Almost ready to get in-home care, just stuck with COVID-19 worries and looking for support. Do you worry about the possibility of caregivers infecting your loved ones?

I just can’t worry about that, as I have caregivers coming every day to care for my wife. My alternative is putting her back into a facility where she had contracted Covid in the past. Now she’s home where only caregivers and myself are near her (and family). I feel it’s much better now. We all have expiration dates, so I look at it as I did my best, and let the chips fall where they do.

This actually happened to me and my 94 yo mother. We are unvaxxed because we have counted the cost and found that it's not worth it - it doesn't keep anyone from contracting or transmitting covid, and the ingredients are unknown. Nevertheless, one of my caregivers had a "little cough" (I didn't notice it and she didn't say anything) and 2 days later she texted me that she was sick and both she and her husband had covid. Within 4 days my mom and I tested positive. So. I found a functional doc who prescribed Ivermectin and had a paramedic come to my home to give us both the Monoclonal antibodies. We were much better within 24 hours. Honestly, there is risk with everything and we could have contracted any type of influenza. It didn't necessarily have to be the one they call covid. She also has physical therapists and nurses who come in and out of the house and they can't stop touching their masks which is unsanitary. But I refuse to live my life in fear and my mother feels the same way. Peace.

You are your own best advocate and you deserve a break. In fact, your own health depends on it! COVID isn't going away anytime soon. I spent nearly 2 years caring for my own parents during COVID and we had 5-6 different Hospice team members in & out of our home every week. They took precautions to mask or (in some cases) double-mask upon request. Many confessed that they were not vaccinated.

You can hire a Certified Nursing Asst (CNA) through an agency, but be aware that many agencies do NOT require COVID vaccinations for staff. Ask to see the agency's written staff policy for COVID protocol as this is what the employee is required to follow. In your own home, you can certainly mandate that the caregiver wear a mask and eat at a distance. I set up a caregiver handwashing station, complete with antibacterial soap, paper towels, spare gloves, and a trash can with a lid. I also used a spray disinfectant after each person was done with their shift (overkill, some would say). Ask for a regularly assigned CNA to reduce the number of people that your mom will be exposed to.

The alternative is to go private care and you can require a copy of the CNA's vaccination card and regular testing as long as you notify the person - in writing - before hiring them.

By bringing in help, you're taking care of everyone's health while increasing your own quality of life. Go for it.

Way back before we had Covid I had to care for my mom who had advanced COPD. Back then, just getting a cold could have killed her. We didn’t the best we could and tried to keep symptomatic people away from her but there will always be risks. Covid is here to stay and it’s not going to go away. We all need to quit living in fear. You can have caregivers take a covid test is you are worried and that’s the most you can expect. Hand washing and other things we’ve always done to stop the spread of illnesses will have to do. Your sanity when being a caregiver is very important. I had respite care when I took care of my dad who had dementia. It was only a few hours twice a week but I don’t know how I’d have done it without that. Get the helpers you need and leave the rest up to God.

We all worry about Covid. Just heard yesterday that "The Nation's Doctor" (I am guessing they mean the surgeon general) and his entire family just got covid, and they were quick to say that they are all fully vaccinated and took all other precautions. I think we are seeing that more and more, and are being told now that rather than pandemic we need to see this as epidemic (haven't yet researched the difference) and protect ourselves against severe results, meaning I guess we cannot shut down the world forever, and this is going to be, like the common cold, with us. Hoping we don't get the severe effects we should research and decide what's best for ourselves--for me that means fully vaccinated and taking care in crowded or enclosed places, and on we go with real life. I think Covid-19 in some variation is with us forever now. Its severity will impact elders and the "weaker" ones in the herd, as is true of all disease.
This doesn't mean that we cannot live life, or cannot live a quality life; we just have to accept that we cannot live without some risk.
All of that said, what if you take on all the 24/7 care, and you weaken, and you get covid-19? What if YOU die? What then for your Mom?
You need to make this decision for yourself. I myself would not risk my own life in this when any one of you could at any time get covid-19 from anyone else. Tell Sis you have made your own decision for your own well being, and if she is sad about that or mad about that there is nothing you can do about it, would be my advise.

I am not going to tell you what to do. I am only going to share how we have handled caring for our mom during covid. She has dementia, but can still live at home by herself. My sister and I take turns going over everyday to make sure she has meds, clean, make sure we bring meals so she does not cook, etc. Neither my sister or I have limited our activities during all of this. We went out to eat when restaurants were open, went shopping, got together with family who was not living in total fear, but could not see the ones who isolated themselves for over a year. My husband and I have not gotten covid, my sister has not gotten covid and mom has not either. We use hand sanitizer, just like we have before covid to lessen the chance of getting the flu or a cold, sanitize shopping cart handles, just like before. We wear a mask only when required to. One thing we do differently than everyone that I know who has gotten covid is.....we take effective amounts of vitamin D, vitamin C, and zinc., but mainly vitamin D. I am not claiming a cure or a miracle, but some of us in our extended family are vaccinated and some are unvaccinated. Of the ones who got covid, NONE of them were taking vitamin D. Of those of us who have NOT gotten covid, all of us have been taking vitamin D through all of this. Do some research on the effects of vitamin D on viruses. I have now gotten to the place where I ask people often if they have been taking vitamin D. Still, I have yet to find one person who got covid while taking it. I would welcome anyone to post their own personal experience on this.
Bottom line here for you, rosadelima, is that it certainly can't hurt if you make sure you add this to your routine.

Life is moving on..........every man, woman and child are at risk. Amazingly, people are still making babies and bringing them into this pandemic; that is life doing what it needs to do. Life and death are the Yin and Yang; get mom her 4th vaccine and get the support you need. Let go and Let God.

We've had caregivers for 10 years and round the clock through Covid the last several years.

Most of my caregivers get tested on their other jobs several times a week. Most of our caregivers have had covid over the last 2-1/2 years. Most of our caregivers are vaccinated and boostered.

Is your Mom vaccinated and boostered?

We require the caregivers to wear masks and do a temp check upon entry. They can remove their masks to eat and drink if more than 6' away from Mom.

There are risks to everything in life. A loved one is at risk for covid in the home, in a care home, in a nursing home, in assisted living and in the grocery store.

Do your best to mitigate the risk.

Read this story from the Atlantic on the topic: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2022/02/home-health-care-covid-vaccination/622029/

As you feel strongly about this, don't sign any contract (agency or indy) that doesn't guarantee that every caregiver be vaccinated. Ask for proof of vaccination for anyone new.

No I don't worry about My CNA giving my parent Covid . I would worry more in a NH or ASL . As Long as they wear Gloves and a mask you should be fine .