Regina’s Reflections

By Regina McNamara

HAVE WE LOST SIGHT OF
Personal Responsibility??

Here’s a news flash…. Ending the Pandemic requires a commitment by all citizens to do their part. No political figure, not even a governor, regardless of the size of his ego can solve this.

When a presidential candidate is asked what he would do if there is another spike in infections, he should have a reasonable measured response. “Would he LOCK DOWN the country again?” His response: “I would lock it down, after asking the scientists”. One wonders which scientist he would choose, since there are many conflicting opinions. There is no one clear answer. Here’s an idea for an answer: “We ask all Americans to do their part to comply with Covid safety precautions so we may return our country to normal as soon as possible.”

Many families have sadly been affected by the Covid illness. But several others have suffered from the hazards of “lock down”. When it began, I and many others predicted there would be many downsides to this.

These include, but are not limited to:

• Physical De-conditioning and cognitive decline of elders in facilities unable to leave their rooms for months at a time or Or even enjoy brief time outdoors
• Sadness, isolation, loneliness and depression among this group
• Covid infections among seniors in both senior facilities and nursing homes
• An increase in domestic violence and child neglect and abuse
• An increase in suicides
• Declining health due to cancellation of elective surgery and routine screenings and physician offices providing only "virtual" medicine, often ineffective for seniors
• Increasing alcohol and drug use
• A catastrophic decline in the economy at both the local and national level, resulting in, many long-established businesses closing permanently
• Children missing nearly a year of education.

But enough about issues over which we have little or no control.

WE NEED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR OURSELVES AND OUR FAMILIES.

Whether or not you agree with or like masks, wear one. Consider face shields as well. There is research that supports the efficacy of face SHIELDS for children WITH OR WITHOUT masks since they prevent face touching by children of all ages.

Stay six feet away from people in public. College students, this includes you. STOP the partying, putting many fellow citizens at risk. Try studying.

Take responsibility for your own health. Take Vitamin C in larger doses, make probiotics and antioxidants a regular daily routine. PLEASE wash your hands.

Our caregivers are equipped with PPE supplies as well as these supplements weekly. It has paid off. No missed days of work. No positive tests.

Wash Your Hands. Sanitize your environment. Add Yes, I realize that HANDWASHING appears twice here. Few precautions are easier or more effective in fighting infection

Bring your children to school Once you figure out which days.

We are in this, individually and collectively. Do your part, please. We need to bring about an end to this and move on. For ourselves, for our families and for the many seniors and their loved ones for whom we care and support.

And Darcey, our therapy dog is terribly lonely without her regular visits to her favorite seniors!

DO YOUR PART TO OPEN OUR COUNTRY AGAIN! Please. ■