schizo319
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,030
Jun 28, 2014 0:26:58 GMT
|
Post by schizo319 on Dec 7, 2020 12:51:10 GMT
In your position, I would isolate myself completely for 10 days before going and do as much as I could to avoid stopping for anything (gas/food/etc.) on my way there. I would also move heaven and earth NOT to stay in a hotel - I am just not comfortable spending hours where a whole bunch of strangers' air is being circulated through the building (even at limited capacity, there are still other guests and staff and areas like stairwells and elevators where it is not possible to distance) and lots of hotels I have stayed in do not have windows that open. I get that you need your space, I need my space too, but I would suck it up and sleep on my parents' couch, sleep in my car, or even camp in a tent in my parents' backyard for a night before I would stay in a hotel - yes, even in Ohio in winter.
|
|
kelly8875
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,390
Location: Lost in my supplies...
Oct 26, 2014 17:02:56 GMT
|
Post by kelly8875 on Dec 7, 2020 13:42:50 GMT
Definitely go. Be safe.
Hugs to you!
|
|
|
Post by mikklynn on Dec 7, 2020 14:47:25 GMT
No advice, just a huge hug, Mystie.
|
|
|
Post by workingclassdog on Dec 7, 2020 15:56:04 GMT
--help me brainstorm my precautions, please. My dad has been very ill for months, but has dramatically declined in the past week or so. He and my mom live in Ohio, I live in Virginia. It's impossible to know how much time he has left, maybe a couple months, maybe a couple weeks, who knows. He's on hospice at home. I feel I should make a very brief trip up to say goodbye. It takes a full day to make the drive, so I would drive up, spend the evening with them, spend all of the next day with them, and then leave early the following morning. I would spend both nights in a nearby hotel because I need the space for my own mental health. My parents' house is small. I've had cancer this year and I'm also diabetic. My husband and I have been quite careful ever since March; this trip will be a huge step out of my bubble. Because of the timing of my own medical appointments and the upcoming holidays, I only have a small window where I feel it would be safe to go. Depending on how Dad seems to be doing by the end of this week, I'd either drive up Fri the 11th and come back Sun the 13th, or if he seems stable, I'd drive up Mon the 14th and come back Wed the 16th. I've made reservations for both and can easily cancel the first. I'd prefer to do the Monday trip for less traffic and fewer people breathing all over the rest stop bathrooms, but I'll just have to see. I would pack my own food and only stop for gas and bathroom (usually have to stop for gas twice and toilet 3x). I travel the PA turnpike for about half the trip and am trying to figure out if I can avoid having to stop at any of the rest stops along there. Probably not, unfortunately. I would only be either at the hotel or at my parents' home and am hoping I will only see them and possibly my sister, who I would distance from. (She's also caregiving for my dad so it would be hard to avoid her.) All other family members I'd ask to stay away if possible. I'd wear a mask at my folks' as much as I could, and distance from them as much as I could. I honestly have no idea if or how that would work. I'd wear a mask going and coming into the hotel, wipe down surfaces in my room, and I was thinking about requesting no maid service since I'll only be there two nights. That way I'd be the only person in the room while I'm there. My area of Virginia is in pretty good shape, covid-wise, right now. Ohio is not. I'm terrified to go, but I feel like I should. What precautions have I not thought of? If you think I'm crazy to go, I'm open to hearing that, too. I'm beside myself right now, honestly. I'd say I can't believe all this is happening at once, but at this point in 2020, it's all too easy to believe. I would go in a heartbeat. Sounds like you are being super careful so I would say go. If that was my mom, I would have probably jumped in a car not even thinking and head towards her. So you have a good plan, go do it. My cousin passed away Thanksgiving weekend. Her daughter opted not to see her at Thanksgiving due to covid. She died the day after. That would have killed me if that was my mom. I don't know how she is coping.
|
|
|
Post by christine58 on Dec 7, 2020 16:21:51 GMT
Mystie I think you have really thought this out. BRAVO!! I passed some of the suggestions on to some friends that are in the same situations right now.
|
|
mimima
Drama Llama
Stay Gold, Ponyboy
Posts: 5,017
Jun 25, 2014 19:25:50 GMT
|
Post by mimima on Dec 7, 2020 16:25:00 GMT
Love you, my friend. Traveling mercies.
|
|
desertgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,646
Jun 26, 2014 15:58:05 GMT
|
Post by desertgirl on Dec 7, 2020 16:31:05 GMT
As calgaryscrapper suggested, please get toilet seat covers. Not that you’ll get COVID from the seat, but for other stuff that might be on the seat. You can’t time elimination from your body, but we travel often and sh*t happens, even right after a rest stop’s restroom is sanitized. Your gastro system will be off just from travel and a different atmosphere at your parents’ house. Also, you’ll be under stress. I pee more under stress. You must drink water along the way. My blood sugar goes wacky without regular hydration. I’m sorry about your father. It’s never easy and I’m sorry for all you have to go through to see him.
|
|
StephDRebel
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,663
Location: Ohio
Jul 5, 2014 1:53:49 GMT
|
Post by StephDRebel on Dec 7, 2020 16:37:04 GMT
Are you comfortable sharing what area of Ohio you're coming to? You may be able to avoid the turnpike altogether- I drive from Columbus area to VA beach multiple times a year and skip the turnpike for the last 20 years-- depending on your route I may be able to recommend specific stops that are clean and well maintained.
|
|
|
Post by gizzy on Dec 7, 2020 16:40:07 GMT
Everyone has given good advice already. I just wanted to say I'm sorry about your Dad.
|
|
|
Post by PolarGreen12 on Dec 7, 2020 16:41:09 GMT
Do you have your own Lysol to spray things down? (IF not, message me and I have a brand new can I will mail you). I'd do no maid service and pack my own food for travel (even if its only for the drive down) so I could minimize food stops. I'd also take gloves. You're sweet. Yes, I have spray and wipes both. Definitely taking gloves. How about N95 masks? I have several I could mail you to get you through the trip.
|
|
|
Post by ntsf on Dec 7, 2020 16:45:44 GMT
I have done some traveling. I pack my own food and eat at a rest stop. I stop for gas and use gas stations.. as the rest stops have lots of stalls.. others could be using them at the same time and they don't have the constant cleaning.. I went to not the cheapest gas stations and the bathrooms were a separate room --so I was by myself, and I found them very clean washed my hands, do not use hand dryer.. but open door with paper towel. I santized my hands the minute I got in the car.. and wiped down anything I had touched. I did use a glove on the gas pump.. cause it was easy
the other thing to do is to wear a mask inside at all times with your folks. don't hug and don't take it off.. eat elsewhere..
|
|
Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,299
Jun 25, 2014 19:53:37 GMT
|
Post by Mystie on Dec 7, 2020 17:01:35 GMT
Are you comfortable sharing what area of Ohio you're coming to? You may be able to avoid the turnpike altogether- I drive from Columbus area to VA beach multiple times a year and skip the turnpike for the last 20 years-- depending on your route I may be able to recommend specific stops that are clean and well maintained. Thanks, I've driven it several different ways over the years, but the turnpike is the fastest. I may try a different way if need be.
|
|
Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,299
Jun 25, 2014 19:53:37 GMT
|
Post by Mystie on Dec 7, 2020 17:03:45 GMT
You're sweet. Yes, I have spray and wipes both. Definitely taking gloves. How about N95 masks? I have several I could mail you to get you through the trip. Thanks, I'm not sure they'd get here in time if I have to leave Friday. I appreciate it, though.
|
|
|
Post by monklady123 on Dec 7, 2020 20:56:54 GMT
Are you comfortable sharing what area of Ohio you're coming to? You may be able to avoid the turnpike altogether- I drive from Columbus area to VA beach multiple times a year and skip the turnpike for the last 20 years-- depending on your route I may be able to recommend specific stops that are clean and well maintained. Thanks, I've driven it several different ways over the years, but the turnpike is the fastest. I may try a different way if need be. The thing about the Turnpike, especially in the winter, is that it's well maintained and if you have any car trouble or snow trouble or whatever you know that a patrol vehicle can be there quickly. One time I drove through Maryland instead of going on the Turnpike (after they finished the bypass route...I forget what the interstate number is) and I was nervous....through the mountains, twisty roads, and I was by myself. I went back to the Turnpike after that, even with all the trucks and the sucky weather in Somerset (is there ever *not* some weather in Somerset??) That would be my main reason for sticking with the Turnpike.
|
|
tracylynn
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,861
Jun 26, 2014 22:49:09 GMT
|
Post by tracylynn on Dec 7, 2020 21:57:52 GMT
Double mask. Make sure it’s tight to your face. Don’t carry your purse into the restroom. Cut time in restrooms by using gloves from the time you leave your car until you are back to your car. If you don’t stand at a sink to wash your hands, you will cut time in a closed area way down. In fact, if the rest area has an outhouse, use that. When you take off the gloves, peel them off inside out and drop in a waste can. Use hand sanitizer or a travel wipe that you already have in your pocket. Air out the hotel room when you get in. Open windows, clean surfaces, bring your own pillow. I wish you the best. This is exactly what I was going to recommend. While I live a little over 5 hours from my parents, they are the only ones in my bubble. We quarantine the same way - no shopping, no eating out, no visitors, etc. Curbside when at all possible, no un-essential trips to the store, and if we have to go to a store with no curbside, it's done super early hours to avoid most of the people. When I drive to my parents, I know exactly what stops I'm going to make (one stop for gas, 2 more for bathroom breaks). I use disposable gloves to pump gas, and take them off inside out and toss, then hand sanitize. And for bathroom breaks, disposable gloves and I don't stop at the sinks. I walk right out, strip my gloves inside out and toss them, then hand sanitizer I keep in my pocket. That way you're only in the bathroom for as minimum time as possible and aren't touching gross used/dirty sinks. I take my own food and drink, and drink minimally to cut down on bathroom stops. Like others have said, I think you should go. I'm sorry about your Dad. Hugs.
|
|
moodyblue
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,173
Location: Western Illinois
Site Supporter
Jun 26, 2014 21:07:23 GMT
|
Post by moodyblue on Dec 7, 2020 22:42:36 GMT
My brother-in-law just had to do this type of trip. He left Thanksgiving evening to go from Illinois to Tennessee after getting a call from his dad. I think he stayed at the house instead of a hotel; his dad was in the hospital but was allowed one visitor per day.
I would not be as worried about things like the gas pumps as long as you wash or sanitize right away, without touching your face. As careful as hotels are being these days, I would not be too stressed about things in the room, but would definitely be cautious about being near other people for more than passing in the hall.
I’m sorry you’re faced with this. The only real advice I have is to consider going as soon as you can. Unfortunately, there are no guarantees, only educated guesses, about timing. My mom, for example, died before they could call me to come for an end-of-life visit.
|
|
Nanner
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,962
Jun 25, 2014 23:13:23 GMT
|
Post by Nanner on Dec 7, 2020 23:01:50 GMT
I'm so sorry about your father, Mystie. I'd be going if it was me, and I'm much the same as you, healthwise.
It sounds like everything you will need is covered in this thread. Good luck.
|
|