Every industry and individual has been impacted in some way by COVID-19. We have all had to learn to adjust to a new way of living, working, and connecting with one another. While some challenges are minor inconveniences, others are massive and life-changing. For the home care industry, we have had to make significant changes to how we care for our employees and clients at this time to ensure everyone is safe.
At Ella Home Care, we believe that health and well-being comes above anything else. We want to see our clients live the highest quality of life as long as possible. COVID-19 has made it difficult to navigate the balance between social distancing and also being able to help care for our clients. For the most part, this just can’t be done virtually. Here is an update on how Ella Home Care is caring for our clients and staying safe during the pandemic.
Consistent Communication
Clear and consistent communication is invaluable, always and especially as we navigate the changes and challenges of COVID-19. For Ella Home Care, this includes keeping our staff educated and updated on COVID-19 and CDC recommendations. As we implement new policies, we are sure that our caregivers are aware and adhering to them. Additionally, we frequently check in with our caregivers to ensure they and their families are well and taken care of.
Additional Training
Though Ella Home Care historically provided infection control training to our employees, additional training has been provided to combat COVID-19. Frequent reminders are communicated to employees including the importance of hand washing and not working when sick.
Frequent Health Checks
Our employees are required to have their temperature checked prior to the start of each shift. This also includes screening questions recommended by the CDC. If there are any concerns of their health or exposure to COVID-19, we adjust accordingly.
Protective Measures
We supply our caregivers with appropriate personal protective equipment like gloves, masks, hand sanitizer, and disinfectant wipes before they go into any client’s home. We also provide recommendations for their interactions with clients so they and the client are as protected as possible.
Reporting Issues or Concerns
Our caregivers know to report any changes in a client’s condition including if there is suspected exposure to COVID-19. We keep an open line of communication with our caregivers so that this information is documented and we can make adjustments to their care accordingly. Administration staff checks in with our clients as well.
Limiting Contact
Though we love visiting our clients, our administration staff has made the majority of our interactions with caregivers and clients contactless. Additionally, we reorganized schedules to limit the number of caregivers coming to one client without sacrificing care.
Ella Home Care knows the current circumstances is extremely challenging for our clients and caregivers, physically, mentally, and emotionally. We look forward to when we can be together again, face-to-face, and until then we will continue to take every precautionary measure to stay well.
