Home Care Guide for COVID 19 (Novel Corona Virus) for Seniors and Elderly at Home in Greater Vancouver, BC
I have been asked by our staff and family member of our client’s that has been diagnosed with COVID 19 for the advice on how to care safely for seniors and how they should care and protect themselves.
Knowing that COVID 19 is a highly contiguous virus and can spread from one person to another person, I provide the following advice to staff and client’s relatives to protect themselves and others at home, as well as those in the community.
Vaccine
. Get Vaccinated even if you have had Covid before.
Limit Exposure
· Limit the number of caregivers. If possible, only one person should provide care.
· Personal items from an ill person, such as TV control, toothbrush, towels, bed linen, utensils must not be shared.
· Bathroom and a living area of the ill person must be separated.
Protect yourself
· If possible, older people or people with an underlying health problem that are at higher risk of serious complications from COVID 19 should not care for someone that has COVID 19.
Example of high-risk individuals include those with chronic medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, or compromised immune systems
· Maintain a space of 2 meters from the ill individual, as much as possible.
· If you need to be within 2 meters of the ill person, wear an N 95 mask, disposable gloves, and eye protection.
· Wear disposable gloves and mask when touching the ill person, their environment, and soiled items or surfaces.
· Do not re-use masks or gloves if you have supplies.
· Clean your hands often for at least 20 seconds, especially after contact with the ill person and after removing gloves, masks, and eye protection.
· Dry your hands with disposable paper towels.
· Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
. Ensure good ventilation and fresh air.
Keep the environment clean
· Place used masks, gloves, and other contaminated items in a plastic bag. Secure the contents and dispose of them with other household waste.
· Wash contaminated laundry with regular laundry soap and hot water (60-90°C), and dry in the dryer.
· Clothing and linens belonging to the ill person can be washed with another laundry.
· On a daily basis, use household disinfectants or diluted bleach (1-part bleach and 9 parts water) to clean and disinfect surfaces that people touch often (e.g., toilets, laundry containers, bedside tables, doorknobs, phones, and television remotes).
· Clean touch screens with 70% alcohol wipes.
Monitor yourself for symptoms
· If you have had direct contact with the body fluids of the sick person (e.g., you were coughed or sneezed on when you were not wearing a mask), contact your local public health authority or 811 for further instructions.
· If you develop symptoms, isolate yourself quickly for a minimum of 14 days while contacting the local public health authority or 811 for further instructions.
Written by, Touraj Ghanbar-zadeh RN