Some critics have called for changing the traditional nursing home system. The way that things are designed is just asking for trouble, the argument goes. Once the coronavirus was found in nursing homes, it was inevitable that many within those homes would be sick. This is one of the arguments used to explain why COVID-19 casualties were so high in a lot of senior care facilities. If this care was received in a more responsible way, the death toll would have been lower. At least, this is one of the lines of thought that has been put forth in an attempt to improve the care system as a whole.
While there are some issues with this kind of thinking, there are truths here. Whether we like it or not, COVID-19 has indicated that things need to change in order for our society to stay safe and healthy. This is especially true for the senior community.
The in-home care model is not exempt from the risks of the novel coronavirus. If a caregiver is sick, it could be very easy to spread it to an elderly individual receiving in-home care. There are clear dangers in this situation, even if they are not as readily apparent as they are in the nursing home model that has received so much attention over the last few months. We need to be vigilant here in order to keep our elderly loved ones as safe as possible.
What this will look like in the future is still uncertain. Right now, it means limited contact, masks, temperature checks on a daily basis, and constant COVID-19 screenings. It is inconvenient for everyone, but if it helps save lives, then it’s worth it. We don’t want to place anyone at risk, but we also want to help those that need it. A balance is needed.
We’ve all seen big changes in our lives, and it’s likely that a lot of them are here to stay. Even more changes are coming.
As professionals, we are doing everything we can to stay informed of what works and what doesn’t. Even more so, we are providing ongoing training for the people that we employ so that they can keep you and your families safe while they are out there serving. One of the things that we have said over and over is that we do our best to employ those that come to the senior care field for the right reasons. Now is the time where that is paying off. Senior care is hard on the best of days, and we are not in the best days right now. These have been some of the hardest days that anyone has experienced. Knowing that you have a caring team on your side is something that will only help.
We’re here to help. Don’t be afraid to reach out, even if it’s only for a few minutes of phone advice. Our goal is to serve the seniors in our community and we will continue to do so.
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