Adjusting to our new normal has been an ongoing process. However, it has become an even greater challenge for older adults and caregivers. While you may be wondering if enlisting in home care support or residing at a nursing facility is safe at all, researching and checking that they follow federal, state, and local regulations are the best way to protect you or your loved one.
As different COVID-19 variants of the virus develop over time, Coastal Home Care is staying proactive in maintaining the health and safety of our employees and clients. While many nursing facilities and at-home care providers are doing their best to mitigate infection rates, it can be challenging to choose the right option that’s safe and works best for you or your loved one.
Below, we discuss the COVID-19 safety measures of at-home care providers and nursing facilities.
At-Home Care
Adults ages 65 year old and older are at a higher risk of experiencing a severe illness or even death from COVID-19, especially if they have chronic medical conditions. With this in mind, many families have reconsidered in-home care because the risks seem far too great to continue. However, doing so may reduce the amount of support you or your loved one requires on a daily basis.
When researching your options for reliable and safe elder care, ensure your options follow federal, state, and local rules and regulations. When looking for additional home care support, here’s what the CDC’s guidelines are for at-home care providers.
Some at-home care considerations include:
- Patient must be stable enough for home care.
- Caregivers are appropriate and available to provide support.
- Patient has a separate area where they can recover away from others.
- A separate bathroom is available for the patient. If this is not possible, frequent bathroom cleanings are advised.
- Food resources and other necessities are readily available.
- The patient and other household members are capable of adhering to home care and isolation precautions.
- Household members who have been exposed to the virus must refrain from treating the patient who is receiving home care.
Nursing Facilities
The CDC recommends a number of actions for testing residents since they are at high risk for infection, severe illness, and death.
Additionally, under the CDC Guidelines, nursing homes and senior living facilities must:
- Limit and restrict visitors.
- Require visitors (healthcare workers, aides, and staff) to wear masks over their nose and mouth.
- Permit visits to specific hours only and limit the number of visitors per resident.
- Schedule visits in advance to enforce social distancing.
- Restrict visits to the resident’s room or other designated area at the facility.
- Perform routine screenings of healthcare workers and residents for potential symptoms.
- Limit activities with the facility to keep residents at a safe distance from one another.
Personalized Home Care for Your Loved One in Sussex County, DE
At Coastal Home Care, our caregivers are tested and adhere to CDC guidelines to ensure you or your loved one’s safety. With the COVID-19 vaccine supply gradually increasing, we will continue to uphold our promise to provide you or your loved ones the best personalized home care. We understand the difficulties you may be facing, especially during such a tumultuous time. Our Registered Nurses will support you or your loved one with companionship, Alzheimer’s or dementia support, medication management and much more.
Contact our home care providers at (302) 752-1800 to schedule an appointment today!