There are many instances in life where it’s important to seek a second opinion. Most often we think of second opinions when we think of health decisions. A major surgery or treatment surely warrants a close examination of all possible options. And most people, even those who consider themselves “experts” in their field, would agree that they are just an opinion of one and others may have valuable insight and input that could quite literally save a life.

No matter what major decision you face right now, for you or a loved one, it’s important that you feel you have enough information to decide confidently. This could be moving to a new home, determining a course of medical care, hiring a professional caregiver, or working through a family matter. Below we share some key things to consider when going about navigating the process of seeking multiple opinions on an important issue.

Seek opinions strategically.

Opinions are great because they share alternate viewpoints and can shine a light on our blind spots. But they can also cause confusion and overwhelm quite quickly. Be strategic about the sources of your opinions and be sure to qualify the opinions you choose to trust. Even well-meaning friends and family members may not have the best opinions to offer because they lack experience with that particular issue, or have a close emotional tie. Consider where there could be bias or limitations to experience, and take all of this with a grain of salt when considering multiple opinions.

Find the balance between not enough and too much information.

How many opinions are too many? This is the golden question! There’s no one right answer, but rather you need to consider what’s best for your specific situation. If you are easily overwhelmed by information, you may want to limit the opinions you seek. Two may be all you need to feel confident that you are making a sound decision. Alternately, following just one opinion, without seeking another, may not be enough information to guide the best choice. Like most things in life, it’s a balance. While more information may be helpful, it can also be contradictory and confusing. Often, we need just enough outside perspective to reinforce that our gut instinct and intuition is correct.

Have an end goal in mind.

What do you hope to achieve by getting more than one opinion? Are you looking for alternative options that are different from one another, or do you want reinforcement that one, single option is the best choice? It’s important to know what you hope to achieve so you can remain focused on what you started down the path of seeking multiple opinions to begin with. More information is only good if you know what to do with it. You don’t want to put the time and effort into collecting it if you’re not sure it’s valuable to you. Identify your goal and stick to it!

Set boundaries and priorities.

And finally, set boundaries and priorities for the key steps in your decision-making process. You may find that your decision is time-sensitive. If this is the case, you don’t want to get hung up on seeking multiple opinions that could cost you weeks, even months of time and then lead to additional confusion that puts you essentially back where you started. Work backward from your deadline for a decision. Seek additional opinions, but if they jeopardize this deadline, consider what needs to give. Are you willing to be flexible you’re your decision-making timeline or do you need to move forward without this additional perspective? Your priorities will help you make the right decision.

If you face a major decision that warrants multiple opinions, consider the advice shared here as you move through the process. Do seek insight from multiple parties, if you feel it will be helpful, but don’t let it derail your decision-making process, especially if it is time-sensitive.

And if Ella Home Care can help offer an opinion on professional in-home caregiving, we’re here to help! Reach out to us today for helpful advice that is backed by extensive experience.

If you’ve been paying attention to the news, you’ve likely heard about the new variant of the coronavirus that is spreading rapidly and causing a whole new set of concerns for the health and wellness of citizens worldwide. The Delta variant is more than twice as contagious as previous variants, and there’s data that suggests it might cause more severe illness. In fact, the variant now accounts for nearly all of the country’s COVID-19 cases, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s latest genomic surveillance data.

In late July, the CDC issued new guidelines stating that even fully vaccinated people should start masking again indoors if they live in an area where the virus is circulating widely. If there’s anything to be learned from the first onset of COVID-19 it’s that precautions must be taken quickly and seriously if we hope to overcome variants of this virus while keeping as many people safe and healthy as possible. Keep reading for answers to some of the most common questions about the Delta variant, particularly as it relates to our senior population.

Why are variants a cause for concern?
COVID-19 variants, including the Delta variant which is receiving the most attention, seem to spread more easily than other coronavirus strains, according to the CDC. And ease of transmission may lead to more cases of COVID-19, which will put more strain on health care resources and lead to more hospitalizations and potentially more deaths.

How do I know if I have the Delta variant?

To detect the delta variant, a specific type of COVID-19 test is required — genomic sequencing. Genomic sequencing decodes the coronavirus’ complete set of genes and searches for new mutations. It also matches known variants. Labs at some state and local health departments have access to genomic sequencing. But more important than what variant you have is your overall health, how you’re impacted by the virus, and the course of action that needs to be taken to get you well.

How are the symptoms different?

Cold-like symptoms, including headache, runny nose, and a sore throat, now top the list in the ongoing study, while more traditional COVID-19 symptoms — loss of smell, shortness of breath, fever, and persistent cough — have since moved down. Though these may sound mild, they can quickly escalate into life-threatening conditions, just like the original coronavirus, particularly in older populations or those with weakened immune systems.

Do vaccines provide protection?

This is a complex question, but the simple answer is yes. Those who have been vaccinated are showing better resistance to the virus and those who do still contract it are less severely impacted. So vaccines are still highly recommended and useful. But the greater concern is for those who are not vaccinated either by choice or due to health circumstances. They may contract the Delta variant more easily, even from people who are showing no symptoms and who have been vaccinated. And if this occurs, they are less protected and may contract severe symptoms. All of the best practices for wearing masks, sanitizing, and social distancing still apply! When combined and used appropriately, these are your best tools for defense.

How can I protect myself and those I love?

The good news is you’re already equipped with the knowledge and best practices to keep yourself safe and protect those you love. Yes, that means it’s time to bring back to the masks (if you’ve stopped masking upon being vaccinated). Emerging research shows that while still rare, it is possible for vaccinated people to contract COVID-19. And if they’re infected with the delta variant, they may carry as much virus as an unvaccinated individual. In addition to masking, continue to wash your hands, sanitize surfaces, and be mindful of public spaces used by many people. If possible, avoid public spaces and large gatherings as much as possible especially as we enter into the fall and winter months where we often see an uptick in other viruses as well.

The most important thing to remember is to use common sense, follow recommendations, and extend kindness and compassion to others. This is a situation unlike the world as seen and we’ve all been impacted in unique ways. We’re working to do the best we can with the resources we have, and we’re all fighting on the same team!

When people settle into retirement, it can be a struggle to establish a new routine where work and other family obligations are no longer necessary or the focus. After all, these are the “golden years” where you should feel empowered to use your time however you’d like. You spent most of your life looking forward to this moment, so it would be a shame to let it slip by without making the most of it!

How can you find the balance between establishing a routine in retirement while still keeping things exciting day-to-day? Keep reading for tips that are helpful to retirees of all ages and abilities!

Aim for creating a schedule that has both structure and flexibility.

Having structure in your schedule will allow you to find purpose in each new day. This helps to ensure your basic needs are met, like eating, physical activity, and downtime. However, the goal is not to create a rigid schedule that locks you into any certain routine. The beauty of retirement is that you can go with the flow much more easily than when you had a demanding career or a growing family. Find the balance between a healthy routine and flexibility to seize the moment.

Allow your schedule to evolve with your interests and abilities.

Throughout retirement, your wants, needs, and interests will shift. What you enjoyed doing several years ago, may not be the right fit for you now. It’s important to find a routine that ebbs and flows with the life changes you’ll experience in retirement. This also gives you the freedom to explore new hobbies and come into new seasons of life.

Strike a balance of time with others and time alone.

Life is better spent when it’s in community with others. In retirement, you may not naturally have the day-to-day interactions you once did when you have children living in your home or went into an office each day. Alone time is a good thing, but you don’t want it to be so much that you start to actually feel alone. Balance your schedule with time spent outdoors, in public spaces, and with others. And seek time to be alone to recharge. Balance is the key to anything in life!

Revisit your routine every few weeks or months.

If you find that you’re feeling stuck in a routine or it’s no longer meeting your needs, be proactive about seeking change. You are the master of your own schedule for the most part! Never be afraid to mix things up and try something different just because you can. If it doesn’t feel like the right fit, you can always change it back or go with something different. Have fun exploring new schedules and routines throughout this chapter of life.

Reach out to others when you need some variety!

And finally, be sure to reach out to family and friends when you feel like you need something new to your normal schedule. Maybe you set a monthly date for when you’ll meet up for lunch. Or maybe it’s asking someone to join you on your daily walk. You can also expand your circle beyond family and friends and reach out to local organizations that may need volunteers. This is a great way to meet new people while helping out your community!

If you or someone you know is entering into retirement, the best thing you can do is to be intentional about your time. Think ahead to how you’ll be most happy spending your time in one, five, even ten years – and then make a plan!