COVID-19 Information
The safety of our clients is always a primary concern. We wanted to share what we are currently doing to protect you and your loved ones and also discuss contingency planning.
As with any developing situation, our response will be constantly evolving to fit the current status of the best available information.
We have always asked caregivers to stay home when they are sick. This has not changed and caregivers are all aware. We are in constant contact with our caregivers and each time we speak with them we ask how they are feeling to make sure they are not symptomatic.
We have re-emphasized hand washing. It is required to wash their hands when they enter and leave a client’s location. They have also been reminded of proper handwashing technique. Here is a link to a video that displays how to make sure you clear your hands of any dangerous virus or bacteria.
We highly value communication and we talk to most of our caregivers multiple times a week. Our care managers will be asking questions of the caregivers to see if they have been in any at-risk situations.
Home is the safest place for seniors and we will continue to help maintain a clean and healthy environment.
For clients we serve who reside in facilities or other group-type living situations, we are already working closely with the facility on any protocols, exchange of information, or other guidelines as necessary. While no facilities have barred entry to caregivers at this point, many are taking heightened security precautions and we are following those requirements.
Facilities are limiting or denying family visits, and following that idea for those that live in their own homes is a practical idea. This will limit exposure. Phone calls and video chats are encouraged to maintain connection without increasing risk. If the senior does not have access to this technology, please contact us and we will help in any way possible.
Many of our clients are especially at risk, given their age or health demographic. We are vigilant about our need to help protect these individuals from illness, be it the flu, COVID-19, or any other communicable disease. These measures are not new to us as we seek to minimize risk regularly for our clients, regardless of an outbreak such as this new coronavirus.
If it is suspected that the Caregiver has been exposed or is showing symptoms, they will be sent home to recuperate and a replacement Caregiver will be assigned.
1776 will be disseminating a special COVID-19 training to our caregivers in the next week. The training has been developed by a professional caregiver training company. This will provide the caregivers with the most up-to-date information.
We are instituting a no-handshake policy in our office for interviews. Our care managers come in contact with caregiver applicants each day who are looking to care for your loved ones and we want to make sure any virus is not spread between them and our care managers.
Our Caregivers and Care Teams are considered essential employees and during the current shelter in place order in Illinois, care will continue uninterrupted.
At this time caregivers can receive gloves for use when with clients. As with most organizations, we have ordered personal protective equipment and when the deliveries are received, we will make them immediately available to our caregivers.
Contingency Planning for You or Your Loved One
We will make every effort possible to provide our clients with safe and appropriate care and seek to avoid canceling shifts, however, we cannot guarantee this will not occur given the uncertainties about this situation.
Depending on the severity of the spread of illness in communities or the response taken by national and state authorities (ex. mandatory isolation, closure of schools, etc.), our staffing levels could be affected. As a result, we may be unable to cover all shifts. We will triage severity of client cases if this time approaches and we will work with our clients to make sure everyone gets the care they need. This may result in shortened shifts for some clients.
At all times, regardless of a viral outbreak or other situation, we strongly recommend that our clients have alternative arrangements for the provisions of care in the event we are unable to provide services. We encourage you to begin considering and putting into place back-up plans now, as the severity of the spread of this illness and planned interventions is still uncertain. Any client or family that needs help creating a back-up plan is encouraged to call the office and we can help develop a response and find resources.
We will continue to monitor the latest Coronavirus developments and guidelines on the CDC.GOV website and that we are also in contact with the Illinois Department of Public Health and Dupage County officials.