Virus Prevention Tips for Senior Home Care Providers in Boulder County

Follow these health and safety precautions when providing in-home care for seniors in Longmont, Boulder, Louisville and surrounding areas in Boulder County, CO

The coronavirus pandemic has forced us to change a lot of our habits and what was once normal can now be dangerous, especially when providing in-home care to an aging adult.

Family caregivers are naturally worried about their seniors, but the good news is that there are many preventative measures you can take to keep your loved one safe from coronavirus and other viruses.

Back to the Basics of Hygiene

Maintaining proper hygiene is of paramount importance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here is what home care providers can do protect their seniors:

• Be extra careful at all times and act is if you came into contact with the virus
• Before providing care, wash your hands, put on your mask and gloves and clean all high-traffic areas in the home
• Gloves may create a fall sense of security, so make sure to change them as often as possible

The Principle of Separation

In order to reduce the risk of the virus spreading, home care providers should keep items separate and clean. When caring for an older adult, you should follow these tips:

• Put long hair up and wear only small, washable items of jewelry
• Wear a clean pair of shoes in your senior’s home
• Wear short sleeves when providing care
• Wear clothes once and wash them as soon as you get home

When it comes to shopping and running errands, here is what you should do:

• Bring only essential items with you
• Have a hand sanitizer in your pocket at all times
• Use bags that can easily be wiped down and disinfected
• When possible, sanitize groceries and other bought products
• Upon returning home, clean keys, wallet, credit cards and bags

As far as cleaning and other home tasks are concerned, in addition to following some of the tips already mentioned, you should be particularly careful to:

• Clean high-traffic areas like doorknobs, counters, remotes
• Wash fruits and veggies and thoroughly clean the prep area before and after cooking

Virus Protection for Seniors in Boulder County

Since older adults are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, make certain to adhere to these safety tips as well:

• If your senior is with you in the car, do not drive anyone else
• Have your senior wear a mask indoors when someone is in the house
• Your senior should always wear a mask when going outside
• Do not let your senior go to places with lots of people, like stores, post offices, and pharmacies
• Take your senior for daily walks in the neighborhood or somewhere in nature
• Remind your seniors to wash their hands and practice good hygiene habits

At Visiting Angels of Boulder County, our team of home care providers are following these precautions, as well as staying up to date with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We want to make sure our caregivers and clients throughout Boulder County stay safe during these difficult times.

For more information on virus prevention and how Visiting Angels of Boulder County can help keep your loved one safe and healthy, contact our office in Longmont, CO today!

Visiting Angels provides personalized in-home senior care services for families in Allenspark, Boulder, Eldorado Springs, Erie, Hygiene, Lafayette, Longmont, Louisville, Lyons, Nederland, Niwot, Pinecliff, Ward and the surrounding areas of Boulder County, CO.