Staying Safe—When It’s Safe Again
Most of us are champing at the bit to get back to normal life. And there’s reason to be hopeful that we are indeed getting there. But normal will need to look a little different, possibly for the foreseeable future. Keep the following tips in mind as we dip our toes in the post-pandemic waters.
1. We’re not out of the woods yet.
Medical experts expect it will take some time before enough people are vaccinated for our communities to be safe—even then, it’s not certain how long that immunity will last.
2. It’s been more than a year since the pandemic began and there may have been changes to your health.
Take these into account before picking up where you left off:
- Are you due for your annual health exam or any preventive tests or care? Your doctor and other healthcare providers have precautions in place to keep you safe for in-person visits. Schedule your appointments soon rather than waiting; slots will fill up quickly as they open up.
- If you’ve changed the type or amount of exercise you’re doing, check with your doctor to make sure it’s safe to go back to your old routine. Then, gradually work your way back to the intensity and length of your pre-pandemic workouts. (If you’re one of those who actually got more fit during the pandemic—keep it up!)
- Schedule your annual eye appointment to see if your vision has changed. If it has, update your glasses or contacts with the new prescription to prevent falls and other problems.
3. Virtual healthcare is here to stay.
Even as more in-person appointments become available, virtual healthcare will likely continue to be a popular option as many of us have come to appreciate the convenience of going online. And not just for medical appointments. SCAN members can get a mental workout through BrainHQ (scan.brainhq.com) or use their SCAN online member account to take care of practical things (like changing to a new doctor) and find fun ways to get healthier (with the Rally wellness program).
For now, however, keep wearing those masks and social distance in public places. Wash your hands and use hand sanitizer often. These steps will keep us healthy in many ways, including helping to avoid colds and flu, so there’s no reason to stop them anytime soon—and many reasons to continue.
Doing Our Part – SCAN has been working hard to stay on top of the rapidly changing nature of the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out so that we could in turn keep members informed about when, how and where to get their shots. We’ve sent letters and emails to members and held Straight TeleTalks. As things change, we’re keeping our Member Services team and website updated to help members understand their next steps. Many of SCAN’s medical directors and nurses have been volunteering on weekends at community vaccination events. And our Senior Advocates are happy to share their vaccination photos to encourage others to follow their lead. Shown here are Senior Advocate Maxine Marcus and husband, Alan.
