Covid-19 Resources
Important information regarding Coronavirus COVID-19
As a service provider of home care services, we have a duty of care to all our staff and clients. At Home Care continues to actively provide our staff with masks, hand sanitizer and gloves.
In line with government guidelines and At Home Care’s (AHC) own infection control protocols, AHC has advised all employees if they meet any of the following criteria, they are to self isolate from clients and other staff of AHC:
- Have been diagnosed as having COVID-19
- Returned from overseas in the last 14 days
- Have any cold, flu, cough or other symptoms
- Have been in the presence of anyone with positively diagnosed or undiagnosed COVID-19 symptoms (including if the other person is required to self-quarantine).
Your safety
With the increased spread of COVID-19 within the United States, AHC is taking a number of precautionary actions to mitigate and protect all clients, staff, and their communities as much as is practical.
Our plans for organizational health and safety for all persons includes;
- Honoring each service agreement and schedule of supports to the best of our ability to maintain continuity.
- Reviewing all service agreements, contracts, and plans for case by case strategies on how each client wishes us to provide ongoing services as well as reducing outside unnecessary interaction to protect the clients and our staff.
- Ensuring all staff, both in the community and in our office, fully engage in AHC’s policies around hygiene and universal precautions.
- Ceasing all nonessential travel.
- Monitoring all Federal and State Government communications regarding best practice or guidelines for reducing COVID-19 transmission and adjusting our policies and procedures where required.
Maintaining service continuity
We have actioned our organizational continuity plans and can positively say that we will remain open for business and service provision both now, and in the foreseeable future unless restricted.
Further information
As this health event continues, we will maintain communications and provide information to all clients, customers and staff to maintain safety and confidence.
The developing outbreak of the COVID-19 virus is being closely monitored by the Department of Health and updated information on the virus can be found on the state department’s website. For more information about coronavirus (COVID-19).
Actions we all can take
We urge you to check the Department of Health’s website regularly and implement isolation and good hand and sneeze/cough hygiene.
You should:
- Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water, especially before and after eating, and after going to the restroom. Hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if and only if soap and water are not available.
- Cover your cough and sneeze using a tissue or cough into your elbow (rather than into your hand), dispose of tissues, and use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if available.
- Minimize contact with other people including not shaking hands when greeting, do not embrace, and do not greet with kissing.
- Be especially careful when having contact with people over 50 years of age and people with medical conditions.
- And if unwell, avoid contact with others (stay more than 10 feet from people).
How to treat a Virus
90% of healthy adult cases thus far have been managed at home with basic rest, hydration over-the-counter meds.
Things you should buy:
Kleenex, Acetaminophen (Tylenol) in 325 mg tablets, Ibuprofen (Advil) in 200 mg tablets, Mucinex, Robitussin or DayQuil/NyQuil, whatever your cough medicine of choice or doctor recommendation and approval. If you are have a history of high blood pressure, be mindful in your choice of over the counter medication. Cough drops, and chest ribs can help ease the discomfort.
*Buy some Vitamin C, Tums, Pepto Bismol, Gatorade, Juice, Soup, Saltine Crackers, Rice, Bananas, Applesauce, Jello, Gingerale, Ginger, Lemons, Oranges, Honey.
*Toothbrushes: Brush often and change your tooth brushes after having a cold or any respiratory infection.
Get/Use a Humidifier. * A drop or two of Peppermint and/or Tea Tree oil is good to add in a steamy shower. * Buy an Air Cleaner.
Make a batch of soup to freeze and have on hand. *Add Tumeric, Onions, Celery and Garlic helps with inflamation/congestion.
If you have Asthma or any chronic disease, make sure you have your Rx inhaler and all medications. 21 day supply is a necessity. Missouri Medicaid has made allowances to be lenient on the refill time restrictions.
*Change/Replace your furnace Air Filter!
Fever Care: For a fever over 101, alternate Tylenol and Ibuprofen so you’re taking a dose of one or the other every 3-4 hours with doctor consent.
*Remove heavy clothing or blankets from you and children with a fever. Wear light clothing, take cool sponge baths to help reduce a fever and cool your body.
For a Cough: Use both cough suppressants and expectorants (most cough meds have both). *Use a chest rub and sugar-free cough drops. *Warm Honey and lemon tea with 1/4 tsp of Tumeric and Ginger powder, which may help cough as well.
*Cover your cough with a tissue, and throw the used tissue in a plastic grocery store type or ziplock bag. Wash your hands often.
*Keep a plastic bag by your bedside to throw away your used tissues after coughing and sneezing. Tie it shut after each tissue is used and thrown bag away often. Clean your bedside table with Lysol often.
Drink water often, hydrate hydrate. 1 glass of water every hour while awake unless contraindicated.
Rest: *Change and wash your bed linen, especially your pillow case often, when your feeling sick.
*Wash your hands and face often. Use correct hand washing technique and washing for at least 20 seconds. Keep your hands off of your face and out of your mouth.
*Daily sanitize your telephones, remotes, keyboards, refrigerator and cabinet handles, door knobs, light switches, hand railing, toilets, tubs and countertops.
If you’re sick, you should not be leaving your house except to go to the doctor, and if you do, wear a mask (a regular mask is fine, you don’t need an N95).
GO TO THE ER for shortness of breath or trouble breathing, or you have a fever. The hospital beds will be used for people who need oxygen/breathing treatments/IV fluids.
If you have a lung condition (COPD, emphysema, lung cancer) talk to your doctor about what to do if you get sick.
Stay your distance from others and large crowds , for at least 2 weeks after you’re no longer sick.
We wish to assure you that our plans are first and foremost in place for your continued health and safety.
All our staff and clients are At Home Care’s number one priority, and we appreciate your cooperation with this.
We will continue to provide updates on AHC’s response to the COVID-19 threat and any further actions we take in minimizing the risk to our staff and clients.
Please contact AHC corporate office if you have any concerns.