How to Remain COVID Safe as a Home Caregiver
As a home caregiver, you have an essential job of caring for patients and making sure all their needs are met. With that said, it’s normal to have a handful of patients that you care for on a daily basis, which means you’re going in and out of various people’s homes each and every day. While this may not have been something you gave a thought to pre-COVID-19, today it’s a very different situation. Keeping yourself and your patient safe from COVID is something that will very much be a part of your job as a home caregiver. Here’s a look at some basic tips you can use that will help you to remain COVID safe.
Make Sure You Always Have Fresh Healthcare Supplies
A good idea is to put together a healthcare supply kit, if you will, that contains all the essentials to protect you and your patient. While you can certainly stock the kit with single-use supplies, reusable supplies should also be considered as they tend to be more economical and are certainly more environmentally friendly.
Reusable face masks, which you can find at MIP Cares, are some of the best reusable healthcare supplies to pick up. These tend to be very comfortable since they often are adjustable – allowing for a more secure and snug fit, and are meant to give you that physical barrier and reduce droplet emissions. Of course, whatever level of PPE you choose must follow the guidance and rules set forth in your particular region.
Allow for Proper Ventilation During Visits
Proper ventilation is another step in keeping you and your client safe. Windows should be opened whenever it is possible, and an air purifier with a HEPA filter would be wise.
Limit the Number of People at Home
If the patient you are caring for lives with others, the number of people in the house should be limited when you are on-site. Anyone that is in the home should be wearing a mask. Physical distancing is also recommended (from those living in the household, not the patient).
All Equipment and Items Will Need Proper Disinfection
Because all the tools, equipment, and items you bring in the house and use on the patient will then need to be disinfected, you’ll want to be sure you only take in the essentials.
Stay Vigilant on Self-Monitoring
The final tip is to stay vigilant where your own self-monitoring is concerned. If you display any possible signs of COVID, it’s important to get tested right away and not visit your patient(s) until you know you are safe. On the flip-side, patient screening is also important – as the same sort of signs and symptoms should be monitored to ensure nothing is passed along to you.
All of these tips are designed to help keep you and the person you are caring for as safe as possible during COVID. The more layers of protective measures you can use, the safer everyone will be.
