Coronavirus Protocols For Living Assistance Services’ Caregivers In the Regions of York, Simcoe and Georgina May, 2020.
“Home definitely seems to be the safest place to be right now for older persons.”
To ensure the safety and good health of both our caregivers and our seniors and their families, Living Assistance Services Caregivers should consult and review carefully the documents sent to them previously by e-mail as follows:
- The Power of 5
- The Caregiver Emergency Preparedness Plan
- The On-line Covid19 Caregiver Training Package and Quiz
- Guidelines Ensuring that Caregivers have Proper Personal Protection Equipment (PPE)
- Caregiver Screening Form-to be completed and returned to:
Brian Porter, Director: [email protected]
Coronavirus Guidelines:
In addition to the above, caregivers must follow the guidelines below to the best of their abilities and according to the circumstances at work; these Guidelines have also been sent to all LAS seniors and their families as well as to all prospective ones who have contacted LAS since September, 2019.
- Caregiver Wellness and Screening Checks: Caregivers are instructed to stay at home when sick and must report this to the Director at 905-758-2486 when they are feeling ill. Although this is standard policy on illness, it is even more important to minimize the spread of COVID-19.
- Clothing: please bring a spare set of clothes to your senior’s home and place the ones already worn in a sealed bag. This will prevent the potential transfer of the virus from those clothes. Note too that there is an extreme shortage of gowns.
- Masks and Gloves: wear a mask when possible, especially when the situation does not allow you to be 2 metres or 6 feet apart. Also, wear gloves especially when accomplishing tasks like laundry, taking out garbage, cleaning and disinfecting bathroom, kitchen and other surfaces and helping with personal care activities.
- Hand Washing.…frequently, please!
- Testing: it is not generally available except by means of a medical professional or a Testing Assessment Centre at a hospital, where health care workers do have priority. Suggest that you Google ‘Coronavirus Testing Centre’ to locate one near you.
- Communication: please keep in close communication with the Director.
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Help in Minimizing Loneliness Associated with Social Distancing
The effects of isolation are felt by millions of people and older persons especially are at increased risk for feelings of loneliness, especially at this time when visitors, even family, are restricted in the home. With “stay at home orders” and “self-isolation” in place now, and certainly for seniors for the longer term, loneliness, helplessness and boredom are real problems which seniors will face more than ever…
Here is what you, as a Living Assistance Services professional, can bring to your Senior at home to alleviate this sense of isolation and loneliness:
- Happy, joyful conversation and companionship—and, with a sense of humour!
- Shared ideas to address the loneliness, helplessness and boredom that social distancing causes by staying active in meaningful and purposeful activities, such as those associated with philanthropy, current events, spiritual and recreational activities or others of a senior’s personal interest.
- Keeping people engaged in activities of daily living, such as participating in cooking, artistic endeavours and continuing with personal hygiene and grooming each day
- Continuing person-directed care by ensuring, when appropriate, seniors’ participation in decisions about daily living activities.
- Facilitating connection with friends and family via virtual access
- Others?
