While community transmission of COVID-19 continues to increase in some parts of Australia, it’s important to remain vigilant and to all do our part in limiting transmission. It can be worrying to allow people in to care for your ageing parents at home, so we’ve got some tips for creating a COVID-safe environment at home when receiving care.
We know that COVID-19 spreads through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. A person can acquire the virus by touching a surface or object that has virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose or eyes.
A key way you can protect yourself and others is by creating a COVID-safe environment in your home and have strict guidelines for care or support workers who are coming in to your home to assist you or loved ones.
By implementing the following measures you can help stop the spread of the coronavirus and ensure your parent’s home stays a safe haven.
What we can all do
- If you feel sick or unwell at all do not visit your parents (this obviously goes for anyone visiting your parents including carers or care workers)
- If you, your parent, or care worker has any COVID-19 symptoms, even a minor symptom, of respiratory illness, such as a cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny nose or nasal congestion, please ensure you (or they) have a test for COVID-19 as soon as possible. Health Direct has an online tool to help identify symptoms and provides instructions on what to do (i.e. when to go to the emergency department).
Symptoms include:- A fever of 37.5oC or chills (that is not explained by any other illness)
OR - acute respiratory infection (e.g. cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny nose or loss of sense of smell)
OR - loss of smell or loss of taste.
- A fever of 37.5oC or chills (that is not explained by any other illness)
- People must self isolate if:
- they have COVID-19
- they are a close contact of someone with COVID-19
- they have been tested for COVID-19 and are awaiting results.
- If you, your parent, or care worker has any COVID-19 symptoms, even a minor symptom, of respiratory illness, such as a cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny nose or nasal congestion, please ensure you (or they) have a test for COVID-19 as soon as possible. Health Direct has an online tool to help identify symptoms and provides instructions on what to do (i.e. when to go to the emergency department).
- Clean and disinfect objects you use often such as mobile phones, keys, wallets and work passes
- When paying for goods or services, use tap and go instead of cash where possible
- Practice good hygiene, physical distancing and adhere to the guidelines for limits on public gatherings
- Wear masks when physical distancing is not possible.
What you can expect care and support workers entering your house to do
- Keep re-iterating that they should not enter into the house if they are at all unwell and should get tested immediately if they have any COVID symptoms
- Ask if they have been trained in COVID-19 infection control. The Australian government has a free 30-minute online training session available for care workers
- Check that they have not been in a COVID-19 hotspot (without having been tested) including having cared for those living in a hotspot
- Wash hands and sanitise upon entering the home. Ensure each worker has their own towel to dry hands or uses paper towel
- Ask the workers to have a spare set of clothes that they can get changed into if they have arrived via public transport
- Workers should wear a mask if they live in a known hot spot, however it would be wise to ask them to wear a mask throughout their visit if practically possible
- Implement appropriate cleaning and disinfecting measures in your home. A combination of cleaning and disinfecting will be most effective in maintaining a virus-free space. You can ask your workers to help do this more often if domestic support is part of their role.
Remember you can ask your parents’ carer to get tested and send you the results of their test.
If you have any concerns please call the National Coronavirus Helpline for advice about COVID-19 on 1800 020 080.
By following these tips and having good communication with your parents’ carers, you will be well on your way to creating a COVID-safe environment at home when receiving care.
Some useful links
Health Direct COVID-19 symptom checker – https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/symptom-checker/tool/basic-details
Free online training on COVID-19 infection control – https://www.health.gov.au/resources/apps-and-tools/covid-19-infection-control-training
Carers’ circle article on how to help your parents keep safe during COVID-19 – https://carerscircle.com.au/2020/04/26/coronavirus-and-elderly-people-how-to-help-your-parents-stay-safe-during-covid-19/
The Australian Government’s official website with COVID-19 information – https://www.australia.gov.au/
Link to the latest coronavirus information from the States and Territories – https://www.australia.gov.au/#state-government
Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for older people – https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert/advice-for-people-at-risk-of-coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-older-people
NSW Ageing and Disability Commission – https://www.ageingdisabilitycommission.nsw.gov.au/
Tips to help vulnerable older people and people with disability during coronavirus (COVID-19) – https://www.ageingdisabilitycommission.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/776381/Covid19-tips-for-vulnerable-people_ageing-disability-commission.pdf?fbclid=IwAR1rW-clvzIX1SMysRwMM69Z_9SanUAikj5ITcsxTFt6dwNNVIoMIteO2tQ
The original version of this article appeared on careseekers.com.au. https://blog.careseekers.com.au/2020/07/27/creating-a-covid-19-safe-environment-at-home/ Reproduced with permission.
Photo credit: Wash your hands with soap and water to protect yourself from coronavirus by Rawpixel
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