Many seniors are having difficulty transitioning from living in near isolation due to Covid-19 and returning to their pre-Pandemic lives. Brand New Day offers older adults tips to make the process smoother.
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While making the transition from lockdown living to resuming a pre-pandemic lifestyle has been relatively smooth for much of the general public, the path has not been as easy for many seniors. Experts at Brand New Day, a California Medicare health plan, say that many older adults still carry the heightened anxiety and depression they felt when COVID-19 first emerged and are confused about how to resume “normal” living.
“All of us had to make major adjustments when COVID-19 first took hold, and we were forced into lockdown. Now we’re dealing with getting back to our normal routines,” explains James Pratty, M.D., Medical Director of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health for Brand New Day. “For many seniors, though, making this transition has caused additional stress and many of them are confused as to how they should go about it. We like to tell our members that it’s OK to feel some anxiety during this time as COVID-19 hasn’t completely been eradicated, but we are urging those who are up to date with their vaccinations to take the first steps toward adjusting to life as we once knew it.”
The CDC reports that more than 90% of the nation are in low or medium COVID-19 danger areas.
“In addition to being fully vaccinated, we recommend continuing to wear masks in public settings — particularly in poorly ventilated settings. Although the CDC has relaxed social distancing requirements, for some seniors, particularly those more vulnerable to disease, it’s a good idea to maintain a three-foot distance. Also, frequently washing your hands will significantly reduce the chances of transmission,” adds Pratty.
He also recommends practicing mindfulness in 5-minute intervals twice each day and exercising twice each day in 10-minute intervals. The mindfulness exercises could include meditative reading (e.g., poetry, psalms of the Bible or song lyrics) for the first interval and deep-breathing exercises (i.e., taking deep breaths through the nose let out slowly letting them out from the mouth) for the second interval. Mindfulness has been shown to improve one’s health by lowering blood pressure, improving concentration, and reducing stress.
Exercise does not have to be rigorous, but can be limited to walking, jogging, swimming, bicycle riding and other such endeavors. Being physically active can improve one’s brain health, help manage weight, reduce the risk of disease, strengthen bones and muscles, and improve the ability to perform everyday activities.
Among Brand New Day’s benefit plans that are available to those with Medicare Part A and B or with Medicare and Medi-Cal:
· Classic Plan — basic plan for its Medicare-only, Medicare and Medi-Cal members
· Embrace Plan — serving those with heart disease and/or diabetes
· Bridges Plan — serving those with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
· Harmony Plan — serving those with mental illness including major depression, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, and paranoid disorder
· Select Plan — serving those residing in assisted living communities or long-term care (nursing homes) facilities
Brand New Day works with independent brokers throughout the state and can arrange for an in-person appointment for those wanting to review their plans anywhere in the state.
Brand New Day is a subsidiary of Bright HealthCare and Bright Health Group.
For more information about the Brand New Day Medicare Advantage plans, call (866) 255-4795 and visit www.BNDHMO.com.
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Contact Info:
Name: Frank Groff
Email: Send Email
Organization: Brand New Day
Address: 5455 Garden Grove Blvd, Suite 500, Westminster, CA 92683, United States
Phone: +1-562-225-9981
Website: https://BNDHMO.com
Release ID: 89080977
