Are Elective Medical Procedures for Seniors Safe Now?

The COVID-19 pandemic has put many scheduled events on pause, including elective medical procedures for seniors. As a matter of fact, approximately half of all adults either canceled or postponed routine medical care and elective treatments since the coronavirus crisis began, leading medical professionals to become concerned about the effects.

Even as we tentatively aim for a new normal, it is important to consult with your doctor about any procedures you may have been considering pre-pandemic, and to get answers to these particular questions so that you can gauge the safety of following through with those procedures now.

1. Is the medical facility where I’ll be taken care of also treating COVID-19 patients, and are the same medical professionals who will care for me also caring for the COVID-19 patients? If so, what precautions are in place to guarantee my safety?
2. What are the facility’s cleaning/disinfecting protocols?
3. Will I need to be tested for COVID-19 before my appointment?
4. Are medical employees being tested for COVID-19? If that’s the case, how frequently?
5. Do I need to wear a mask? Gloves? Any other personal protective equipment?
6. Are there any items which are restricted from being brought with me, for example, books, clothing, a phone or laptop?
7. May I complete paperwork beforehand?
8. May I wait outside or in my car until I’m called in for my procedure?
9. Can a relative or caregiver come with me?
10. Is follow-up provided in person, or am I able to utilize telehealth?

Additionally, there are post-procedure considerations to think through. Many individuals face concerns with regards to the possibility of contracting COVID-19 after being in the hospital, so get in touch with your doctor about the need to self-monitor for symptoms, as well as tips about any extra precautions you might need to take, such as avoiding contact with other people for a certain amount of time, wearing a mask or gloves in the house when others are there, additional sanitizing measures to take, etc. Your health care provider may suggest taking your temperature and oxygen levels in the home. If that’s the case, make certain to obtain a thermometer and pulse oximeter.

As soon as you’re comfortable with the answers you have obtained together with the assurance that the procedure is safe to schedule, connect with Home Sweet Home to learn more about our Portage in home care services and the surrounding Michigan communities that we serve. Our transitional care services can help make sure that things are taken care of before, during, and after your procedure, including transportation, picking up prescriptions and groceries, helping you get settled in back at your home and monitoring for any variations in condition, and so much more. Contact us any time at (269) 373-5444 in Kalamazoo, (269) 763-5350 in Paw Paw, (269) 849-9252 in St. Joseph, or (269) 963-9888 in Battle Creek. For a full list of the communities we serve, please visit our Locations page.