Patients and Families Turn to CaringBridge to Stay Connected as Americans Take Measures to Combat Covid-19
On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) a global pandemic, reaching more than 118 countries and affecting hundreds of thousands of people. Due to the rapid spread of Covid-19 and the risk to the aging population and people with existing health conditions, Americans are being asked to practice social distancing.
But social distancing, intended to reduce the spread of the virus, doesn’t mean patients must feel isolated. CaringBridge helps patients and family caregivers maintain social connections and coordinate care and support around a health journey while at home.
Here are a few things you can do to support someone on a health journey right now:
- Stay Connected. Social distancing does not equal social isolation. Here are a few ideas for staying connected:
- Start a CaringBridge site for yourself or a family member or friend who needs support.
- Video Chat through services like Facetime, Google Hangout or Skype.
- Pick up the phone.
- Start group chats with family, friends, coworkers, or church groups through text or chat groups like Facebook messenger.
- Offer help with emergency errands. Help with meals and errands should not stop due to social distancing. Use the CaringBridge Planner to coordinate doorstep delivery of:
- Grocery and household essentials.
- Over the counter or prescription medications.
- To-go meal orders from local restaurant.
- If you’re a long-distance caregiver, find out if your loved one has access to grocery delivery services. If so, set it up for them and find out their essential needs.
“As a nonprofit organization with a mission of building bridges of care and communication around a health journey, we want to remind the public that no one should go through a health journey alone, and that strength comes from community and connection,” said Liwanag Ojala, CEO of CaringBridge.
CaringBridge offers free personal websites allowing communities to rally around people on health journeys. The platform gives patients and caregivers a free, private, and secure place to update friends and family, ask for help and get support and encouragement.
About CaringBridge
CaringBridge is a nonprofit social network that helps people connect with friends and family during a health journey. Founded in Eagan, Minn. in 1997 by Sona Mehring, CaringBridge has made it simple and safe to offer or ask for support when it’s needed most. With more than 300,000 active daily users—CaringBridge offers simple tools for patients and their caregivers to share health updates and rally their community’s support. A health journey of any kind—diagnosis, injury, medical or behavioral illness, pregnancy complications or other experiences—is difficult to endure alone. CaringBridge is here to ensure that no one goes through a health journey alone. Learn more at www.caringbridge.org.
Media Contact:
Beth Betcher
651-789-3375