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In This Episode:
Dr. K shares the coronavirus (COVID19) information and recommendations she presented on 7/16/20 to members of the Helping Older Parents Membership.
She covers:
- The coronavirus situation today
- Are we better at preventing COVID?
- Are we better at treating COVID?
- Current COVID treatments available in the hospital
- Dr. K’s take on hospitalization for frail older adults with COVID
- Useful resources and her recommendations for this summer
Related Resources:
- Uptodate.com COVID-19 Resources & Tools (Coronavirus Resources)
- What is a pulse oximeter
- Center to Advance Palliative Care COVID Response Resources – see info in the symptom management section.
- TheConversationProject.org:
- PrepareForYourCare.org
- POLST.org
- Learn how POLST helps frail and seriously ill adults get better care, and find out what is available for your state.
- Institute on Aging Friendship Line
- This free service provides trained volunteers to talk to older adults who are lonely or depressed; they are also qualified as a crisis line for anyone contemplating harming themselves.
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Janet Weiss MD says
Nice job overall with excellent suggestions for future planning and providing resources.
I heard in the beginning of your presentation that you had high hopes that a vaccine will end this pandemic. Do you know what is the likely efficacy of these vaccines? (Hint – in a GOOD year when the vaccine manufacturers “guess right” on the prevalent strains of influenza 40-45% is considering excellent. Given that we are already aware that neutralizing antibodies are very short lived and that elderly immune systems are less efficient at mounting an immune response than younger people, it is rather doubtful that a vaccine is going to be the best response to this pandemic.
Other preventive strategies and pharmaceutical agents that reduce the severity of disease in older adults also need to be part of the strategy, although they are not high on the President’s political agenda. If we can create and stockpile these drugs (most likely antivirals and antibody cocktails) these will be of most benefit to seniors and those with immunocompromised.
Nicole Didyk, MD says
Thanks for your feedback on behalf of Dr. Kernisan.
I agree, a multi-pronged approach is most likely to be the most effective. I, for one, am hoping that the increased awareness about viral transmission could have a more longstanding effect on individuals, and increased hand washing will be a new habit!
Valerie Lapin says
Unable to open to get information.
Nicole Didyk, MD says
Sorry that you had a technical difficulty, which link were you trying to open?