Opportunity 2:
Personal Support Systems
Assist people with Long COVID in building or boosting their support networks.
For: The general public, health care providers, and support and assistance providers.
Short-term Recommendations:
Long COVID explainers: Create explanatory materials for people with Long COVID to share with family and friends.
Resources for support groups: Reinforce existing Long COVID support groups with specialized funding, and develop additional support groups for people with Long COVID and caregivers.
Long-term Recommendations:
Expanded mental and behavioral health care: Expand affordable mental and behavioral health support for people with Long COVID, as well as their caregivers and children affected by Long COVID, so that they have support processing the psychological impacts of contracting COVID, living with Long COVID or living with someone who has Long COVID, and the consequences of it on their lives.
Chore and household assistance: Create or expand assistance programs that help people with Long COVID and caregivers with daily chores, such as grocery shopping and cleaning.
Financial support for families with children: Provide financial support for families who need to provide additional care to children with Long COVID.
Legal protections for children with Long COVID: Ensure that children with Long COVID are able to access the care they need through the passing of legislation and creation of advocacy and assistance programs.