus

Information about emergency preparedness in Massachusetts

In the news:

So you’ve been asked to self-quarantine. Here’s what you should know.

What you need to know

This is democracy. This is what we do.

All the best,

Jerry

Jerry Halberstadt, Coordinator, Stop Bullying Coalition

A Call to Action

Please make your voice heard on Beacon Hill now. Write, email, or call your state senator and state representative. Here's how:

Find your state legislators by entering your street address, city/town, and ZIP code.
https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator

You will see a list with your senator and your representative, click on their names and get their contact information including email, mail, and phone. You can reach their staff people at their district offices or on Beacon Hill.

Please tell them why you support these bills on housing:

An Act relative to bullying in public housing (S985).
An act to prevent and respond to bullying of elderly and disabled residents (S984).
An Act protecting elders from bullying (H628)

Together, we are strong and powerful. We invite you to join us on the road to inclusion and respect for all.

Here's how to join our march:

Sign up for our free newsletter
Tell us your story
Tell us what you can do to be part of the solution.
Forward this newsletter to your network of friends and colleagues.

DISCLAIMER

This Newsletter of the Stop Bullying Coalition represents the findings, views, and interpretations of each author, and their reports on their own work, opinions, and information as well as that provided by others. Each author is solely responsible for any errors or omissions. The opinions expressed herein reflect those of each author and may not always reflect those of the partners of the Stop Bullying Coalition. The Editor and Publisher is Jerry Halberstadt, Coordinator of the Stop Bullying Coalition.