While many of us are scared and worried about the current situation, there are some people who are stepping out everyday to fight this virus. They include doctors, police officials, healthcare workers and caregivers.
Now, some patients have been clinically diagnosed with mild coronavirus, which means that they are considered to be mild or pre-symptomatic cases of Covid-19. These patients are sometimes allowed to quarantine at home, provided they can arrange the required facilities.
In most of these cases, coronavirus patients look for caregivers who can take care of their daily needs at home. This is a huge responsibility for caregivers as they have to help the patient with their daily routine and ensure that they themselves do not contract the virus.
So, here are a few tips for caregivers on how to take care of Covid-19 patients at home.
Wear a face mask
It goes without saying that masks play an important role in this fight against Covid-19. While taking care of the bedridden elderly at home, caregivers need to wear a face mask at all times.
Make sure that you do not touch or handle the front portion of the mask. Change the mask immediately if it gets dirty and discard it properly after use.
Wash your hands regularly
This is another effective measure that can help prevent the spread of Covid-19. Clean your hands after any kind of contact with the patient or their immediate environment. You can do this by using a soap or any other alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
>Wash your hands before and after preparing their food as well as before and after eating. Don’t forget to clean your hands after you use the washroom as well.
Ensure proper nutrition for the Covid-19 patient
Yes, you need to make sure that the patient drinks plenty of water and eats nutritious food. Also, you must provide food directly in their room.
Having nutrition-filled meals will help boost their immunity and will also allow them to maintain a healthy diet. Apart from this, one of the best ways to take care of the bedridden elderly is to make sure that they get enough rest in between meals.
Also, while serving meals for the patient, make sure that you…
Use separate dishes for the patient
By using a specific set of utensils for your patient, you can avoid exposure to items that might be contaminated. These utensils include dishes, cups, plates and other similar items.
Similarly, you must make sure that they use a separate set of towels and bedsheets. Wash these items regularly with soap and water before and after their use.
Disinfect frequently-touched objects
This is an important part of caring for the bedridden elderly at home. Studies have shown that the coronavirus can survive on hard surfaces for up to 72 hours.
So, you need to start by identifying the surfaces and objects that are frequently touched by the patient. Then you can clean and disinfect these surfaces on a daily basis. Also, in case you notice any changes in the patient’s health, you need to immediately…
Call your healthcare facility
Even though patients might experience mild symptoms initially, their condition might worsen in some cases. Patients might also sometimes experience difficulty in breathing.
In such a scenario, you must inform the concerned hospital or healthcare facility so that immediate action can be taken. Also, for Covid-19 patients, the Ministry of Health and Welfare in India has listed out specific helpline numbers for each state and union territory.
So, these were a few tips for caregivers who have to take care of Covid-19 patients at home.
Recent studies have shown that senior citizens aged 60 years and above are at a higher risk of contracting the virus. It has also been found that elders with pre-existing medical conditions are more likely to face coronavirus infection.
Therefore, by being aware about your patient’s health condition, you will be able to prepare for any kind of medical emergency. These tasks might seem very challenging and can have an impact on your health as well.
And in order to deal with this, you need to stay calm, stay safe and understand the importance of your mental health during Covid-19.
