Home Not Alone Caregiver Services, Inc.

Coronavirus Disease

October 13, 2020

Home Not Alone Caregiver Services, Inc. Coronavirus Disease October 13, 2020 Home Not Alone Caregiver Services, Inc. cares about the health and safety of our caregivers and clients. HNA has implemented a number of policies to help decrease the possibility of contacting and spreading the Coronavirus Virus.
Caregiver Preparedness Self-monitor before going to your shift for signs of Covid-19. Signs and symptoms are cough, fever, shortness of breath and decrease of smell and taste. If you experience any of these symptoms call the office immediately. Schedule a doctor appointment and if he recommends it, get tested for the Covid 19 virus. The quarantine period for Covid 19 is 14 days. We strongly suggest everyone in your household be tested. After you receive your test results your physician must sign a release for you to return to work. Wear a mask at all times when out in the community and when working with your client.
Client Care: When visiting your client assess them for any signs or symptoms of illness. Some symptoms of Covid 19 are coughing, fever, shortness of breath and a decrease of taste and smell. If your clfent displays any of those symptoms you must leave the client's home but not the premises and immediately call the office for further instructions.
Client visit protocol: Caregivers will wear a mask when in the community and when entering any client residence whether it be an apartment or a private home. When working in an apartment building, wear your mask when walking in hallways, using the elevator, doinp laundry in a common area or taking out the trash.
All caregivers will pack a bag with a clean set ol clothes, shoes and socks. Before entering the client's home, remove your shoes and put them in a plastic bag or leave them at the door. Go directly to the bathroom or designated changing area, wash your hands, change into your clean clothes. Put the clothing you removed into your bag along with all personal items (cell phones, jewelry, keys, purse etc.) Leave the bag in the bathroom until the end of your shift. Do not take any personal items into the client's living space. If you need to use your phone, use it in the designated area and return it to your bag. Wash your hands before and after using the phone. If you are scheduled to visit a second client, you will need to pack a second bag and change clothes at the second client's home.
Disinfect your client's phones and doorknobs at the start and end of your shift. Wash your hands with soap and water before and after doing personal care and cleaning. Disinfect counters, sinks and bathrooms daily. If you have questions regarding this policy, call the office. Anyone not following this policy is subject to suspension or termination. Transporting Clients in your Vehicle Disinfect your vehicle before picking up your client. The caregiver and the client will wear masks when in the vehicle. Caregiver will assist client with the mask to ensure that is properly fitted. Avoid crowed areas, use food pickup if possible for groceries, keep doctor appointments if possible and please stay safe.

Office of Developmental Programs Page 1 of 4 Reissuing Guidance on Masks, Screening, and Handwashing 06-10-20 Masks: Cloth Face Coverings and Surgical Face Masks Wearing a face mask has been recommended by the Secretary of Health to stop the spread of COVID-19.
It is expected that staff who provide services wear a face covering or a mask during the entirety of service provision. The only exception is if the staff person lives with the individual. Masks should be worn by staff and individuals during activities in the community. Please note: Cloth face coverings are not considered Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and should not be worn in place of a surgical face mask when caring for an individual with COVID-19.
In accordance with current Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidance, cloth face coverings should: • fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face • be secured with ties or ear loops • include multiple layers of fabric • allow for breathing without restriction • be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape Masks should not be placed on children younger than 2 years of age, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated, cr otherwise unable to remove the covering without assistance. }f an individual has trouble breathing or other medical conditions that may be worsened with wearing a mask, seek clarification with the health care practitioner regarding mask use. It is important to keep in mind that some individuals may not be able to tolerate a mask or may be afraid or unsettled when others wear masks.
The ODP Individual Transition Guide contains some questions that address the use of face masks. In addition, the following may help an individual adjust to wearing a mask: • Using the Wearing a Mask Social Story on the ASERT website • https://paautism.org/resource/wearing-mask-social-story/. There is also an animated version available here • Ensure that the individual knows that the individual will be able to breathe while wearing a mask if that is a concern • While wearing masks, look in the mirror and talk about what it is like to wear a mask • Decorate a mask so the mask is personalized and fun to wear • Show the individual pictures of other people wearing masks • Use masks with a clear window where staff/caregivers’ months can be seen sucln as these Office of Developmental Programs Page 2 of4 • Pin a picture without a mask of the staff or caregiver on the staff or caregiver's shirt
• Screening Guidance Providers must screen the following: • Direct service professionals or other staff, contractors, or consultants that render face-to-face services to individuals • Family or friends with whom the individual will have face-to-face visits • Individuals receiving services. Screening of individuals is not required if they are currently diagnosed with COVID-19 Screening
Questions: 1. Do you have a fever equal to or higher than 100.0 degrees or respiratory symptoms such as new or worsening cough, shortness of breath, or sore throat?
In the past 14 days, have you had a potential exposure to COVID-19? A potential exposure means a household contact or having close contact within 6 feet of an individual with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 for at least 10 minutes. The timeframe for having contact with an individual includes the period of time of 48 hours before the individual became symptomatic.
2. Are you currently diagnosed with COVID-19, have a test pending for COVID-19, or been told by a medical provider that you may or do have COVID-19? 3.
Additional screening considerations for individuals with ID/A: In addition to the typical symptoms of COVID-19 as identified by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), ODP providers have noted that for individuals with ID/A, COVID-19 infection has caused muscle aches, weakness or a change in baseline behavior without or prior to respiratory symptoms emerging. Providers should closely observe individuals for weakness or other changes in behavior that may be indicative of illness.
Screening Guidance for Residential Settings • Residential providers should continue to follow the Long Term Care Guidance for Screening and Infection Control established by the CDC and found at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019- ncov/hcp/long-term-carestrategies.html. Office of Developmental Programs Page 3 of 4 Screening Guidance for the Provision of Transportation Trip Services Based on the answers to the screening questions, transportation trip providers should take the following steps: A. If the answer to all three questions above is "no," then the individual can use transportation trip services. Transportation trip services should be arranged in a manner that limits the driver's physical contact with the individual and allows for social distancing. This may require fewer people in a common vehicle or more individual rides. B. If the answer is "yes" to just one of either question 1 or 2 above, the individual can use transportation trip services under the following circumstances: o The individual is transported as an individual ride; o The individual, if able, should wear a mask prior to entering the vehicle. o The driver must wear a mask. C. If the answers to both questions 1 and 2 above are "yes" or the answer to question 3 is "yes," then in addition to complying with guidance in "B" above, transportation trip services should only be used for medical care or medical appointments under the direction of the individual‘s health care practitioner. Screening Process for Other HCBS Services.
Providers (including Agency with Choice Financial Management Services organizations) must have a protocol to ensure that staff and individuals have been screened using the above screening questions prior to services being delivered. • Common law employers in the Vendor Fiscal/Employer Agent model are responsible for establishing how screening will be completed. ODP will release additional guidance to assist common law employers with establishing this process soon.
• When a direct support professional answers "yes" to any of the above screening questions, the direct support professional should not render face-to-face services and back-up plans should be implemented. When an individual receiving services answers "yes" to any of the screening questions, the individual should not participate in any community activities and appropriate steps should be taken to ensure follow-up if COVID-19 is suspected as a result of the screening. The individual's health care professional will provide additional guidance on the appropriate timeframe to return community activities.
Office of Developmental Programs Page 4 of 4 Handwashing Handwashing prevents the spread of infection. The following information should be provided to all staff: The CDC recommends washing your hands frequently and avoiding touching your face. Wash your hands when entering and leaving the home or community setting; when adjusting or putting on or off facemasks or cloth face coverings; or before putting on and after taking off disposable gloves. Follow these five steps every time. 1. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap. 2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails. 3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the "Happy Birthday" song from beginning to end twice. 4. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water. S. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them. Jf soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Flu Season The symptoms of the flu are like those of Covid-19. People sick with flu may experience fever, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue or vomiting and diarrhea. Staff must be mindful that these conditions overlap and the person showing symptoms should be tested for both flu and COVID 19. Continue to clean frequently with disinfectant and continue to use stand precautions.

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