Should home care workers wear a face mask at their client's homes during the COVID-19 pandemic?

My 91 year old dad is in late stages of dementia and frail although he has no other co-morbidities. I have hired (privately, no agencies) a team of 4-5 caregivers who work various shifts caring for him 24/7.
I provided clothe masks that they must wear anytime they are within 6-8 feet of him, especially during up close contact such as shaving him or preparing his food. However, we also provide sanitizing spray such as MicroBan which caregivers use 2x per shift on any surfaces my dad might touch such as doorknobs, sink faucets, etc.
I discourage glove use because if not handled correctly, they do more harm than good re: cross contamination. I do NOT recommend putting a mask on a frail man at anytime he is in his home and not showing any sign of illness.
I have Nanny Cams in areas where my dad spends time other than bathrooms and guest bedroom where caregiver sleeps. Our team knows that I can “peek” in at anytime to hold them accountable re: wearing the masks as required. They have all been wonderful at following this guidance. I do not require them to wear the masks when they are spaced away from him by at least 6 feet. We even provided clips for them to clip masks to their own blouse so it’s handy for putting on quickly if they need to tend to him.
Lastly and important: the masks I provided them are for at my dad’s home ONLY and they are to be washed daily. If they want masks for any other place they go such as grocery stores, they have to wear one of their own.

My mother has an RN visit each week. I asked if she would wear a mask while treating my mother. This was at the start of the pandemic. No problem with nurse wearing a mask. I put a mask on my mother while she is being treated. I would asked the home health workers to wear a mask, it is in the best interest of your parents safety.

I live in a IL apt complex close to my mother. All healthcare workers, delivery ppl, or any other type workers wear masks at all times. Im in central Florida. In addition to the masks they are required to wash their hands for 30 seconds upon arriving and every hour while they are with patient ( home health ppl) Sure hope you can get this situation corrected. Even if there is a no mask in place, it is just common sense that the workers wld not want to expose your parents like this....

Short answer is, absolutely yes!!

Absolutely yes! If they are from an agency, I would recommend you call and ask the agency how they are educating, screening, testing, and training their staff when it comes to COVID-19. How are they limiting risks of exposure to their clients? Are these workers wearing disposable gloves? Are they supplied with masks? What kind? Do they wash their hands immediately upon entering the home before donning gloves? Do they take their temp before work? Are they sure not to come to work even with a "cold?" Are they keeping the same workers with the same clients and not shuffling people around? Nursing Homes (such as where I work as a healthcare provider)and Assisted Living Facilities went into lockdown with no visitors with people isolated in their rooms and still the infection rate soared and continues to do so. That must mean that there are many asymptomatic carriers of the virus eluding the screening process and passing the virus when providing care. Until there is a fast, reliable and widely available test for the virus, and/or a vaccine, care providers must do everything in their power to minimize transmission of the virus both at work and in their personal lives. They bear an added responsibility because they provide care to a vulnerable population. This is a new world, and if they don't take this seriously, you might want to consider switching to care providers who are making steps to meet this challenge. A mask may play a part in lessening the chance of spreading the virus, but there's more to it than that.

If your care providers are not from an agency, they will have little access for education, support, screening or PPE. I advise you to check it out.

Yes they should ! As the owner of my Home Care Agency ALL of my employees MUST wear face mask and gloves when going into a client's home while providing services. We want to make sure everyone is safe in every direction.

I would insist upon it.  If you want them to wear a mask, tell them to wear a mask.  Otherwise you are exposing your loved ones to EVERYONE they have been around.  Yes, it is very hot and very uncomfortable, but they are healthcare workers they should understand.

ABSOLUTELY!!! YOU MAKE IT YOUR OWN HOUSE RULE. Prior to the quarantine, I had masks that I gave all who visited. It wasn't in our home state in reports yet. When the first was reported I posted a sign in the window that we were self quarantining. This was prior to March 1st. Look where we are now. look on line find a sign print it i couldn't include one here and post in the window even if you aren't there.

Before the pandemic I had five caregivers covering a 24/7 schedule for my 89 year old dad in Oregon (I live in California). To limit his risk, I reduced to three caregivers, based on their personal situation and assurances they would be adhering to shelter in place orders outside of dad’s home. I have not asked the carers to wear masks during their long shifts, due to the fact that it would be terribly uncomfortable for them, and would no doubt confuse my dad who has dementia. Instead, I require them to leave their Purse, coat and shoes at the door, where they also sanitize their cell Phones and wash their hands and scrub their nails before seeing my dad. This seems reasonable to me, but I’m interested in hearing others’ responses. Thanks for posing the question.

Yes, yes and yes!

Disposable gloves too!!