Important Virus Prevention Tips for Senior Home Care Providers in Eldersburg, MD and Surrounding Areas

Here’s how senior home care providers can stay safe and healthy while providing care for older adults in Eldersburg, Westminster, Baltimore, Ellicott City, Columbia, Randallstown and surrounding areas in Maryland

The new coronavirus almost drove the whole world to a standstill, disrupting our lives and altering how we interact with those around us. With the constant presence of COVID-19 in the media and in our daily lives, it is only natural to be concerned and anxious if you are providing senior home care for an elderly family member or you’ve hired a professional caregiver from Visiting Angels Eldersburg to care for your loved one.

Here are some useful tips on how to keep your senior loved one safe and protected from viruses and illnesses.

Back to the Basics of Hygiene During the Pandemic

During the crisis, we have to keep our hygiene and cleanliness of spaces at a much higher level, especially when caring for an elderly individual. Before providing care, wash your hands and put on your mask. Refrain from touching your face and make sure to clean all high-traffic objects and areas in the home. Wear gloves too, but make sure to change them often. You see, much or the work in preventing the spread of the virus comes down to tackling basic hygiene.

The Principle of Separation

By keeping household objects separate and clean, we can prevent viruses from spreading from one location to another. When looking after an elderly parent or client, senior home care providers might want to:

• Wear long hair up
• Leave jewelry at home or only wear washable pieces
• Bring clean shoes to wear during every visit
• Wear short sleeves and clean clothes that are to be washed afterward
• Use bags that can be easily disinfected

Grocery Shopping and Errands

When going to the grocery store or other places, senior home care providers should remember to:

• Bring only essential belongings into the shop, store or market
• Wipe contact surfaces like door handles, keys, credit cards and grocery bag handles upon returning
• Keep sanitizing wipes in your car and have a hand sanitizer on you at all times

Cleaning and In-Home Tasks

When coming into a senior loved one’s home, first and foremost, take off your dirty footwear and wash it. After this, wash hands with warm water, put on the safety mask, and proceed to:

• Disinfect surfaces such as doorknobs, faucets, counters, remotes and so on
• Always wash fruits and veggies if you are going to cook
• Make sure to sanitize cooking/preparation areas such as stove and countertops before and after meal preparation

Virus Protection for Seniors

Unfortunately, older adults are the most vulnerable age group for catching infectious diseases, especially coronavirus. If you act as a senior home care provider, follow these safety tips to keep your loved one unaffected:

• If you are driving your care recipient somewhere, avoid taking someone else with you
• Make certain your senior wears a mask when outdoors
• Do not let your senior come into the grocery store, but do allow and accompany them for a walk while ensuring they practice social distancing outside
• Remind them to wash hands throughout the day
• Pay special attention when providing hygiene assistance or performing other close-contact tasks

These suggestions, combined with safety guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, can help you prevent the spread of any illnesses, not just COVID-19.

Call our Eldersburg, MD office today to learn more about how our senior home care services can keep your loved one safe, healthy, and comfortable at home throughout their golden years.