Coronavirus (COVID-19) Frequently Asked Questions
I have symptoms of COVID-19. What should I do? And other FAQs about COVID-19 transmission, prevention and how Mass General is preparing to help patients affected by the disease.
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News5 Minute ReadDec | 17 | 2020
People living with disabilities have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As this particularly vulnerable segment of the population encompasses a variety of conditions and impairments, those with disabilities have faced many barriers throughout the pandemic. For example, they may be at a potentially higher risk of contracting the virus due to underlying conditions, have difficulty engaging in preventative measures or experience disruptions to health services they normally rely on.
As the pandemic progresses, it is critical for both individuals living with disabilities, and those who are their caretakers, to take the necessary steps to protect their health and well-being. Below, Zary Amirhosseini, MEd, disability program manager at Massachusetts General Hospital, discusses the impact of the pandemic on people with disabilities as well as tips for both individuals and caregivers to stay safe.
Throughout the pandemic, daily life and access to health care has worsened for people with disabilities.
"We all have heard the news about the higher death rate for those with developmental disorders and intellectual disabilities, veterans and aging populations who live in group homes or nursing homes," says Amirhosseini.
Some of the unique challenges that many individuals with disabilities are facing in the midst of COVID-19 include:
In order for people living with disabilities to mitigate health risks, following pandemic protocol is critical. Mobility aids such as walkers and wheelchairs and any other type of assistant devices should be disinfected regularly—particularly when used outside the home. Additionally, clean high-touch surfaces, phones and other appliances, and make hand-washing a priority. Individuals with disabilities should also ask caregivers to wash their hands or use hand sanitizer prior to touching or providing assistance.
Hiring qualified personal care attendants to assist with activities of daily living may be more challenging during COVID-19. As such, it is important to have a backup plan in place. Identify a support system by creating a contact list of friends/family, local community agencies and health care providers who can provide support in case the individual or their support person becomes ill.
People living with disabilities may experience health issues specific to their disability that need to be managed differently during the pandemic.
"They should communicate these concerns with their provider as soon as possible," says Amirhosseini. She advises all patients with disabilities or their appointed support persons to communicate their accommodation needs with all members of their care team.
For individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, neurodiverse or on the Autism Spectrum and more, it may be challenging to communicate with health care providers wearing masks. In health care settings, these individuals can request:
Other communication needs may include:
Patients with disabilities may request adaptive medical equipment such as adaptive call bells, height-adjustable exam tables and accessible wheelchair scales. In addition, they may also request assistance with completing forms, transfers and navigating the facility.
Patients who are blind, low vision or visually impaired may request printed material in Braille, large font or electronically.
Patients who are deaf, late deafened or hard of hearing may request procedural or health-related educational videos to be captioned.
Patients who are neurodiverse or on the autism spectrum may need calming and/or private space to minimize noise and visual overstimulation.
Patients with disabilities may need to bring their support person and or service animal to their hospital appointments and admissions. Patient should notify the hospital prior to appointments and admissions.
Patients with disabilities may need to schedule appointments at specified times to accommodate transportation and availability of a support person. In addition, patients may need to schedule first or last appointments on the same day in order to reduce wait time.
During COVID-19, most appointments, scheduling and communication may need to happen virtually. Patients with disabilities may need to access telehealth, Patient Gateway and other appropriate websites.
Amirhosseini recommends that patients and caregivers familiarize themselves with telehealth and identify any issues or barriers prior to the date of the appointment. Examples of requests patients can make include:
To empower individuals with disabilities, and to ensure their optimal health and well-being, many aspects of society must become more accessible and inclusive.
"Since March, we have worked with our colleagues across Mass General Brigham to ensure our patients with disabilities continue to receive the care they need," says Amirhosseini. "We have done this by looking at the issues identified as barriers and addressing them through the development of policies, guidelines and a repository of COVID-19 resources for both patients and providers." In order to fully guarantee access for all, Amirhosseini says next steps are necessary. Health care leaders must:
"All these actions directly state a commitment to not only acknowledging, but also celebrating diversity," says Amirhosseini. "We need to consider many different types of abilities as well as increase accessibility."
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I have symptoms of COVID-19. What should I do? And other FAQs about COVID-19 transmission, prevention and how Mass General is preparing to help patients affected by the disease.
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