Updated: April 27, 2020
Circle of Care always has the health and safety of our clients and employees at heart, and as the COVID-19 situation evolves, so do our practices.
We have implementing a new strategy that will aim to keep our clients and employees safe when delivering and receiving care in the client’s homes.
- If you are sick and experiencing symptoms such as a fever, new/worsening cough or shortness of breath, please call the office immediately and do not report to work
- If you have been asked to self-isolate, or if you are living with someone that has been asked to self-isolate, please call the office and do not report to work
- If you are returning from abroad, please call the office and do not report to work until we have gathered all the necessary information to deem you ready to return into the community safely and deliver care to your clients.
Role of Personal Support Workers & Clients:
1) Prior to entering the client’s home, please ask them these questions (located on your cell phone app): Do you (or any family members in the home) have a new cough, fever or shortness of breath?
a. If the client answers “yes” to any of these, and they are classified “High Needs”, you must put on your surgical mask and then wash your hands immediately after entering the home. Please practice safe physical distancing (6 feet when not performing personal care). When you are performing personal care, please put on your gown, goggles/eye shield and gloves.
b. As soon as you complete the screening tool on your mobile app, a CSS will be notified of a positive screen (i.e., answered yes to any of the questions) and will follow up directly with the client
c. If the client answers “no” to all of these questions, enter the home and wash your hands. Please practice safe physical distancing (6 feet when not performing personal care). In this situation, although not directed by Public Health, you, the client, or family member may feel more comfortable wearing a surgical mask and gloves.
2) Regardless of the client symptoms, DO NOT shake hands, hug or kiss your client. You can simply greet the client with a smile!
3) When providing personal care to your client, please wear the appropriate personal protective equipment. See the following chart below for the appropriate PPE based on client and service.
4) Please ensure to review the video on how to don and doff your personal protective equipment (PPE). When you use PPE properly, you play an important role in helping to reduce the risk of spread of any types of viruses. If you do not follow the don and doff instructions accordingly, you are putting yourself, your clients, and your own family at risk of passing on germs or viruses.
5) If you notice during the visit that your client is unwell, please notify the office immediately.
6) Before leaving a client’s home, please make sure that you have removed all PPE and washed your hands. Washing your hands frequently continues to be the best line of defense in spreading the virus to others.
7) DO NOT enter another client’s home with the same gloves used from a previous client. Effective as of Tuesday March 31, we ask that you try to conserve masks as much as possible. You can wear your surgical mask while seeing multiple clients, but once wet, damaged, soiled, you should immediately dispose of the mask.
8) If your client is required to touch your phone or other devices, please have your client wash their hands first (where signatures are required). If the client declines to wash their hands or sign, please notify your CSS at your earliest opportunity.
9) If at any point you touch your face mask, immediately perform hand hygiene. It is important that you avoid touching your face mask as much as possible, as touching your mask can increase your risk of infection.
Who should be wearing Personal Protective Equipment and When?
| Client Condition | Activity | PPE Recommended/Required |
|---|---|---|
| No symptoms | Personal Care | Surgical mask and gloves recommended* |
| No symptoms | Other activities (i.e. food prep, medication reminders, light housekeeping etc.) | Surgical mask and gloves recommended* Physical distancing required |
| Clients with a new cough, fever, shortness of breath, or self-isolating and/or confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 | Personal Care | Surgical mask, gloves, goggles and gown required |
| Clients with a new cough, fever, shortness of breath, or self-isolating and/or confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 | Other activities (i.e. food prep, medication reminders, light housekeeping etc.) | Surgical mask, gloves, goggles and gown required Physical distancing required |
* It is your responsibility to make sure that you have necessary PPE to manage all of these client scenarios
If you are running low on supplies, please call the office immediately to book a time to pick up additional supplies.
- You may receive either a surgical mask or an N95 mask. Both can be used when providing patient care, depending on what we have in stock.
- You can wear your surgical mask while seeing multiple clients, but once wet, damaged, soiled, you should immediately dispose of the mask.
- You can keep your mask safe in a paper bag or an envelope between clients. But do not store the mask in a plastic bag.
- Take extra care when removing this mask as this is when self-contamination may occur.
Tips for working in the community
Please practice physical distancing (staying away from others at least 6 feet apart)
When using building elevators:
- Press elevator buttons with your elbow
- If there are many people entering the elevator, wait for the next one
- Use hand sanitizer after touching surfaces. If hand sanitizer is not available, please wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
- DO NOT touch your face
When knocking on a client’s door:
- Use your elbow to knock
- If you use your hands, DO NOT touch your face
- When the client opens the door, keep physical distancing as much as possible
- As soon as you enter, WASH YOUR HANDS
Questions?
If you have any questions about your PPE, please contact your Client Services Supervisor (CSS) immediately.