In-home Care during COVID-19?

My mom continued with the same evening sitter she had before Covid. The sitter has a full time day job. The benefits out weigh the risk to my mom. She is careful about wearing a mask and constantly sanitizing everything. The sitter cooks, shops, helps mom shower, monitors meds, checks her BP and does light housekeeping. Priceless

My 90 year old mom with Parkinson's had a caregiver from an in home agency twice a week to give me respite prior to COVID. I suspended caregivers until 2 weeks ago. Now I am having one caregiver for a couple hours once a week. She wears a mask, but I need to keep requesting her to wash her hands and sanitize what she touches. I think in home care is relatively safe, I needed to have some sort of respite and mom needed to see someone other than me.

I have had a HHA come four days a week , although once I had to turn her away when she arrived sickly. She had been wearing a mask, but I wasn't taking any chances with my 84yrold father.Depending on where you live and if it's a hotspot currently for Covid.Will also play a role in having someone come in the home.

Take it from someone that has a lost one that was in assisted living. I Put my wife into an assisted living home were she contracted the virus. I was married to her for 52 years. She was my life.

Andrew Cuomo Governor of you NY directed that  positive patients still  sick  from the virus to be sent to nursing and assisted living homes, they had no ppe safety equipment  and  infected  aids and seniors citizens wiith the disease and eventual murdering over 50, 000 poor people including my wife  . He made sure that his mother was taken out before he did this.  Words could not describe what I think of him and these home home that did not properly protect these loved ones

I live with and care for my elder parents (dad 103 and deaf and active) and mom (almost 98 with dementia). I also work part-time (now remotely from home). The bottom line is I have been doing this for years and I am 60+ and I wish I had more energy...but the truth is I don't and they are messy...very messy. I just can't do it all. Every weekend my list is made and my head is filled with "I should's". Last year we were part of a program that allowed for us to arrange for hiring privately someone that was to give me as a caregiver respite. Mom was negative and uncooperative in re to companionship or assistance with personal care. The care plan included light housekeeping. After weeks elapsed with no progress I focused on getting help with the housekeeping, in areas only my parents used and NOT even asking for the kitchen to be done. In the end I realized with help from people in this forum what I really might want/need was house cleaning help. And so I was going to go down that road and just about to turn down it when COVID hit. And knowing what I do, my attitude is now what I do and when I get to it to do it will be enough. I'm just not willing to take chances. If the person coming in has another job at a nursing home, they are potentially bringing in the virus, mask, gloves, help...but I'm just not willing to take the chances..it's not worth it. Health care people go home and some get undressed in their garages and shower before seeing family...that's how concerned they are. I was livid last night to see the credit card bill and realize my own father had gone to local stores (grocery etc) NINETEEN TIMES in a month. That means he brought the risk home to my mother and me who have been far more isolated. I've been doing the shopping and told him to give me a list. No matter how much reassurance and precautions anyone takes...there's still a risk. Most of the cases in our area have stricken those in nursing homes...but again, it's many of those workers who are not being paid adequately who take on 2nd jobs with the agencies hoping to not have to work much. IF I had to go forward, I would try to find a single individual who doesn't provide such care for anyone else...it is a horrible and challenging time for all of us.

My husband is a hospice patient and I only allow his nurse and the same shower aide to come into my home. Before Covid, I would get different nurses and aides, now I told hospice I will only permit his assigned nurse and only his male aide. For us, it has worked out well.

We continued my dad’s helper throughout this time, and now recently added in home hospice services. For him, the benefits far outweigh the risks. All who come in are careful and practice the recommended guidelines and there’s been no issue thus far. My dad is at peace with knowing this life isn’t forever, also knows Covid is similar to pneumonia in the elderly and doesn’t see that as the worst way to go, so he’s okay with it.

My mom was in a rehab center when Covid hit. I had to move to a downstairs apartment in order for her to come home as she is no longer able to walk without assistance. She was in the rehab facility to get stronger with the help of physical therapy. Shes been home since May 22nd and we have had home health nurses and physical therapists come in 3 times a week. They have all worn masks and sanitized their hands often. We also wear masks when they are here. The only exception is if my mom is having shortness of breath that day (due to COPD) then she removes the mask for a few minutes to help her breathe better. We were not asked to wear masks but my mom and i agreed it was the best idea. We haven't had any problems and the nurses and physical therapists are a blessing. We live in a city of about 200,000 in Washington state and our countys numbers are fairly low but slowly rising.

I’ve had in home care before the virus and continued when the virus appeared. I’ve had no problem. They wear masks and are very careful. sometimes I even let them remove their masks. So far, so good.

My housekeeper ( once a month, only works that job for my DD and I) also works part time for a home care agency. Since COVID, her part time job has boomed, as so many CGs quit . She has had no problems, none of her Pts have gotten COVID, nor have we. She is very clean and reliable, so for us it is win win. On her day here she cleans and entertains mom, and hubs gets a break to run his errends as she makes sure Mom eats, etc. And her hubs works for a durable medical equipment company and he is still healthy too.