Virus Prevention Tips for Senior In-Home Caregivers in Westminster, CO and Surrounding Areas

For caregivers who provide senior in-home care in Westminster, Broomfield, Northglenn and surrounding areas in Colorado, it’s important to maintain proper hygiene in order to keep the seniors they work with safe

There’s no doubt that the current pandemic has completely disrupted our lives and how we interact with one another. Due to its abnormal impact on the elderly, it’s only natural to be worried about the health and safety of your senior loved ones. So, how can you keep the elderly in your life protected from an infectious disease like the coronavirus?

Alecia Pineo is the owner and director of Visiting Angels of Mid-Maine and is also a registered nurse, and she is offering some simple ways to be protective of loved ones while providing senior in-home care.

Going Back to the Basics of Hygiene During the Pandemic

How Pineo says you should be thinking about the coronavirus is to, “act as if you have come into contact with a virus that has contaminated your clothes and belongings”. Having this sort of mindset while providing senior in-home care will allow you to be extra careful about what you touch and how you interact with the elderly.

Pineo also says that it is a good idea to wear gloved but only if they are changed frequently. “Gloves still get dirty, and you can spread germs. Don’t forget to change gloves often, and wash your hands as well”, Pineo says. A lot of the work in preventing these viruses from spreading is just observing the basics of hygiene. Also, when providing care for a senior loved one, Pineo says it’s good to wear a mask because it keeps you from touching your face.

The Principles of Separation

It is also critical to keep objects separate and clean surfaces so that germs don’t have a pathway to travel. Pineo offers some of the following tips when providing senior in-home care:

• Leave jewelry and other accessories off that could carry germs
• Put long hair up in a bun
• Bring clean shoes and wear them in the house, leaving old ones outside
• Wear clean clothes and short sleeves
• Use bags that are easy to wipe down and disinfect

Cleaning and Other In-Home Tasks

It is important that before providing any care that you first take off your dirty shoes and clean them. This should be followed by the washing of hands and putting on the mask.

After that is completed, you can:

• Wipe down the high-touch areas in the home like faucets, doorknobs, counters, remotes, etc.
• Wash fruits and vegetables and make sure to sanitize the cooking area when preparing meals

To find out more helpful tips, follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention first or contact our Westminster, CO office for further information.