- Senior Care, Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThe number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases is growing daily in the U.S., and these are extraordinary times for all of us. Over the last few weeks, we’ve all heard how important it is to work together to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Gov. Larry Hogan has banned public gatherings of 10 people or more people, and ordered shopping malls, restaurants and all non-essential businesses to close. This means a drastic change in lifestyle for many people, and some may question whether these extreme measures are necessary – particularly older people who have survived difficult times, including illnesses, in the past. If you have a parent or a grandparent who is questioning these mandates, here’s what to tell them. Explain the risks associated with coronavirus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions might be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Some of those underlying health conditions include heart conditions, high blood pressure, lung disease and diabetes. If you are in this high-risk group, the CDC recommends stocking up on supplies, including medications. Remind parents and grandparents to practice social distancing by keeping at least six feet away from others, and avoiding crowds. People of all ages should wash their hands often and watch out for symptoms, including fever, cough and shortness of breath. READ MORE: Coronavirus and high-risk individuals Remind them that staying home is about protecting other people as much as it is about protecting themselves. Let older family members know that even if they catch the virus and recover quickly, they could still spread it to others who may not be as lucky and become very ill. Social distancing is meant to protect everyone in your community. Offer to help set up food deliveries and other services to make their lives easier and safer. Many grocery stores and pharmacies offer delivery services. CVS Pharmacy has even waived delivery fees due to the pandemic. Many restaurants that have closed are also offering delivery and takeout services, and apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats make home delivery easier than ever. Some restaurants are offering free delivery, too. If you have family members who are missing their favorite restaurant meals, let them know that they can still “dine out” in the comfort of their own home. Remind your loved ones of these services and help them take advantage of them. Let them know you’re only a phone call away. Staying homebound for days or weeks can be difficult for people of any age. Parents and grandparents with active social lives may have an especially hard time staying in their homes. This is why it’s important to reach out to them and let them know you’re thinking of them. Give them a call and chat with them about their worries and concerns. And think about virtual visits, too. See if you can FaceTime, Zoom or Skype older members of your family so you can interact “in person.” Walk them through how to use this technology if they are unfamiliar with it. This new way of life is challenging for everyone, and we don’t know how long it is going to last. But if we remain patient and support each other, we will get through this together. Author Lil Banchero is the senior director of AAMC’s Institute for Healthy Aging.0
- Community, Giving, Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogLast updated at 8:00 am Monday, June 8, 2020. Thank you for caring for our employees and patients during the coronavirus (COVID-19) health crisis. We appreciate your generosity more than you know. The outpouring of donations from our friends and neighbors is a boost to our spirits. We have moved our collection site but we are still accepting donations. You can drop off items to our North Pavilion information desk and leave in the bins there. In addition to following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidance for social distancing and staying home as much as possible, here are three things you can do right now to help: Donate protective equipment. Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) is accepting donations of personal protective equipment (PPE). If you or your company have a supply of masks or any of the other essential medical supplies listed below, please donate them to help protect our healthcare workers. N95 masks, all sizes Isolation gowns and surgical caps. Learn how to make handsewn gowns and surgical caps here. Avagard or a product with greater than 60 percent alcohol content Face shields with masks Yellow procedure masks Protective eyewear Oxivir wipes Please deliver donations to the North Tower reception desk, located at Hospital Pavilion North, 2001 Medical Parkway, Annapolis, MD, 21401. You can leave your items in the bins next to the information desk. We sincerely appreciate your help as we work together to care for our community. If you have questions or would like a tax-deductible receipt, please email us. Make a CDC-compliant mask. Many members of our community have reached out and asked if they can help us by making masks. Yes, we can use CDC-compliant masks for those in health care spaces who are not taking care of patients yet need extra protection, as well as for our patients. This will allow the professional protective gear to be used exclusively for health care professionals who are at higher risk of exposure. Learn how to make a face mask here. “At a time of a national shortage of masks we appreciate the community’s willingness and eagerness to do this,” says Barbara Jacobs, RN, chief nursing officer at AAMC. “This will allow us to accumulate masks that can be used if supply issues continue, particularly for our patients.” We will sanitize all delivered masks. Please deliver these items to the North Tower reception desk, located at Hospital Pavilion North, 2001 Medical Parkway, Annapolis, MD, 21401. You can leave your items in the bins next to the information desk. Give blood. We encourage healthy individuals to schedule an appointment to help meet the blood supply need in our community. Call 443-481-4215 to schedule a time to donate. READ MORE: Blood donations and coronavirus: How we’re keeping our community safe The Blood Donor Center is located inside AAMC’s Wayson Pavilion, Suite 450. Donation times are Monday through Wednesday from 8:15 am to 3:45 pm and Thursday and Friday from 7:15 am to 2:45 pm. Thank you for supporting our incredible heroes on the frontlines as we work together to care for our community during this unprecedented time. We appreciate the many who have asked about donating food. If you are interested in donating meals to our frontline health care workers, please email [email protected] to learn more about how you can help to keep our staff fed during the COVID-19 pandemic. We want to keep our limited resources focused on the gathering of PPE supplies for our health care workers and homemade masks for those not in direct patient care, as well as encouraging people to donate blood. These are critical to the health of our staff and patients. We will keep you informed if things change. If you are interested in further supporting the important efforts of our caregivers and staff who are working tirelessly to care for our community, we would be grateful for any and all financial donations for our Community Response Fund – every dollar truly makes a difference. You have a critical role as we Stay Healthier Together.0
- Community, Giving, Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogHere’s how to make a CDC-compliant homemade face mask. Supplies Needed Cotton fabric. A tightly woven cotton for the front layer and preferably a softer cotton (such as flannel) for the back layer. Rope elastic. Beading cord elastic will work too. You may also use 1/8 inches flat elastic. Instructions (duration: 15-20 minutes) Cut the fabric 9-by-6 inches for an adult mask or 7.5-5 inches for a child mask. Place any fabric design horizontally. Cut the elastic 7 inches long and tie a knot at each end (do not knot the ends of the flat). Put right sides of the fabric together. Starting at the center of the bottom edge, sew to the first corner and stop. Sew the elastic with the edge out into the corner. A few stitches forward and back will hold this. Sew to the next corner, stop and bring the other end of the same elastic to the corner and sew a few stitches forward and back. Sew across that top of the mask to the next corner. Again, put an elastic with the edge out. Sew to the next corner and sew in the other end of the same elastic. Sew across the bottom leaving about 1.5 inches to 2 inches open. Stop, cut the thread. Turn inside out. Pin three tucks on each side of the mask. Make sure the tucks are in the same direction. Sew around the edge of the mask twice. When masks are completed, please drop them off curbside to Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) on Wednesday or Friday from 10 am to noon at AAMC’s Belcher Pavilion Circle, located at 2000 Medical Parkway, Annapolis, MD, 21401. Adapted from instructions by Deaconess Hospital.0
- Community, News & Press Releases, Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3Blog[Information updated February 10, 2022] Having a strong blood supply is more important than ever, especially as we continue to monitor the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center’s (LHAAMC) Blood Donor Center is taking these steps for the health and safety of our community: We are practicing social distancing by keeping blood donors separate. We are also keeping a safe distance between blood donors and technicians. This includes decreasing the number of donations happening at the same time on our bloodmobile. Our donor interview process identifies healthy blood donors. We added several screening questions that are specific to coronavirus to our donor interview process. We also added a two-question telephone pre-screen for potential donors. This will disqualify anyone with symptoms or possible coronavirus exposure. There is no evidence that coronavirus can be transmitted through a blood transfusion. For more details, you can check out the AABB (formerly known as the American Association of Blood Banks). Additionally, we’d like to help make it clear that people who have had COVID and are fully recovered can donate blood. Per the Food and Drug Administration guidelines, individuals are eligible to donate blood 10 days after complete resolution of symptoms. Our mission is to enhance the health of the people and communities we serve and we ask for help in this endeavor. Every year, LHAAMC’s blood bank helps around 3,000 people heal from medical conditions and surgical procedures. Patients with cancer and other serious illnesses need transfusion support. And having a strong blood supply could save their lives. Healthy individuals should schedule an appointment to donate for those in need. The Blood Donor Center is located inside LHAAMC’s Wayson Pavilion, suite 450. Donation times are Monday through Wednesday from 8:15 am – 3:45 pm and Thursday and Friday from 7:15 am – 2:45 pm. You can call 443-481-4215 to schedule a time to donate. If you’re interested in hosting a blood drive, please contact the mobile coordinator at the LHAAMC Blood Donor Center at 443-481-4272 or [email protected]. Check out our donor center web page for more information and to see upcoming blood drives. Thank you for your support in keeping our community healthy!0
- Community, Pediatrics, Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogIt’s reasonable for your child to feel anxious, stressed or sad about what’s happening around them. Their daily routine is being interrupted and it might be difficult for your child to understand what they’re seeing online, on TV or hearing from those around them. Times like this call for having open, supportive discussions that can help them understand, digest and cope. Ask open-ended questions and listen carefully. Start by letting them know you’re willing to talk about the issue and find out what’s on their mind. Allow your child to talk freely in a safe, non-judgmental environment. Remember, don’t underestimate their concerns or worries. Acknowledge their feelings and let them know it’s normal to feel scared. Show that you’re listening by giving them your full attention. Remind them that they can talk to you any time they need to. Tell them the truth in a way they can understand. Share with your child information that is truthful and appropriate for their age. Let your child know that some information online isn’t accurate and some stories are only based on rumors. If there are questions to which you don’t know the answer, try researching the answer together from reliable sources, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization (WHO). Show them how they can best protect themselves and their friends. One of the best ways to keep your child safe is by encouraging them to wash their hands regularly. Try using this WHO guide to clean hands or dance while lathering upto make learning fun. Remain calm and give them reassurance. Children will react to what you say and how you say it, whether you’re having a conversation directly with them or others. When a child sees certain images on TV or online, it can sometimes feel like the crisis is all around us at all times. This can make it hard for your child to distinguish between images on screen and their own reality. You can help your child cope with the stress by carving out time for them to play and relax. Keep regular routines and adhere to schedules as much as possible. Let them know that there are many people working hard to keep everyone safe. Help them look for the good. Let your child know there are scientists, doctors, health workers and many others who are working tirelessly to keep everyone safe. Let them know you’re there for them. Don’t leave your child in a state of worry. Try to watch their body language by measuring their tone of voice and watching their breathing. Remind your child that you’re there for them and available whenever they have concerns. Author Jennifer Evans is a mental health clinician with Anne Arundel Medical Center’s (AAMC) Psychiatric Day Hospital.0
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