These are times of trade-offs.
On the one hand, we want to be with our family members and get help in preparing meals, being mobile around the house, bathing, dressing, and other activities of daily living.
On the other, having avoided Coronavirus by sheltering at home, we don’t want to get infected by people who’ve been out and about – whether home health aides or family caregivers – bringing Coronavirus in with them.
That’s why last week, on May 19, the CDC updated their guidelines for home health workers. They make good sense for family caregivers as well:
Check their own temperature every morning and night.
Monitor themselves for symptoms.
Wear facemasks at all times (or, to be extra sure, provide your own freshly washed face masks).
Wash hands or use hand sanitizer frequently.
When sick, call in sick; don’t show up for work.
In addition to observing these precautions, our home aides also change into clean clothing before each client visit. You might also want to put down a clean “barrier towel” by the front door, where health workers, family members or guests can leave their purses, bags, or anything else they’ve been carrying, to prevent carrying contaminants into the home.
If you or a family member needs home health assistance, or if have any questions about coping with the Coronavirus outbreak, or retirement years in general, please feel free to call or email us. Just as we always have, we’ll be happy to give you honest, objective answers.