Our Reaction to COVID-19

To start, let’s talk about our reaction to COVID-19…

We are still open and providing care to our patients, and will continue taking new referrals. However, with that being said we are trying to do our part to combat the spread of this virus. We want to keep our team healthy, our patients healthy, and our communities healthy. So, we are doing as many visits as possible through our virtual/audio so if that is the case for you, we will do what we can to make arrangements and accommodations.

We appreciate your patience during this time as we navigate this right along with you, and know it won’t be forever. We will go back to seeing our patients in their homes/nursing facilities/assisted living facilities/our office locations, etc, as soon as it is safe to do so.

If you have questions please reach out to us by calling 307.630.4729 if you’re in Wyoming, and 970.888.4070 if you’re in Colorado. You can also reach us at info@livhealth.org or on any of our social media.

How to PHYSICALLY PREPARE FOR COVID-19?

The World Health Organization says to “do the five” to help stop the spread of this virus.

1. Wash your hands, and wash them often! Not only washing your hands but make sure to wash them with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If you have young kids sing the happy birthday song with them…happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear kiddos, happy birthday to you. Another suggestion we’ve seen is drawing a star, with a pen, on their palm…when the star is gone, they are good to go!
2. Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue if you have one handy. Make sure to immediately throw the tissue in the trash, then wash your hands.
3. Don’t touch your face…that one is pretty self-explanatory
4. Stay more than 3 feet apart from anyone. We will talk more about social distancing and how to mentally prepare for that in a minute.
5. If you feel sick, please, please, please stay home.

To learn more from the World Health Organization and/or the CDC, click below

How to mentally prepare for social distancing?

We totally understand that people are feeling increased anxieties and depression during this time, and hey we are feeling it too, you are not alone! Here are some things you can do to help prepare for social distancing…

1. Focus on the positives. Focus on the things you can do, instead of the things you cant. I feel like this is the universes way of tellings…well making…us slow down. Our world moves so fast, all the time, that we don’t have the time to truly spend with family, or doing things we enjoy…well now is that time!
   1. Focus on family time
   2. Do a craft you haven’t had the time to do
   3. Read that book you’ve been meaning to read
   4. Organize the pantry that your kids have destroyed
   5. Spring clean and disinfect
   6. Cook a recipe you’ve been wanting to try
   7. Bake with your kids
   8. Go outside
   9. Move your body
2. Take social media/news breaks. We’re not suggesting for you to completely stop watching the news or getting on social media, but if you’re noticing increased anxiety while watching or scrolling, maybe limit your time, or take a break!
3. It’s temporary. Remember this won’t last forever, and we will be back to regular/normal life before we know it!

We also understand that there are people who have to go out, who have to go to work, who are struggling to find supplies they need or food to eat. To those who still have to work, thank you for what you do, and we appreciate you. For those who need supplies or food, reach out to us. Schools, shelters, and churches are other great resources as well. We have had so many people reach out to us offering to help in any way they can, and it’s a really amazing thing to see our communities coming together, which is one of the biggest blessings in this mess!

For those who are experiencing an overwhelming amount of anxiety, depression, grief, etc, our therapy team is standing by to help! All we need from you is our referral form filled out. And, no it doesn’t have to be completed by a doctor, you can fill it out yourself!

How to stay busy…

It can be hard to stay busy, especially if you’re not working, you’re stuck inside all day, or you don’t have kids at home to entertain, but here are some suggestions.

1. Set a routine. Get up, get ready for the day, and set a routine for yourself to keep some sense of normalcy
2. Do the activities you enjoy. Haven’t had time to work on that quilt you’ve been wanting to sew, now is a great time. Haven’t had time to read that book that’s been sitting on your nightstand for weeks? Now is the time. Haven’t had time to play that game you’re kids have been begging to play. Now you have time!
3. Call or facetime a friend or grandparent. This time can be especially hard for the elderly as they are more at risk. So take some time to call and say hey, or send a care package. Another great idea, especially if you have kids is to have them paint/color/draw some pictures and send them to a local nursing home or assisted living facility as they are not able to go out or have visitors for the time being.
4. Watch a movie or TV show you haven’t had time to watch.
5. Stay connected. This doesn’t necessarily mean staying connected through social media, but staying connected with friends and family by communicating how we’re feeling and just having someone to talk to can be a big help. After all, we’re all going through similar things at this moment in time.
6. Enjoy the quiet. Our lives are so busy we don’t usually have time to stop and smell the roses if you will.
7. And last but certainly not least, be kind. Remember that we are all in this together. Keep in mind that the grocery store worker, that healthcare professional, the emergency medical worker, that police officer, etc have all been working tirelessly to keep up with the demand, and keep our communities safe and healthy. So be patient, be polite, and give them a quick thank you!

Like we said if you are in need of basic supplies, food or are noticing changes in your mental health, please reach out to us. We are here for you, and even though it may not seem like it now, this is just a brief moment in time.

Things will get better, and we will get through this…TOGETHER.