Trusting in Home Senior Caregivers during COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging for all medical providers, including those caring for seniors in Colorado Springs. Our number one goal, as home caregivers, is to provide safe and trusted care for seniors in the comfort and safety of their own homes.
The pandemic created obstacles when caring for seniors, as they are more at risk than other age groups. Concerned loved ones may ask questions such as these: “Is in-home senior care safe during the pandemic?” and “Can we trust in-home caregivers to keep our seniors protected?”.
The simple answer is “yes”. At Gentle Shepherd Home Care, we want to allay any fears or worries when considering in-home senior care for your loved one.
We have and continue to address and any pandemic-related hurdles. We want to reassure families in Colorado Springs, Gentle Shepherd caregivers provide safe and trusted care.
COVID-19 Concerns when caring for Seniors
While any risk of COVID-19 infection is serious, the perils seniors and those with medical conditions face are immense. Gentle Shepherd Home Care shares the same concerns as family members with a senior needing in-home care. We are happy to share how we resolved and circumvented COVID concerns:
Shortage of Caregivers
An overall shortage of home health workers during the pandemic caused stress and strain on the system. Between quarantines, social distancing, and new mandates, there has been a reduction in available staff. However, Gentle Shepherd continues to recruit and train a team of professionals to meet the needs of our clients. We have a loyal staff that remain dedicated to those we care for.
We Provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Access to PPE was a hurdle for medical and care providers during the early months of the pandemic, but we are happy to share that we did and do have ample supply of necessary protection to care for our clients. With the rollout of vaccines, there is a decreased need for PPE at this time, which is good news for anyone impacted by COVID.
Specialized Care for Dementia Patients
There have been additional COVID related concerns and guidance for those who care for Dementia patients. Those who suffer from dementia are more difficult to diagnose infection among as they often do not or cannot report symptoms to caregivers. Gentle Shepherd in-home care providers pay special attention to the signs and symptoms that could point to an underlying illness.
Some of the signs of infection to watch for among dementia patients are:
- Mood shifts: Sudden and profound sadness, increase in agitation
- Increase in confusion
- Chills and/or repeated shaking
- Cold/Flu-like symptoms: Fever, Muscle Pain, Headache
What we know now
Even though the pandemic is not yet over, more is being discovered about COVID-19 and its variants to keep people safe. Let’s not forget about the vaccines; over half of the population has been vaccinated. Gentle Shepherd Home Care does require all staff to be fully vaccinated as well. If your senior loved one has not been fully vaccinated and would like to be, call or speak with your in-home care provider to learn more.
We understand that this continues to be a confusing and scary time. The COVID-19 pandemic has presented challenges and hazards we have not seen before. Rest assured, the staff at Gentle Shepherd continues to protect our clients, while maintaining scheduled visits and continuity of care. To learn more about elderly in-home care, call us today at Gentle Shepherd Home Care. We are a premier and locally owned senior home care provider serving Colorado Springs and its surrounding areas.
