Family & Nursing Care and COVID-19
In-Home Support for Seniors During COVID-19
Last updated: 11/2/21
Older adults are extremely susceptible to severe illness from COVID-19. The CDC currently recommends that older adults take steps to ensure they are protecting themselves from getting and spreading COVID-19 when they interact with others. This includes being fully vaccinated for COVID-19, including a booster dose. In-home Caregivers are serving as a vital link to keep seniors safe and cared for.
In February 2020, Family & Nursing Care assembled a COVID-19 Task Force that continues to meet as needed to review current information, make adjustments to our procedures as necessary, and manage our response to this crisis.
The safety and well-being of our Clients and families, our staff, and Caregivers are our top priorities. To that end:
- We are encouraging all Caregivers to get the COVID-19 vaccine and applicable booster doses. The vast majority of working Caregivers are fully vaccinated.
- We are not referring Caregivers who test positive for COVID-19 until they have tested negative or we receive a health clearance from their health care professional.
- We are not referring Caregivers who have a known exposure to COVID-19 until they have tested negative for COVID-19 at least three days after the exposure.
- We are not referring unvaccinated Caregivers who are known to have traveled outside the region via public transportation (example: planes, trains, buses, etc.) until they have received a negative test after isolating for 3 days or have remained symptom free for 10 days after their return.
- Any Caregiver who has worked with a client who has tested positive for COVID-19 will not be referred for work with other clients until the Caregiver tests negative for COVID-19 at least three days from last exposure.
- Caregivers are expected to follow CDC guidelines and use proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Our COVID-19 testing coordination team alerts Caregivers as to how to get tested for COVID-19 and how often.
Other Measures We are Taking:
- Our office team has begun a phased approach to returning to work in the office, including following strict COVID-19 safety guidelines. Fortunately, over the past few years FNC invested in the technology to make remote work possible.
- Home and Senior Living Community visits by our Client Services Team were limited to absolute necessity, and have been resuming while ensuring proper COVID-19 safety procedures. Our staff is fully available for phone calls and video conferencing when needed.
- We have been working closely with the Senior Living Communities in the area and provide updated information regarding each of the community’s unique protocols and COVID-19 testing procedures to our staff and to the Caregivers as needed.
- We continue to reinforce to Caregivers to wash their hands properly, to stay home when they are sick, and follow the recommendations from the CDC whenever possible.
- Our COVID-19 task force meets when needed to review any new information and recommendations from local and national health authorities. We stand ready to make any changes necessary at any moment.
- Mass text messaging capability with Caregivers enables us to share information in real time.
For in-home care for older adults in Washington, DC
and Maryland, call 301-588-8200 or email us.