Agape Home Care - Coronavirus (COVID-19) Protocols
Home care providers are part of “essential” services to the community and are therefore permitted to continue working. All agape home care staff who are able to continue serving our clients, and who meet the following criteria below, are requested to continue meeting the critical needs of our frail and dependent senior population through this difficult time:
Due to the contagious nature and potential dangers associated with the Coronavirus (COVID-19), especially to seniors and individuals with weakened immune systems and respiratory issues, Agape Home Care staff should not have any contact with clients under the following conditions:
1. If you are exhibiting any signs of illness including (please check temperature daily, report any symptoms to supervisor): fever, persistent/dry cough and shortness of breath.
2. If you have traveled, or had contact with travelers, outside of the US OR within any known Coronavirus (COVID-19) hot-spot in the past 14 days.
3. If you have interacted with someone who has been tested positive or is presumptive positive for Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Agape Home Care staff are to observe the following precautions while serving their clients:
1. Ask everyone in the home the following three questions, and notify your supervisor if there is an affirmative answer to any of them: 1) “Are you exhibiting any signs of illness including: fever, cough, sore throat, congestion, runny nose, and/or shortness of breath?” 2) “Have you traveled, or had contact with travelers, outside of the US OR within any known Coronavirus (COVID-19) hot-spot in the past 14 days?”; 3) “Have you interacted with someone who has been tested positive or is presumptive positive for Coronavirus (COVID-19)?
2. Wash hands at the beginning and end of each shift and between activities where physical contact with people, soiled linen and/or supplies and any food preparation (follow hand washing protocols - www.agapehomecare.org/infection-control).
3. Wear latex gloves and mask during your shift whenever possible (if available), changing gloves between activities where physical contact with people, soiled linen and/or supplies and any food preparation (follow gloving protocols - www.agapehomecare.org/infection-control).
4. Sanitize working surfaces during your shift whenever possible, especially food preparation areas, bathrooms and medical supply/medication areas (follow infections control protocols - www.agapehomecare.org/infection-control).
5. Maintain minimal physical contact (social distancing) with patients and other individuals in the household, only have direct contact as is necessary to perform critical tasks required for their care.
6. Encourage clients to self-quarantine as much as possible: avoiding unnecessary excursions outside the home (it would be preferred for caregivers to do shopping and run errands on their behalf) and discouraging unnecessary visitations to their home.
Please confirm that you have read, understood and intend to follow the protocols listed in this announcement by completing the online form below, and thank you for your assistance in meeting the care needs of our clients… we need you during this critical time!