November Newsletter | Abcor Home HealthAbcor Home Health

November 4, 2014

What can I do to prevent a Cold or Flu?

As an elder you can cover your cough and wash hands, and report any symptoms of cold or flu to your doctor, family, or caregiver.

*Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

*If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)

*While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.

*Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

*Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.

*Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.

*Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like the flu.

What can my Caregiver do to prevent a Cold or Flu?

Your caregiver will follow the same standard precautions that you will such as hand washing and covering a cough.

Your caregiver will wear a mask and gloves during shift if either of you will display any symptoms of sickness.

In addition your caregiver can wipe down surfaces and often touched areas in your home with antibacterial cleaner.

Caregivers can assist you in preparing healthy meals for a balanced diet, and remind you to drink plenty of fluids.

Every September Abcor Home Health encourages all staff to receive Flu and Pneumonia Vaccines.

Homemaker Do`s:

1. Assistance with household chores, such as cooking and meal preparation, cleaning and laundry.

2. Assistance with shopping and appointments outside of client’s home.

3. Companionship.

4. Observation of client functioning and reporting changes to his/her supervisor or employer.

5. Completion of appropriate records documenting services provision.

6. Assistance with activities of daily living and personal care, such as:

– Skin care

– Ambulation: assistance with the use of walkers, canes, or wheelchairs

– Bathing

– Dressing

– Exercise: encouragement of normal bodily movement and the following of a prescribed exercise program

– Feeding: normal eating assistance, not feeding tubes or IVs

– Hair care: shampooing, drying, combing, and styling hair

– Mouth care: denture care and basic oral hygiene

– Nail care

– Changing position: in a bed, wheelchair, or couch

– Shaving

– Toileting

– Medication reminders

Homemaker Don’ts:

1. Move furniture, wash walls and windows, shampoo carpeting

2. Pack or unpack heavy household items when moving to a new residence

3. Heavy duty cleaning such as “spring cleaning”

4. Lift over 15 pounds

5. Lift the client- repositioning and transferring only

6. Administer medication of any kind

7. Change bandages or dressings

8. Perform blood testing for diabetes

9. Change catheters or tubes of any kind

10. Administer enemas or suppositories

11. Perform any type of personal care without wearing protective gloves

12. Wash floors on hands and knees – only with a mop

13. Shovel snow or do outdoor work like cutting grass or raking leaves

14. Climb on ladders or chairs to reach or clean high items

15. Be subject to verbal or physical abuse by the client or members of family

16. Work in an unsafe or unhealthy environment

Bottom Line:

Our Home Care Aides are trained to assist our clients with basic daily living needs. They are NOT intended to provide heavy duty housekeeping services.

If the client lives with family or friends, the services are rendered only to the client and the client’s living areas.

The client is responsible for providing all cleaning supplies necessary to perform cleaning tasks.