Over 87.4 million cases of COVID have been reported in the U.S. Some of the people who get COVID find it returns or doesn’t go away as quickly as it does for others. This is known as long COVID. Symptoms of long COVID include:

• Breathing difficulties
• Confusion/”brain fog”
• Cough
• Depression
• Fever
• Lack of energy
• Loss of taste or smell

There are also people who still haven’t had COVID. Some are getting it even after vaccinations and boosters. Your mom has COVID and isn’t sure what to do next. You live too far away from her to help, but you don’t want her to be alone either.

Have Tests at Home

The government has given out COVID tests for free. If your mom has them, she should take tests to check if the virus is still present. She needs to self-isolate as much as she can until she’s better. If she doesn’t have any, go online and request them.

If she doesn’t have tests, purchase some at a store for now. It doesn’t take too long for the ones you get free to arrive in the mail.

Talk to Her Doctor

If she knows she has COVID, the most important first step is to talk to her doctor. There are medications that could be helpful. It comes down to how severe her symptoms are. If she’s finding it hard to breathe, her doctor may recommend having skilled nursing care at home.

It’s likely that she’ll need to have her vitals checked. Skilled nurses come to her home and can check her vitals. Her nurse can check her oxygen saturation rates and make sure she’s getting enough oxygen. If she isn’t, it may be advised that she goes to the hospital or uses oxygen at home until she’s better.

Her nurse can check her pulse and blood pressure. The nurse can monitor her for complications with breathing. If she’s having a hard time eating foods because she can’t taste or smell anything, her nurse can talk to the doctor and administer fluids that keep her sugar, sodium, potassium, and other important minerals from depleting to unsafe levels.

Your mom may still end up with COVID or long COVID, even if she’s been vaccinated. It’s hard to tell how quickly she’ll recover, or if she’s in it for the long haul. Make sure her health is supported. Talk to her doctor about the skilled nursing care she needs to recover at home.

If she’s going to need IV fluids, a skilled nurse can help set up IV lines and administer fluids or medications through the IV.

Once you have an idea of how much care she needs, call a skilled nursing agency. An expert in skilled nursing care can walk you through the options and prices and help you get started.

If you or an aging loved-one is considering skilled nursing care at home in Potomac, MD, please contact the caring staff at Care At Home today. 301-970-9706

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Ann Smith RN

Owner at Care at Home

Ann Smith, RN, Realtor® Your local Home care and Home transition expert Ann is a Registered Nurse and a Realtor with a passion and dedication to serving her community. She has over twenty years of nursing experience in pediatric, geriatric, home health care, and care management. She founded Care at Home, a home care company, to provide seniors with services that promote independence and safe aging in place. Ann is dedicated to helping seniors achieve stress-free retirement living by providing comprehensive services from health to home. Ann's mother instilled in her the value of hard work, dedication, and service to others at a young age, which is now a driving force in her home care agency. Her caring and compassionate work with seniors began when she was just 17 years old. She was offered a job as a caregiver. Just as quickly, she instinctively knew that this would be her life's work. She soon became a nurse and has since helped many older adults transition seamlessly into a new phase of life. While helping seniors and individuals with their home care needs, it became apparent that part of the transition process often involved selling their current home for more suitable living arrangements. That's when Ann decided to add real estate services to alleviate stress and enhance her client's experience. It's also how she became known as the Home Transition Agent. Today, Ann helps her mature clients achieve stress-free retirement living by providing in-home care and comprehensive services from health to home. Ann's love for children and dedication to helping families caring for children with chronic health conditions inspired Pediatric Care at Home, a division of Care at Home that provides pediatric nursing care. Ann and her team are dedicated to providing compassionate care to all, from infants to older adults. When Ann isn't busy helping her patients and clients, she volunteers her time at women's shelters and fostering dogs. She and her veteran husband enjoy a simple life in the countryside, where farm animals and country life surround them. Ann also enjoys reading, photography, gardening, and nature walk with their dogs.

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