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The coronavirus is not halting its rapid rate of infections. As new variations, like omicron and delta, steadily emerge, the virus continues to cause worldwide turmoil. When seniors or their caregivers test positive for Covid-19, specific health safety protocols must be followed.
Older adults have a higher risk for experiencing health complications if they become infected with the coronavirus. Seniors who suffer from Covid-19 may require hospitalization, ventilators to assist with breathing, or intensive care. Older people infected with Covid-19 may even die.
Aging increases the severity of Covid-19 symptoms. The risk for developing serious illness is higher in people in their 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s. Seniors who are aged 85 and older are most likely to develop severe complications from a Covid-19 infection.
Covid-19 is highly a contagious respiratory infection. Specific variants of Covid-19 are more transmissible than others. Transmission occurs through infected respiratory droplets emitted by sneezing, coughing, talking, or laughing. Handling contaminated materials and then touching one’s face can cause illness.
Due to the fact that the coronavirus is easily transmitted from one individual to another, it is critical that those who test positive for the virus respond in ways that protect themselves and others. Seniors and caregivers are urged to abide by the following protocols to keep people safe.
What actions should seniors take?
Quarantine
Elderly care recipients who are clients of a home care agency must immediately notify the agency if they test positive for Covid-19. Upon providing notification, the older adult should enter quarantine for at least 10 days. By the tenth day after symptoms begin, the senior should no longer be contagious.
Notify Caregivers
The senior should identify all the caregivers who have provided care and notify them of the positive Covid-19 test results. These caregivers must undergo testing for Covid-19. The case manager overseeing the senior’s care should also be notified of the positive test results.
Suspend Care Services
Depending on the level of severity of Covid-19 symptoms, caregiving services may be suspended. The home care agency will assess the situation to determine whether or not a suspension is advisable. A temporary suspension of services will occur during the 10 days the senior remains in quarantine.
In the event caregiving services cannot be suspended, the senior must arrange for the caregiver to continue care while wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) for a full two weeks. PPE includes a face shield, isolation gowns, swabs, gloves, N95 masks, and alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
What protocols should caregivers follow?
Alert the home care agency
A professional caregiver who tests positive for Covid-19 must notify the home care agency immediately. The public health department should be alerted about the caregiver’s positive test results. The infected caregiver must quarantine for 10 days to prevent infecting others.
Notify the Care Recipient
The caregiver must then notify the client of the positive Covid-19 test. The professional will provide test site information to the elderly care recipient so that he may get tested for the virus; or the caregiver will call the senior’s doctor to arrange for the senior’s Covid-19 test.
Retake a Covid-19 Test
If the infected caregiver is no longer symptomatic, she can return to work after 10 days of quarantine. Alternately, the caregiver must retest twice, 24 hours apart, and show negative results. Upon receiving a negative test result, the caregiver may return to work.
Sometimes, seniors simply experience flu and test negative for Covid-19, read How to Protect Seniors from the Flu to help your beloved elderly.
Complete an Incident Report
The senior’s case manager should be notified about the test results. A copy of the caregiver’s Covid-19 test results should be sent to the home care agency’s human resources department. An incident report will be completed, and the incident will be added to an infection log.
Covid-19 tests may at times be inaccurate, and the level of accuracy primarily depends on how the sample was taken. Timing is also a factor: Getting tested immediately upon infection may lead to false negatives, since the viral particles in the nose and saliva are too minimal to detect.
However, getting tested for Covid-19 may produce more accurate results when the testing is done a few days after becoming infected or symptoms appear. In general, it is almost certain that a positive test result will show that the individual is infected with the coronavirus.
Vaccinations and boosters are the most effective ways to prevent severe illness from a Covid-19 infection. Seniors and caregivers who are vaccinated should continue to wear face masks when around others who test positive for the virus; they are advised to also get tested themselves.
Those who are vaccinated have a decreased chance of infecting others. This means that for caregivers and others in the service fields, vaccinations are an important health safety measure. Vaccinated individuals may also be contagious for a shorter period of time.
Home care is the most preferred form of elder support. Health safety precautions must be taken to protect the health of care recipients and caregivers. When you need a home care agency that abides by all health regulations during the Covid-19 pandemic, turn to Assisting Hands Home Care.
As a leader in senior care, our caregivers support the daily needs of the elderly population. We provide in-home help with the activities of daily living, from support with personal hygiene to meal preparation and transportation. Your elderly loved one’s nonmedical care needs are fully met every day.
Assisting Hands Home Care offers a wide range of flexible care options. Our caregiving professionals are available for short-term respite care, 24-hour care, post-operative care, and hospice care. We serve as excellent companions and deter the loneliness and isolation that can distress seniors.
Matteson, Crete, Lansing, Mokena, Bourbonnais, Frankfort, Illinois, seniors are encouraged to call Assisting Hands Home Care for the most compassionate elder care in the area. We offer a complimentary in-home consultation so that families and their loved ones learn about our dependable services. Call (708) 880-7711 today to schedule quality home care.
