This webinar will provide practical tips from experts regarding COVID-19, managing your health and these conditions, and how to prepare for and cope with transitions.
This webinar offers timely practical guidance by experts about self-care and making the transition home during COVID-19.
There are many unknowns at this time particularly as new information around COVID-19 continues to unfold. Managing health conditions is even more stressful when you are dealing with a newer diagnosis, and perhaps have recently transitioned from hospital to the community after a cardiac or stroke event.
This webinar reviewed what to expect during COVID-19, practical tips, and available resources, as you or a loved one transitions through the continuum of care and into the home or community after a cardiac or stroke event.
Key guidance from our speakers
Key advice from Jim and Sherry
- Ensure you maintain your regularly scheduled calls with your doctor and have the necessary information ready as requested by your doctor
- Safety first
- Take this time to slow down and look after yourself
- Ask for help- Either from family or an online community (H&S link)
- Always advocate for yourself- you are likely not the only person struggling so advocate for a better system
- Be patient with yourself, your therapy team and your technology; this is a new way of navigating for most. Do not be afraid to ask questions.
Guidance from a family physician during COVID-19
- Family physicians have adopted virtual care for visiting with patients- this involves video and phone calls, pictures, and email
- Virtual care is being used to help screen patients with viral symptoms who are worried about COVID-19 and to provide advice for the management of symptoms for patients suspected of having COVID-19
- Virtual care is also being used for: acute care conditions, chronic medical conditions, and mental health conditions
- Family physicians are still seeing patients both virtually and in office with safe protocols in place to minimize risk – Do not hesitate to schedule an appointment
- Emergency rooms are seeing patients – Do not hesitate to seek help
Brenda highlights some changes you may experience after a stroke and some tips for coping with these changes
- Physical changes – such as balance, pain, changes in vision and swallowing
- Emotional changes like feeling more depressed
- Perceptual changes – you may have difficulty making sense of what you are seeing and feeling around you and your concept of time may be change (i.e how much time has passed)
- Cognitive changes – Difficulty with memory, attention span, and thinking skills
Final Tips
- Sleep is very important- listen to your body and practice relaxation techniques before bed such as deep breathing
- Conserving energy
• Plan – do the things you need to do when you have the most energy
• Pace – take breaks/rest before getting tired
• Position – your body safely (e.g. sit to do meal preparation, use a higher toilet seat)
- Prioritize – set goals/write things down
- Re-establish routines and habits and something that brings you joy everyday