Tips To Look After Your Loved Ones During A Pandemic
It’s unprecedented and unique times that we live in, it’s important to take care of yourself and your loved ones. With that said, here are some tips to look after your loved ones during a pandemic.
This pandemic has gone on for longer than any of us could have ever imagined, and the pandemic itself is something that has never happened to the generations currently existing on this earth! With that being said, as it’s unprecedented and unique times that we live in, it’s important to take care of yourself and your loved ones. With that said, here are some tips to look after your loved ones during a pandemic.
Keep Up Communications
Firstly, keep up with communications at all times. Despite us being in this pandemic, there are still many ways to talk with your loved ones even if you can be with them physically. One way is to set up some weekly facetime or zoom sessions to help catch up with the people you love. Of course, there might not be a lot going on in anyone’s lives right now but it can be nice to simply talk through that mutual situation that we’re all in. If talking on the phone is something you’d rather do, then give a loved one a call every so often, even if it’s just a five minute phone call to ask them about their day. It’s something that they will certainly come to appreciate and it’s likely something that you would appreciate too.
As we go through the emotional rollercoaster of a pandemic, you’re likely going to have days where you don’t feel great and so getting that random call can feel like it came at the right moment.
Manage What You’re Able To
We’re only able to manage what we’re able to manage. Some people are good at managing more and some can’t deal with as much as you’re able to. If you’re having to help out loved ones when it comes to doing the shopping or offering caregiving services of any kind, it’s important to know your limits. If you have your own life and family to look after too, then it’s important to balance these out. There’s only so much you can do and if there are other people around that can help out too, then that should also be considered.
Consider what you can deal with and manage before taking on everything for your loved ones. You can only do so much.
Consider Getting Assistance
There are going to be loved ones who need extra care and that might not be possible for you to cope with alone. With that said, it’s worth considering getting extra assistance in the form of professional care or support services. Seniors helping seniors is a great place to start and there’s plenty of other places out there that can help depending on what situation your loved one is in.
Like it’s been mentioned above, you can only take on so much yourself and if you have family and your work life to juggle too, it might not be possible. Not everyone can do that full-time caring for others and so it’s good to work with those services that are out there and can help you.
Take Care Of Yourself
It’s important to always take care of yourself because there are going to be times where you are feeling the struggle yourself and need a break. Looking after yourself is a priority and should always be your number one focus. How can you expect to be there for others when it’s not something that you can provide for yourself?
Look at how you can take more care of yourself and of your mental wellbeing too. This pandemic is hard enough to deal with physically as well as emotionally.
Find Ways To Boost Everyone’s Mood
Finding those mood boosters is important when you’re not having a good week or day. Usually, if that was the case, then there are so many lovely experiences that you can have socially whether it’s meeting a friend for dinner or popping out for a drink or two. That’s not something that everyone can do and so it’s a good idea to find a way of boosting everyone moods by organizing some zoom evenings where you might do a party over zoom or maybe a movie night with some friends. Just because you cant meet up physically, you can still do a lot virtually that wouldn’t have been possible before the internet’s creation.
Look after yourself and your loved ones throughout this pandemic and beyond it, we’re all going to need to heal after this. It’s tough but we’ll all get through it and out of the other side if we continue to support one another.
The Death of Sha-Asia Washington Show Racial Disparities Black Women Face in Childbirth
Black women die at a rate three times higher than white women when giving birth. The death of Sha-Asia Washington has shown the racial disparities Black women face in childbirth.
After carrying her baby for the last nine months, Sha-Asia Washington, 26, had looked forward to being a mother.
On July 2 Washington, went to Woodhull Medical Center in New York for a routine stress test. At the time she was a few days past her due date. After doctors noticed that her blood pressure was high, Washington was given a drug to induce labor.
She was asked if she wanted an epidural which she was unsure of, but later agreed, according to her family.
Juwan Lopez, her boyfriend, was was on FaceTime with his mother Desiree Williams when the situation started going downhill.
Washington was rushed into the operating room, leaving Lopez devastated and screaming. He could not figure out what was going on. It was in that moment, that he found out that the baby’s heart rate was dropping.
Washington went into cardiac arrest while doctors delivered her baby via c-section. Washington was pronounced dead after doctors spent 45 minutes trying to save her with CPR. Her newborn daughter Khloe, was healthy.
The death of Sha-Asia Washington has sparked outrage in the Black community, especially Black women.
Her death is shedding light on racial disparities Black women face when giving birth. Black women die at a rate three times higher than white women when giving birth.
In 2018, 658 women died of maternal causes in the U.S. A recent study showed Black women had a death rate of 40.8 per 100,000 births, three times higher than the rate of white women. American Indian and Native Alaskan women had the next highest rate at 29.7 deaths per 100,000 live births, more than double the rate in white women.
There are several reasons for the disparities, including systematic and institutional racism within the healthcare system, underlying health conditions (more common in Black mothers) and access to prenatal care.
Washington’s family is now seeking justice. A GoFundMe page has been set up and has now raised more than $88,000 to help with funeral costs and to support Lopez, who is now raising his daughter Khloe as a single father.
“WOODHULL HOSPITAL KILLED SHAASIA GIVING HER A EPIDURAL PLEASE HELP US GET JUSTICE,” said a description on the fundraiser page.
This also comes three months after Amber Rose Isaac, 26, died at Monterfiore Medical Center in the Bronx after expressing her concerns on how she had been getting treated from the hospital on Twitter.
Stand-up comedian Amy Schumer, is also using her platform to speak about the cases.
“We need to wake up and do better everyday,” she wrote, alongside flawless pregnancy photos of Washington and Lopez.
Washington’s family wants to raise awareness about what happened to her and other Black women who died in childbirth. Last Thursday the family gathered outside Woodhull Medical Center alongside friends and a group of New York City Doulas.
According to Washingtons’s future sister-in-law, Jasmin Lopez “If you know Sha-Asia she wanted to be a mom and she was gonna be an amazing one.”
Pictures from:
1. Rollingstone.com
2. Essence.com
Report: Juana Norales
Instagram: @juana.n_
Travel Diaries: Summers in India
Travel Diaries. Our intern, Megana shares stories about her trip to India.
24 hours In...
Within the first 24 hours of landing, my parents told me that they had decided to throw a 25th Anniversary Party the night after I landed. Being exhausted and jet lagged, I was not too happy about this. The only plus side of this was that I got to go shopping the next day and get an outfit for the party. The other plus was that since my Dad has between 50-100 first cousins, the amount of relatives I have is…just too many. This party would allow everyone to convene in one spot therefore making it easier to meet everyone in one night. This is me and my sister at the beginning of the night awaiting the arrival of all of ours cousins.
Detoxing with Momma…
The heat and muggy weather in India plus the non-stop Monsoon season does nothing beneficial for your skin and hair in India. Lucky for me, my grandmother is a wiz at making natural face masks and detox teas to keep that digestive system in check. Every morning after eating breakfast, she would mix turmeric, flour, rose petals, milk and water to make a soothing face mask. After about 20 minutes you scrub the mask off so that all the baby hairs are taken off your face, and you are left with a beautiful glowing face. While sitting outside waiting for our facemasks to dry, my mom and I would sit outside and drink a mixture of warm water, honey and lemon. Sitting outside with my mom while watching the cows walk by is quality time that I will always cherish.
Reliving the past…
While planning for my grandparent’s party, we decided that we needed to make a slideshow of all the old pictures of their many years together. While going through all the albums with my mother and grandmother, I came across this beautiful gem. This was the first time I had seen a color photo of my parents wedding. It was definitely a treat to be able to see where I came from and the beautiful Indian ceremony they had. Seeing this only made me more excited for the day when I get to be an Indian bride.
Mid-morning snacks…
One of the perks of visiting India is that you get to eat an absurd amount of Indian food and no one can say anything about it to you. People there typically feed you till you’re about to vomit. One morning I was just dying for one of my favorite snacks, which is called, Pani Puri. If you haven’t heard of this before, it’s a thin little fried ball that is completely hollow. You poke a hole in it then fill it with various ingredients such as chickpeas and onions. After that, you pour the pani, or spicy water, in to soak it and then quickly stick it in your mouth! Your mouth gets completely consumed by spice and taste followed by a nice crunch. This is a snack you should never miss if you visit India.
A sight to be seen…
On a bright but cloudy day, my mom decided to take me, my sister and my boyfriend, who surprised me by coming to Hyderabad, to the Birla Mandir. These temples are located all around India and are completely white. This temple was placed on top of a mountain peak, so the drive up took awhile. We weren’t allowed to take cameras or phones inside so I wasn’t able to capture the view from up top, only a photo from the parking lot. But may I say the view from the top was absolutely breathtaking. You could see the river and all the houses spread out throughout Hyderabad city. The best was the cool breeze that left you feeling amazing. The temple itself was beautiful on the inside and out. It was filled with many deities next to amazing views from the top. If you ever have the chance to visit India, visit a Birla Mandir Temple.
Last Minute Fittings…
Due to my late arrival and quick departure, I had a limited amount of time to find the perfect outfit for my grandparents 50th Anniversary party. We ended up going to my favorite tailor to figure out if she could stitch a ghaghra (Indian skirt and top) for me, and we ended up finding the perfect cotton candy pink one that was made for an exhibition. All it needed was to be opened up a little, and then it would fit perfectly. This picture shows a last minute fitting at 10 p.m. the night before the big bash.
Typically in India, most clothing is handmade by tailors all around India. They have workers that stitch beautifully and do intricate work with beads and thread. This tailor in particular has a knack for making outfits that are perfectly fitting and flatter your body. There is no doubt that this is the woman I want making my wedding outfits.
Blood is thicker than water…
My dad always told me his favorite quote is “Blood is thicker than water,” meaning that family bonds will always be stronger than any other bond we have with friends or anyone else in the world. Family is the reason I visit India at the end of the day. Yes the clothes are beautiful and the food is delicious, but my grandparents are the number one reason for me to be here. I only ever get to see them every 2-3 years, so having the opportunity to take time off of my internship and visit them was something I will always be thankful for. This photo represents my mom’s side of the family, minus her older brother’s entire family, but it overall represents all the love we have for each other and all the laughter that fills the house. If I had the chance to see them every year, I would never pass that up. I must say that the saddest part of leaving India is having to say bye to my grandparents. At this old age, you never know what is going to happen, and being so far away only makes it more difficult. While leaving for the airport I tried to hold back the tears as I gave them hugs and they said “I love you megu, I miss you.” That’s why I will always be thankful for them and everything they have given me. I will always love and miss you Amamma, Nanama, and Thatha.
Credits: Megana (@anagem12), Access Intern
At the rise of Covid-19 many of us first questioned the timeline of fashion week and would we see the regular calendar continue - the question weighed over many of us for months! It was refreshing to see design houses and designers across the globe take advantage of the uncertainty and plow into production mode - thus my interest in Jerri Reid New York - The Black Designer based in Brooklyn New York wow’d instagram with his latest collection paying homage to the Black Is King film which debuted earlier this year in July. I was taken aback at quick of a turn round the young designer produced and released his well crafted designs reflecting some of the films most memorable moments.