Effects of Long COVID & Calls from Senior Communities

Question: I was fully vaccinated and boosted for COVID, yet I still got it. Now that I have recovered, I am still fatigued, get short of breath easily, and have a foggy brain. Why is that?

The CDC recently reported on a large study conducted in the USA, where they used 30,000 people who received the vaccine. They found that “Long COVID” (lasting effects of the virus) can occur for many months after recovering from COVID. Long COVID results in lingering symptoms such as respiratory problems, loss of taste and smell, fogginess of thought and the feeling of being tired and lethargic. You can have Long COVID whether you were vaccinated or not.

The Department of Veterans Affairs ran this study, and it showed that the vaccines were only 15% effective in stopping Long COVID from occurring. While the vaccines are effective at preventing death or serious illness from COVID, when it came to symptoms of Long COVID, they were much less effective.

Researchers said it was disappointing, as cases of Long COVID continue to grow in people who were vaccinated and still contracted the virus. The study showed that one in five American adults ages 18-65 who got COVID suffered from symptoms of Long COVID, while older Americans over the age of 65, have a one in four chance of having it.

I recommend that you get plenty of rest, exercise the best you can and eat healthy foods. Eat full meals, even if you cannot taste or smell your food. Your body needs the nutrients to recover. Make sure to stay hydrated. Make lists, if you are being forgetful, so that you can use them to remind you of things you need to do. Staying social and active is very important for your mental health. Understand that you are not the only one that is going through Long COVID. Communicate your symptoms to your doctor so he/she can develop a plan to get you through this difficult time.

Question: I wanted to research different senior communities in our area, and after I went to a referral website, I now have a lot of senior communities calling me. Why did this happen?

Senior community referral companies gather information such as pricing, senior living details and amenities, on their website. They refer people who investigate information on their website to senior living communities. Once you give the referral company your information, they send your contact information to senior communities as a referral. Senior communities will then call you to better explain their services, amenities and pricing, and invite you to tour their businesses.

This is a free service for you because you pay nothing for the information that their site provides. Many families find this easier than researching each senior community on their own. It is important to know that the referral site will only give you information about communities they are contracted with. If you should choose to move into one of the senior communities that they are contracted with, the senior community you move into will be responsible for paying the referral company for referring you.

I know it might seem overwhelming to get so many communities calling you. If you tell the senior communities to email their price list and brochure, it will help you to be able to compare costs and amenities that each community has. Make sure to go tour each community and stay for lunch too! This will allow you to get your research done ahead of time for when you decide to take that next step. Being aware of what is available in the community puts you in the driver’s seat. I always say to "get your ducks in a row" so that there are no surprises later!

If there is a crisis and you need to move quickly, knowing which community can accommodate your price point and your care needs is very important. If you have family close by, make sure you invite them to visit with you as well. They might have great questions and concerns that you have not thought of yet.

Kimberly Jensen has been working with Quail Park as a Senior Resource Advocate for over ten years and has helped hundreds of families find solutions to their senior problems.

If you have a question, you can send it to her at KimberlyJ@QPCypress.com or call (559) 737-7443.