HCAOA The Voice Summer 2020

7 Spring/Summer 2020 FEATURE ARTICLE Home Care Agency Recommendations for Client/Caregiver Exposures AGENCY PREPAREDNESS CLIENT AWARENESS CAREGIVER GUIDANCE 1. Ensure all staff members understand agency protocols for addressing client or caregiver exposure to COVID-19 2. Agency should contact local health department for guidance on local guidelines for addressing COVID-19 exposures and reporting suspected or positive cases 3. Create letter templates for both clients and caregivers to inform them that they have come into contact with someone that has or is suspected of having COVID-19 Pull the caregiver from the schedule have them Self Quarantine , and tell them to speak to their Primary Care Provider about getting tested. 1. If Caregiver Will Be Tested a. F or a negative test result, caregiver can return to work after two negative test results 24 hours apart b. For a positive test result, have caregiver self quarantine for 14 days i. Follow local health department guidelines for Informing all clients and other staff members the caregiver has come in contact with in the last 14 days ii. If no symptoms appear within the 14 days, caregiver can return to work iii. If symptoms do present during quarantine, caregiver can return to work only after all 3 have occurred 1. 72 hours of no fever without the use of antipyretics 2. All symptoms have resolved 3. 7 days have passed since symptoms have started 2. If Caregiver will not be tested, have caregiver self quarantine for 14 days a. If no sympt oms appear within the 14 days, caregiver can return to work b. If symptoms do present during quarantine, caregiver can return to work only after all 3 have occured i. 72 hours of no fever without the use of antipyretics ii. All symptoms have resolved iii. 7 days have passed since symptoms have started 1. Inform client that they have come in contact with a caregiver that has been exposed to someone suspected of having COVID-19; advise to contact primary care provider 2. Assure client that their risk is low as they are a contact of a contact, but they should still follow exposure guidelines , including social distancing 3. If caregiver does not test positive for COVID-19 or shows no symptoms for 14 days, agency can continue care as planned. If the caregiver tests positive or shows symptoms during quarantine, then inform the client to begin self quarantine for 14 days and pause agency services 4. If agency cares for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases, refer to Recommendations for COVID-19 Care 5. Enact protocol for appropriate use of PPE 1 3 2 For potential exposures to COVID-19, we recommend implementing the following steps to ensure the safety of your clients and caregivers.