Life Force Live-in Caregivers Response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Added on March 6, 2020 by Life_Force_Eldercare

Life Force Live-in Caregivers sent out a memo to staff, clients and their families in response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) concerns. We are closely following the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and their recommendations.

First, it has always been our policy that if any Life Force staff leaves the country for any amount of time, they are to immediately have a physical when they return to the US. In light of the emergence and spread of the COVID-19 in the United States and abroad, we are requiring any of our staff that leaves or is returning to the US must have an immediate physical and can not return to Life Force for two weeks after the physical.

Second, Life Force requires all home health aides to attend an annual orientation which includes training on proper Infection Control standards. In our memo to our staff we have reminded them to continue to exercise the Infection Control standards. These are standards that are good for clients and family members to also follow.

Lastly, we also recommended to all to minimize interactions with the public which includes rescheduling doctor appointments that are not emergencies and try to avoid medical facilities if applicable. Keep yourself and loved ones at home as much as possible and avoid any unnecessary visitors to the home or traveling.

Below is what has been communicated to Life Force staff.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Awareness for Life Force Staff

This memo is to provide you with information about the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. However, as a reminder, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.

Symptoms of the COVID-19 include, but are not limited to, fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. Contact a healthcare professional immediately if you develop symptoms.

If you or anyone in your household has a confirmed case of COVID-19, please immediately contact an administrator at Life Force. If you are returning from a trip outside the U.S., you will not be assigned to a case for a minimum of 14 days, barring any symptoms. These steps are to ensure the safety of clients, participants, and co-workers.

For updates, maps and risk assessments of the COVID-19, refer to the Center of Disease Control (CDC) website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Any questions, comments, or concerns please call the Life Force Live-In Caregivers office at 800-200-3685 (This number operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week).

Guidelines for Hand Cleaning

Follow Five Steps to Wash Your Hands:

1. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold) and apply soap.
2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
3. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the "Happy Birthday" song from beginning to end twice.
4. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
5. Dry your hands using a clean disposable towel or air dry.

If soap and water are not readily available, you can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. You can tell if the sanitizer contains at least 60% alcohol by looking at the product label.

Video: What You Need To Know About Handwashing
Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

How to use hand sanitizer

1. Apply the gel product to the palm of one hand (read the label to learn the correct amount).
2. Rub your hands together.
3. Rub the gel over all the surfaces of your hands and fingers until your hands are dry. This should take around 20 seconds.

Video: Hand Rubbing Steps Using the WHO Technique
John Hopkins Medicine

Guidelines for Glove Use

1. Wear gloves, according to Standard Precautions, when it can be reasonably anticipated that contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials, mucous membranes, non-intact skin, potentially contaminated skin or contaminated equipment could occur.
2. Gloves are not a substitute for hand hygiene. a. If your task requires gloves, perform hand hygiene prior to donning gloves, before touching the patient or the patient environment. b. Perform hand hygiene immediately after removing gloves.
3. Change gloves and perform hand hygiene during patient care, if
1. gloves become damaged,
2. gloves become visibly soiled with blood or body fluids following a task,
3. moving from work on a soiled body site to a clean body site on the same patient or if another clinical indication for hand hygiene occurs.
4. Never wear the same pair of gloves in the care of more than one patient.
5. Carefully remove gloves to prevent hand contamination.

Video: The Globus Guide to Putting-on and Removing Non-Sterile Disposable Gloves
Globus Group

 

Guidelines for Donning and Doffing Facial Protection

Life Force recommends facial protection when there is a possibly of being exposed to infectious respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

Video: Donning and Doffing Facial Protection
mnhealth

Stay calm, safe and smart out there in these unsure times.