For most of us, having to wear a face mask regularly is new. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, experts recommend that people wear face masks when they are in situations where social distancing from people they don’t live with may be an issue, such as in the grocery store. Though you may know that you and your older family member should be wearing face masks in public, there is probably a lot you don’t know about the dos and don’ts of face masks. Below is some information you may not know but should.
Masks Should Be Washed Each Time They Are Worn
This may be a tip you don’t want to hear because it’s rather inconvenient, but the truth about face masks is that they should be washed each time they are worn. Every time your older family member goes out of the house wearing their mask, when they return it needs to be washed. That’s because they may have come in contact with the virus, which could later be transferred to the senior if the mask isn’t washed. Masks can be washed by hand immediately using hot water and soap. Or, they could be placed in a laundry hamper to be put in the washing machine later. Either way, they shouldn’t be worn again until they’ve been washed.
Senior care providers can assist with washing masks and making certain your older family member puts a clean one on each time they leave the house.
Cotton is the Best Fabric for a Homemade Mask
Many people are making their own masks at home. If you’d like to make masks for your older family member but aren’t sure what to use, experts say that cotton is the best fabric choice. However, you’ll need more than one layer to protect them. A filter isn’t necessary, though, because the purpose of the mask isn’t to protect the person wearing it, but to protect others from respiratory droplets coming from the person wearing the mask. There are many patterns available online for making masks.
Putting a mask on properly can be difficult for some older adults. A senior care provider can help your aging relative to correctly put on their mask, looping the elastic around their ears or tying the strings behind their head.
Even Healthy People Should Wear Masks
Some people believe that a mask isn’t necessary if they are feeling well. Perhaps your older family member is one of those people. What they need to understand is that doctors believe people who are carrying the coronavirus but aren’t experiencing symptoms yet may be able to transfer the virus to others. So, wearing a mask is the responsible thing to do even when the older adult feels well.
A senior care provider can remind your aging relative to wear a mask when they go out regardless of how they are feeling.
If you or an aging loved one needs Senior Care in Roseville, CA, remember Senior Home Care Services. Call us at (916) 514-7006 for more information.
Sources
https://blogs.webmd.com/public-health/20200612/how-often-should-i-wash-my-face-mask
https://blogs.webmd.com/public-health/20200608/what-fabric-is-best-for-a-mask
https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2020/face-mask-myths.html
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