COVID-19 and people with disabilities

Have a plan — for any emergency.

--

According to CDC, 1 in 4 adults have a disability that seriously impacts their ability to do major life activities. People with disabilities can also struggle with economic and social conditions that compound these difficulties. In fact, mobility disability is nearly five times as common among middle-aged adults living below the poverty level than among people whose income is twice the poverty level. Many people with disabilities also experience discrimination because of age, race or ethnicity, or their disability.

Most people with a physical disability are not at higher risk of getting COVID-19 or of getting very sick from COVID-19 because of their disability. However, some people with disabilities may also have a chronic illness that puts us at higher risk for getting very sick from COVID-19. According to CDC, adults with disabilities are three times more likely than adults without disabilities to have heart disease, stroke, diabetes, or cancer. Some people with disabilities may be at higher risk of getting COVID-19 if they cannot avoid having close contact with others, such as caregivers, or if they live in a long-term care facility.

If you have a disability or chronic illness, make sure you have a four-week supply of prescription and over-the-counter medications on hand. Remember to make sure you have other needed medical supplies available (oxygen, incontinence, dialysis, wound care) and have a back-up plan for if you need more.

If you have a caregiver, make a plan for what you will do if you or your caregiver gets sick. Do you have contact information for family, friends, neighbors, and local service agencies who can help? Ask your caregiver to take their temperature before coming to your home. Make sure your caregiver knows to wash their hands when they enter your home and before and after touching you. Ask them if they have been in contact with someone who has COVID-19. Don’t be shy about asking your caregiver to take great care of themselves by washing their hands and monitoring their health to keep both of you safe!

Sometimes doctors are so focused on underlying health conditions that they can miss mental health concerns among people with disabilities. But people at higher risk for getting very sick from COVID-19 are also at increased risk of stress due to COVID-19. This is especially true if they live alone or in a place that is not allowing visitors right now. We can all support our loved ones living alone by checking in often and virtually.

More Information

Stay tuned to our blog for more information on how you can help stop the spread of COVID-19. Sign up to be notified whenever we post new articles.

Information in this blog changes rapidly. Check the state’s COVID-19 website for up-to-date and reliable info at coronavirus.wa.gov.

Answers to your questions or concerns about COVID-19 in Washington state may be found at our website. You can also contact our call center at
1–800–525–0127. Hours: 6 am-10 pm, seven days a week.

--

--