COVID-19 and Elder Care: What is happening?

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Out of 1224 skilled nursing facilities located in California, approximately 85% of them have reported more than 20 cases of COVID-19. https://abc7.com/los-angeles-county-coronavirus-la-nursing-homes-ca/6114057/

Latest CDC statistics show that 8 out of 10 deaths reported in the US have been in adults 65 years and older.  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/older-adults.html

How does COVID-19 spread?

1.     Person-to-person contact
2.     Respiratory droplets via a cough or sneeze
3.     Close contact with an infected individual(s) within 6 feet for 10 minutes
4.     Contact with infected surfaces or objects

What can you do to help?

  1. Help Prevent the Spread

    1. Wash your hands often with soap at running water for at least 20 seconds

    2. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers that contain at least 60% alcohol if you can not wash your hands

    3. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands

    4. Use tissue or paper towel if you have to tough commonly touched surfaces

    5. Practice 6 feet of “physical distancing”

    6. Ensure your vehicle, work materials, and clothing are cleaned every day

    7. Get your recommended vaccines e.g. flu shot

    8. Wear a cloth face mask when going out in public

 

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms are listed here on CDC’s website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fsymptoms-testing%2Findex.html

 

What do you do if you present with symptoms?

1.     Contact your physician immediately

 

What can Kaleidoscope Home Care do?

If your loved one is NOT showing symptoms of COVID-19 and not tested positive for COVID-19

  1. Kaleidoscope Home Care enforces the strictest standards for hygiene and practices all recommended CDC guidelines.

    1. All of our caregivers are trained and provided with PPE’s to do their jobs as safely as possible

  2. We will work with you, your family and your physician with instructions for daily care.

  3. All of our caregivers are tested for COVID-19. Additionally, we screen our caregivers daily for symptoms. 

  4. Our caregivers will wear gloves, KN 95 face masks, and face shields (if requested by clients) and practice the recommended hygiene practices as recommended by CDC.

 

If your loved one presents symptoms or has tested positive for COVID-19 and has been recommended by your physician to be isolated till they are no longer infectious, Kaleidoscope Home Care will elevate its level of care to accommodate your level of need in the following manner:

1.     Isolation: The client should be isolated from others in the home and we encourage our clients in this circumstances to not accept visitors to their home unless the person is a caregiver who has been screened for Covid-19 AND has appropriate PPE’s

2.     With the door closed

3.     With their own bathroom – if the bathroom is shared, proper disinfection protocols need to be practiced with cohabitant though not advised

4.     Disinfection Protocols – our caregivers will disinfect frequently touched areas, including but not limited to, doorknobs, hand & bed railings, remote controls, faucets, toilets, playing cards etc., according to guidelines enumerated by CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/disinfecting-your-home.html

5.     Our highly trained and skilled caregivers are equipped with masks, face shields, eye protection, and disposable gowns when entering the room and trained to follow procedures to ensure the safety of our client to meet the clients needs

Sources: CDC, California Depart of Social Services