2020 Covid-19 COMMUNITY WIDE DRILL SUMMARY

As our preparations and safeguards continue to develop, the first step that One Care, Inc has taken was to reach out to both clients and caregivers outlining what coronavirus is, how coronavirus spreads, how to try to prevent it, and more. Preview below the summary of some measures and topics we have presented.
 

As a home care provider, we’ve prepared our caregivers and care managers with the tools they need to care for their clients during this trying time. Clients, caregivers, and care managers all need to be working together by doing their part individually, but we’re doing all we can to make our services as safe as possible and to help stop the spread of coronavirus. Some of the extra measures we’ve taken and educated on include:

​

•  Employee self-quarantines for those who have been out of the country

• Increasing the cleaning frequency of all public areas

• Preparing emergency prep for clients including food stocking and security measure

• Planning for the worst-case scenario

• Actively changing protocol, procedures, and communication methods as the situation
  develops and new information is received

​

COVID-19 Specific Measures
 

One Care, Inc is working tirelessly to make sure our facilities are clean and those in our care are taken care of. We are teaching the best measures we know in handling this global crisis.
 

These measures should be taken to prevent the further spread of the virus or to help protect yourself or patients in the event of a long-term quarantine:

​

• Use household cleaning products that destroy the virus (Clorox, Lysol etc.).

• Call ahead to doctors appointments, hospitals, and urgent care if you have reason to believe
  you’re infected, so they can prepare for your arrival. According to the CDC, severe symptoms
  include high or very low body temperature, cough, shortness of breath, confusion, or feeling as
  if you might pass out.

• Plan for more help, if the situation reaches more critical levels, we are working to layout “Plan
  Bs” and “Cs.” Should this happen we will be in constant communication, but families and
  friends should have mutual backup plans as well.

• Purchase items selectively, making sure to spend wisely and buy non-perishable foods and
  other supplies that make sense for the long term

• Stock foods that are easily digestible and relatively bland for those who are ill, and ask a
  medical professional what drinks, in the absence of water, would be appropriate for preventing dehydration to the affected individual

​

t’s hard to always stay in contact when you cannot physically see each other, but now more than ever the effort is necessary. It is a known fact that the elderly are at an incredibly higher risk during these times of uncertainty due to Coronavirus and COVID-19. If you are in the younger group of people who are at a much lower risk, you still want to care for your family members that are at high
risk, but that can be difficult when you cannot go and give grandma and grandpa a hug.

 

While you may not be sick, you could still be carrying disease or dangerous bacteria, so practice social distancing even further than with those in your normal social group. Separating older people from younger people is key because the mortality rate is much, much higher in the older age group.
 

Stay In Contact
 

One of the dangers with social distancing is losing contact with those you care about, and bringing
loneliness to yourself and others. Keep in touch with your elderly relatives and clients in any way that
you can. Thankfully, we have dozens of ways to interact with each other. Some ways you can talk to
your relatives and clients safely include:

• Phone calls

• Text messages

• Video calls — Skype, FaceTime, Zoom

• Online messages

• Social media

 

Go Out For Them
 

Your clients, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and other elderly relatives still will need provisions and other things from outside the home. Take this opportunity to do any shopping and errands that are necessary for them! You can request their list or pick up anything they need and drop it off. In either case, place the item on the porch or outside the door for the other to get from a safe distance. You can still wave and talk through the window or at a distance, but avoid all physical contact if possible. If you are dropping off groceries or other items, be sure to clean the boxes and bags before you leave them to avoid contamination. As hard as it may be, it is still important that you do not enter the home, and do not come in physical contact with them.
 

This period is difficult for all involved, but it won’t be here forever. Thanks to social distancing and other preventative measures, this will eventually come to an end and you will be able to hug your clients and relatives once more. We must just remain vigilant throughout the whole time as this could take months to fully run its course.
 

Continue following One Care, Inc throughout this time to learn more about our trainings, services or to keep up with what is happening in the world and the current best practices for caring for each other, your clients, elderly friends and relatives.