Safety Tips for Everyone to Follow

Noon, Saturday, March 28, 2020 

JAA has put this list of safety tips together for our staff and tenants within our service areas.  Everyone who is protecting themselves from the coronavirus, especially those aged 65 and older, is encouraged to follow these important precautions.

TIPS FOR STAYING SAFE AND HEALTHY

As we continue to navigate the unchartered waters of the coronavirus/COVID-19, your friends and neighbors at JAA remind you of some specific things you can do to help promote your own health and safety:

  • First and foremost, protect yourself.  Our senior population is the most prone to catching the virus, and, since seniors are the most vulnerable to its effect, health and well-being need to be everyone’s first priority.
  • Wash hands frequently using soap and water for at least 20 seconds, cleansing all parts of your hand, including under your finger nails.   If soap and water is not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Avoid touching your face: particularly your eyes, nose and mouth.  If you do need to touch your face, wash your hands before and after.
  • If you are a contact lens wearer or you use eye drops, you should wash your hands before putting your contacts or eye drops in and immediately after; the same holds true when taking your contacts out, wash hands before and after removal.
  • Please, DO NOT share food with others.
  • Keep your counter tops, hard surfaces, and other high touch areas such as doorknobs, light switches, and walkers clean and disinfected. Be aware of the surfaces you touch and wash your hands after contact with these and other high-touch surfaces.
  • Frequently clean your toilet.
  • Avoid being in public settings. If absolutely necessary and you are in a public setting such as a grocery store, call in advance or check online to learn time of the day that the volume of people may be at its lowest. Some stores are offering senior hours.
  • If you must take public transportation, maintain social distancing (at least six feet) as much as you possibly can.
  • To avoid any possible exposure to the virus, and whenever possible, restrict all visitors, including family members, from coming into your home. 
  • Please, DO NOT permit visitors who have a cough, fever or difficulty breathing or someone that has traveled either internationally or domestically (especially if they have been on a plane) to enter your home.
  • IMMEDIATELY contact your physician if you experience a cough, fever or difficulty breathing.   Do not go to the doctor’s office, emergency department, or Urgent-Care Center unless your doctor directs you to do so. If you are truly experiencing an emergency, such as respiratory distress or chest pain,     CALL 9-1-1.

If you have any additional questions, please feel free to reach out to our JAA family and caregiver hotline at   412-521-5675.