COVID-19: Resources for seniors and their caregivers

Ready for your COVID-19 vaccination?

While COVID-19 can make anyone sick, people who are older are at a higher risk of developing serious complications. Use the following resources to learn how you can prevent COVID-19 and find tips on taking care of your physical and mental health.

Lower your chance of getting sick

If you're at high risk for serious illness from COVID-19, it's important to take actions to lower your chance of getting sick.

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the washroom and when preparing food.
Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol if soap and water aren't available.
- Always keep some with you when outside of your home.
Avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes.
Stay home if you are sick.
Practise physical distancing.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Avoid crowds and large gatherings.

If you can't maintain a distance of at least 2 metres from others, take the following measures:

keep interactions brief
wear a non-medical mask or face covering
give a friendly wave instead of a handshake, kiss or hug

Find COVID-19 information and resources specific to your province or territory.

Get the COVID-19 vaccination

You may be eligible for priority vaccination. Find out if you can get vaccinated first, and access provincial and territorial information on vaccines.

What to do if you develop symptoms of COVID-19

If you develop COVID-19 symptoms, stay home and reduce your contact with others:

Isolate yourself at home for 14 days to avoid spreading it to others.
- If you live with others, stay in a separate room or keep a 2-metre distance.
Wear a medical mask (if not available, wear a non-medical mask or cloth face covering) if you'll be:
- in close contact with others
- going out to access medical care
Call your health care provider or local public health authority, and tell them about your symptoms, then follow their instructions.

If you develop the symptoms listed below, call 9-1-1 and inform them that you may have COVID-19. The following symptoms should be considered urgent:

difficulty breathing, such as not being able to catch your breath
chest pain or pressure
confusion or difficulty waking up

Similarities to the flu

COVID-19 and the flu can have similar symptoms. If you start to develop symptoms, follow the same precautions taken for COVID-19.

Adults over the age of 65 are at a higher risk of flu-related complications. Getting your annual flu shot is the most effective way to help protect yourself and others against seasonal flu. The flu shot will help:

prevent the flu and flu-related complications
reduce stress on the health care system during the COVID-19 pandemic

You can also protect yourself and those around you from the flu and COVID-19 by following public health measures.

Take care of your mental and physical health

This can be a challenging time for many reasons.

It's important to take care of your mental and physical health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 protection measures may increase feelings of social isolation, but you're not alone. Ask for help if you need it. Stay engaged with your community. If you need someone to talk to in confidence, reach out to:

Wellness Together Canada: Mental health and substance use support
Crisis Services Canada: Resources and supports
Canadian Coalition for Seniors' mental health COVID-19 resources
National Initiative for the Care of the Elderly
Canadian Mental Health Association
Fountain of Health for Optimal Aging
Canadian Frailty Network: Tips to avoid social isolation
- For older adults with technology (PDF)
- For older adults without technology (PDF)

Health tips for older adults

Financial support

We're supporting older Canadians financially by:

reducing minimum withdrawals for Registered Retirement Income Funds
supporting community services and supports, such as the delivery of items and personal outreach through United Way Canada and other organizations
providing a one-time tax-free payment to help seniors cover increased costs caused by COVID-19
temporarily extending the Guaranteed Income Supplement and allowance payments

If you've stopped working because of COVID-19 and earn more than $5,000 annually, you're eligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit. It pays $2,000 each month for up to 4 months. You can earn up to $1,000 each month while collecting the benefit, but this doesn't count payments for:

Old Age Security (OAS)
the Canada Pension Plan (CPP)
the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)

Your public pensions don't change your eligibility.

If you receive Canada Pension Plan Disability (CPPD), you may be eligible for other provincial or territorial support, including COVID-19 emergency benefits.

Protect yourself from fraud and elder abuse

Events like COVID-19 can increase the risk of fraud and elder abuse.

Learn how to protect yourself from fraud:

If you're experiencing elder abuse or neglect, seek help at a time and place that's safe for you. For more information, including where to find help, visit the Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse.

For older Indigenous adults

Indigenous elders provide guidance in communities. It's important that elders remain connected to others during this pandemic while being supported and protected from the spread of COVID-19.

The following resources have been created to support your mental and physical needs.

General resources

First Nations resources

Assembly of First Nations and COVID 19
- includes tips and considerations around mental wellness
First Peoples Wellness Circle: Printable information sheets for COVID-19
- resources for a variety of audiences that address healing, wellness and other mental health challenges
Thunderbird Partnership Foundation: COVID-19 resources
- resources include several specific to substance use and have been developed using the Honouring Our Strengths document as a framework
First Nations Health Managers Association: Online town hall
- weekly town halls to discuss topics like how COVID-19 is affecting health managers, frontline health workers and First Nations communities
National Association of Friendship Centres: Resource list
- Indigenous resources from trusted sources
Native Women's Association of Canada and COVID-19
- information to help connect people with their elders

Inuit resources

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and COVID-19
- includes a list of supports for urban Inuit

Métis resources

Métis National Council and COVID-19
- resources and messages covering aspects of being prepared and responding to the pandemic

For veterans

Learn more about COVID-19 information and assistance for veterans.

For caregivers

Providing care to an older adult at home during COVID-19

If you live with an older adult, or provide care in their home:

wash your hands often
adhere to respiratory hygiene by covering sneezes and coughs with your sleeve or a clean tissue

Learn more about home caregiving:

Providing care to an older adult in a health or community setting during COVID-19

If you work with older adults in a health or community setting:

wash your hands often
adhere to respiratory hygiene by covering sneezes and coughs with your sleeve or a clean tissue

You can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 by providing clear instructions about how to wash hands and cover coughs.

Post signs in commonly used areas, such as entrances, intake areas, restrooms, recreation areas and waiting rooms. When providing written instructions, use:

common language
short messages
large font and graphics
accessible instructions, such as braille or photos

If an older adult is showing symptoms of COVID-19, contact your local public health authority. People showing symptoms of COVID-19 should reduce their contact with others by:

isolating themselves for 14 days or
staying in a separate room or keeping a 2-metre distance if they live with others

Learn more about caregiving in long-term care homes:

Community support

We're working with organizations and partners to provide immediate and essential services to seniors during COVID-19. Learn more about what we're doing through the New Horizons for Seniors Program.

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