Should You Wear A Mask When Visiting Those Who Are Aging In Place?

The discussion about whether to wear masks or not seems to have subsided a bit, but as cases of COVID-19 continue to grow in conjunction with a very aggressive strain of the flu and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) cases leading to hospitalizations it may be an important time to revisit the need for masks and even for skipping a visit to your loved one who is aging in place all together.

While there are no calls for wide mask mandates, masks are a great way to keep the people around you from getting sick and if you’re planning to visit someone who is medically vulnerable. It may be something that you do not want to do, but it is the right thing to do if you want to keep everyone safe and healthy this holiday season.

Here’s how you should know if you should wear a mask when visiting your loved ones. Ask yourself the following questions;

1.) Have I been exposed to a situation where there were a large group of people who may or may not have been sick?

If the answer is yes to this question, you should likely wear a mask. This could be exposure at your office, if your kids are in school, it could be exposure to your kids bringing germs home and it could be attending an event that exposed you to a number of people.

2.) Do I have symptoms that indicate a level of illness that might be unsafe for my loved one to be around?

You don’t need to visit a doctor to be told whether your symptoms are enough to require you to wear a mask. Some good old fashioned common sense should do the trick. If you have a couple of sniffles, you may not need to wear a mask, but if you have a nagging cold, a fever, the chills, difficulty breathing, you should wear a mask. You may also consider postponing your visit until you are feeling better.

3.) How am I traveling to get to my loved one’s home?

If you need to be on a train or plane for a long period of time it may be a good idea to wear a mask while you’re traveling and also once you arrive at your destination. Being around large groups of people in confined spaces this time of year can cause you to catch a cold or other more severe illnesses that you would not want to transfer to the people you are visiting with around the holidays.

Wearing a mask to a holiday party may not be an idea situation for you, but it is one of the best things you can do to keep yourself healthy and those around you safe and healthy as well. A small inconvenience can go a long way to protecting the health of your loved one who may be aging in place.