Canal Winchester Messenger - March 21st, 2021
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
www.columbusmessenger.com<br />
Active Lifestyles<br />
<br />
<strong>March</strong> 21, <strong>2021</strong> - MESSENGER - PAGE 5<br />
<br />
Franklin County Board of Commissioners: Commissioner Kevin L. Boyce, President • Commissioner Marilyn Brown • Commissioner John O’Grady<br />
The Franklin County Board of Commissioners and The Franklin County Office on Aging join with the <strong>Messenger</strong> Newspaper in providing this update on aging issues in Franklin County.<br />
CAREGIVER RELIEF<br />
According to a 2020 report by the National Alliance for Caregiving<br />
and AARP, the number of caregivers providing unpaid care has<br />
increased by almost 10 million in the last five years. In the past year,<br />
however, caregiving has proven to be harder amid the global<br />
COVID-19 pandemic. About 21 percent of family caregivers report<br />
their own health to be fair to poor. Prior to the pandemic, caregivers<br />
struggled with both economic and emotional stress, although now,<br />
with workplace closures, a decrease in social interactions, and<br />
heightened health concerns, their stressors have increased dramatically.<br />
In December 2020, Ohio reported over 114,000 older adults to have<br />
contracted COVID-19. Studies have also shown that a large portion<br />
of Ohio’s cases have come from the Franklin County area. While the<br />
country is working on providing COVID-19 vaccinations to the<br />
public, it will be several months before everyone who wants a vaccine<br />
will receive one. Knowing this information, caregivers have<br />
had to make the difficult decision to put their caregiving duties<br />
ahead of their own personal health to ensure that their loved ones<br />
have proper and safe care provided to them. However, there are safe<br />
options available to give these Ohio caregivers a break.<br />
The Franklin County Office on Aging (FCOA) collaborates with the<br />
Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging (COAAA) to administer the<br />
Caregiver Support Program. The program supports non-paid caregivers<br />
of adults age 60 and older who have a demonstrated need for<br />
home care assistance. The caregiver can be a relative or non-relative<br />
over the age of 18 years old and does not have to reside with the<br />
older adult. The program can assist with a variety of free short-term<br />
services that include adult day services, caregiver counseling, durable<br />
medical equipment, health maintenance supplies, and in-home<br />
respite. The services are available regardless of the income or asset<br />
levels of the caregiver or older adult. Residents of assisted living<br />
facilities or homes that are already providing care for their residents<br />
are not eligible to receive the services offered through the Caregiver<br />
Support Program.<br />
FCOA is putting safety at the forefront of everything they do.<br />
During this pandemic, extensive safety measures have been added to<br />
ensure that clients and community members remain safe as they<br />
access and participate in programs and services, such as the Caregiver<br />
Support Program. Caregiver relief, or respite care, is performed<br />
by a trained individual who participates in continuous education<br />
such as health and wellness, LGBTQ education, cultural diversity<br />
training, and more, so they can assist in the care of the older adult.<br />
Care can still be administered at the older adult’s home, and<br />
essential caregiving services such as help with bathing or getting<br />
around the house are still performed. For everyone’s protection, the<br />
relief worker is required to wear either a mask or a face shield for the<br />
entire duration of their time spent with the older adult. The relief<br />
worker should also be performing daily health checks, such as<br />
taking their temperatures, to ensure that they do not have any<br />
symptoms of COVID-19. If a worker does feel ill, they will not be<br />
going to a client’s home to administer caregiver relief. Additionally,<br />
these workers adhere to the guidelines set out by the Center for<br />
Disease Control, or CDC, and the Franklin County Public Health<br />
office. As changes are made through these organizations, the FCOA<br />
service providers for caregiver relief adapt to the new guidelines to<br />
provide the best and safest care possible.<br />
To enroll in the Caregiver Support Program and/or to learn more<br />
about FCOA’s additional older adult services, please call Senior<br />
Options at (614) 525-6200 Monday thru Friday from 9:00 a.m. to<br />
4:30 p.m.