It has been a weird couple of years, so let’s take a moment to review safe driving tips for older adults, to revisit some issues you might face when traveling with senior loved ones, and to consider ways that travel — and local rules in areas you may be traveling to — might have changed in the wake of COVID-19.

Before you get together with friends and family later this month, there’s one thing you should take care of right now — get your annual flu shot. Then while you’re at it, make sure that your older loved ones and family members with health issues have gotten theirs as well.

How do you want to be treated when you are facing the end of your life? What is important to you? If you aren’t able to speak for yourself, what do you want the people making decisions for you to know? Do you have someone you trust to make those decisions — and is there someone who trusts you in the same way?

Recreational activities, familiar hobbies, work-related pursuits, involvement in daily tasks and social interaction can help people living with Alzheimer's remain engaged and content, reducing agitation and potentially dangerous wandering behavior.

One downside to our senior friends and loved ones spending so much time alone this year is that quality of life can really take a turn. Here’s a helpful list of strategies to maintaining healthy memories and active minds. And, the best part, all of these activities can be done safely at home.

Whether you’re able to see your aging loved ones in person or on video call, please review these warning signs to keep a lookout for. While we’ve kept our senior friends safe from COVID-19 through social distancing, the isolation is really taking its toll. This checklist will help you easily determine if your loved one could use some help – and companionship. If you’re visiting by video, see if your loved one can safely show you around their home to check for some of these signs.

Sure, we’re all tired of social distancing. This is not the world any of us intended to be living in. But to stay safe, we need to keep that social distancing thing going at least a little longer — especially for our vulnerable senior loved ones.

In response to the coronavirus disease pandemic, we are now purposefully distancing seniors from their friends, family and others meaningful to them in order to keep them safe. This is an important health measure for our vulnerable senior population, and we stand behind it 100%.

But we are also concerned about the effects such physical isolation may have on our older loved ones. According to the National Institute on Aging (a division of the National Institutes of Health) research has linked social isolation to higher risks for a variety of physical and mental conditions. These conditions include obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, anxiety, depression, cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease. They also include a weakened immune system — exactly the opposite of what our seniors need to protect themselves in the current crisis.

During this confusing and stressful time, we are here to help.

White House instructions and guidelines on slowing coronavirus (COVID-19).

As the coronavirus (COVID-19) spreads, Overture Home Care continues to care for the most vulnerable population - the elderly with underlying health issues. The unique nature of home care means that seniors can remain in the safest place for them: their homes.

We know that you are concerned about coronavirus. As compassionate caregivers for the seniors who could be most at risk, we are concerned, too.

Here is the latest information that we have to share with you.