Category: Coastal

As we age, we gain more and more independence. And part of growing older means you’ll need the support of others in order to take care of yourself. These changes inevitably occur for all of us, notably our aging loved ones. Though aging can inhibit their activities, many elderly people still want to live independently in their own homes rather than in an assisted living facility or nursing home.

At Coastal Home Care, we help families provide the consistent care their elderly loved ones need. Through our dedicated elderly home care, our trained nurses ensure your loved ones remain active, independent, safe, and healthy while living in their own homes. Coastal Home Care has provided quality home care services to families throughout Sussex County, DE, including hospice support, Alzheimer’s care, and more.

Below we discuss the details of providing home care for elders who seek to continue living in their own homes:

Why Skilled Caregivers are Important

Home caregivers are vital for helping their elder patients continue to live their daily lives independently while assisting them with routine tasks, such as cooking, cleaning, washing, or getting themselves dressed in the morning.

However, proper home care involves more than having an extra set of hands and eyes. It also requires a caregiver to have the necessary knowledge and skills in order to provide the long term care your elderly loved one will need. For example, a caregiver should have a certain degree of medical training to provide the necessary treatment to keep your elder loved one in stable health.

Comprehensive  knowledge and training is especially important if a caregiver is assisting a patient with a diagnosis that affects their ability to function, such as those with dementia or Alzheimer’s.

A caregiver that is trained and experienced in dealing with patients with chronic illnesses is better equipped to handle situations in which their most severe symptoms arise. Their help at those crucial moments will ensure that your loved one will live longer and more comfortably.

Thus , when seeking options in home caregiving for your elderly loved one, remember to search for companies that offer certified nurses and trained caregivers, such as Coastal Home Care.

Patience is Key

Our elders have spent much of their lives taking care of themselves and others. So, when you decide to hire a caregiver for your elder loved one, remember to focus on being patient, as your loved one will likely not want to change their independent lifestyle.

Both you and the caregiver should work together to gradually familiarize your loved one with  having a companion in their home that will help develop their new routine.

To help navigate these difficulties, our team at Coastal Home Care begins the process of caregiving by collaborating with you and your elder to create what we call a Plan of Care. It is a personalized plan that outlines the best possible course of action toward providing your loved one with the care they need in a way that fits their personal preferences.

More Than One Way to Care

There isn’t a one-size-fits all way to properly care for an elderly individual. Each individual is different with specific needs and conditions that will need attention.

Some senior patients may only require assistance with simple tasks around the home, and others need a nurse with medical expertise to ensure they get the quality palliative or hospice care they need.

One key advantage of home caregiving is flexibility. The ability to make changes to the home or customize the type of caregiving  facilitates easier and more comfortable care. This is often why we like to see elder home care over support through nursing homes or assisted living facilities.

Our elder home care experts seek to provide responsive and effective support. They will look for unique ways for your loved one to improve in body and mind and work with you to find opportunities for your loved one to remain comfortable and healthy for as long as they can.

Coastal Home Care: Quality Elderly Home Care in Sussex County, DE

While assisted living and nursing homes can be useful options for many families, they may not be for everyone, especially for elders who desire to continue living in their own homes. Coastal Home Care offers your loved one the ability to continue living independently while helping them sustain their health and activity.

Our certified nurses are trained in attentive elderly home care, as well as in hospice support, dementia care, medical assistance, and more. Families throughout Sussex County, DE have depended on and continue to trust in our services. Contact us at (866) 687-7307 for more information about elder care services today and schedule a consultation.

The pandemic has continued to place a tremendous amount of pressure on so many people across the country and the world. One group who has had it the hardest, and are also the most affected by it, are the elderly. They are the most at risk, but also the most in need of assistance and caregiving. Many families and services have had a difficult time figuring out how to provide proper care.

Since the beginning of the pandemic earlier this year, we at Coastal Home Care have trained and outfitted our certified caregivers with everything they need to continue performing excellent senior companion care services to our patients throughout Sussex County, DE. We have also added numerous procedures to our operations to prevent any chance of infection, such as daily screenings and regular virtual communication among staff.

Below, we discuss how the virus can spread and ways to prevent it from doing so to keep your elder loved ones safe and comfortable during this time.

Ways COVID-19 Spreads

Those who have caught and been infected with COVID-19 can spread the disease, even if they no longer have or seem to have never received serious symptoms of it. Here are some of the ways that the coronavirus has spread:

• Prolonged close contact, usually within six feet.
• Contact or inhalation of breath or water vapor after a cough or sneeze.
• Contact with high-touch or potentially infected areas, then touching sensitive areas that could lead to infection, such as the face, eyes, and mouth.

How to Protect Your Elders from COVID-19

As we grow older, we become more susceptible to serious illnesses. According to the CDC, 8 out of 10 adults who received a severe illness from COVID-19 were over the age of 65. This means that our elders are at higher risk than most others, which requires us to be more careful and vigilant when providing them care. Here’s what elder caregivers should do to keep their loved ones safe from any potential harm from the coronavirus:

• Perform proper social distancing procedures with your elder, especially if you are aware that you or someone with you have been showing symptoms of COVID-19.
• Avoid touching your face, eyes, nose, or mouth, especially if you haven’t sanitized and/or have been in a high touch area.
• Clean and disinfect any shared objects or surfaces.
• Wash your hands often for at least 20 seconds with soap
• Stock up on medicine and groceries to reduce the amount of trips you take outdoors.
• Stay home as much as possible, since doing so is a vital way for your elder loved one to remain safe and protected.
• Always wear face masks and gloves whenever you and your loved one are outside of your home to ensure you both are protected from spreading or receiving infection.

Coastal Home Care: Quality Senior Companion Care in Sussex County, DE

Giving care to our elders has become a significant challenge due to this pandemic. However, in following the tips and procedures listed above, you’ll at least be able to provide comfort and safety for your senior loved one. We at Coastal Home Care can help, as well, as we continue to provide reliable senior companion care to families and elders across Sussex County, DE. Our registered nurses and caregivers are trained to combat the virus while providing the essential elder care services that are needed now more than ever.

Contact us at (866) 687-7307 for more information about our companion care services today.

For many people, parents are role models who help to shape their decision-making processes. Parents teach right from wrong, healthy from harmful, and how to care for oneself. However, aging parents can get stuck in their ways and may ignore the very advice that they offer to you. 

If you’ve noticed that one of your aging parents struggles with chores and self-care, you should reach out to Coastal Home Care. We offer numerous at-home care options so that your loved one can remain self-sufficient in their own house. Our patients throughout Sussex County, DE, receive companion care services, Alzheimer’s or dementia care, hospice support, or medication management. And these services aren’t one-size-fits-all. We create a “Plan of Care” for each patient to promote personalized, flexible support that fits your parent’s needs. 

Here, we outline the shifts in daily tasks, moods, or conditions that could signal a need for companion caregiver:

Changes in Physical Appearance and/or Activity

You may first notice some bodily changes in a parent. Sudden weight change, for instance, may attest to a struggle with cooking, diet, or grocery shopping. Likewise, poor hygiene and sloppy appearance can speak to difficulties with self-care. 

Daily activities may change as well. A parent might start struggling with routines: bathing, dressing, toileting, or even moving around. Likewise, a sudden loss of motivation or interest in hobbies suggests that they struggle with doing these formerly amusing endeavors. 

The prospect of a senior care center tends to alarm older adults, as they equate it with a loss of autonomy. But Coastal Home Care services promote aging in place, where seniors can choose to live and age in their own homes. Thus, in hiring us, you can assure your loved one that they don’t have to give up their home. 

Changes in Behavior and/or Mental State

Oftentimes, the most difficult part of watching a parent age is to see their struggles with moods and mental health. Coastal Home Care offers Alzheimer’s and dementia care specifically for such struggles. Still, you and your family must remain alert for symptoms of these conditions. 

Along with a general loss of interest and motivation, your loved one may struggle to keep track of time. This frustration, in turn, can increase their confusion and anxiety. Such mood swings are unfortunately common for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients. 

Sleep cycles tend to shift as well. A senior parent may start sleeping into the day, which in turn affects their mood and energy levels. They may also start forgetting to call family members back – again, loss of memory is a distressingly common symptom. 

Changes in Their Household

Even if your loved one insists that they are fine, their home may indicate otherwise. After all, taking care of a house or apartment takes a great deal of work. If your loved one struggles with it, the burdens stack up quickly. 

The most obvious indicators will be mess and clutter: dirty dishes and surfaces, spoiled food, piles of unopened mail, and so on. Additionally, general upkeep tasks like lawn care, snow removal, or trash collection may be noticeably incomplete. 

These concerns are particularly distressing at a time like now, as we continue to navigate the COVID-19 situation. Our caregivers can help with some light housekeeping for their patients. Plus, with daily testing for themselves and their patients, our senior companion care during COVID-19 helps to keep your family safe. 

Compassionate Companion Care Now Available In Sussex County, DE

When a parent ages and shows signs of physical and mental constraints, you can turn to Coastal Home Care for personal care. Our comprehensive companion care, Alzheimer’s and dementia care, hospice support, and other services are available for Sussex County, DE, residents. With us, your loved one can age in place, sustain their quality of life, and remain independent. Call us at (302) 752-1800 or fill out our online form to schedule a consultation. 

Recovering from surgery is difficult for anyone, but it’s especially hard on elderly folks. Seniors need more time to heal and are prone to injury and infection during their recovery. However, they must also continue with their daily routines for mental well-being.

If you want to help a loved one sustain a comfortable recovery, hire a trained caregiver from Coastal Home Care. We provide all forms of home caregiving including dementia care, hospice support, and attentive post-operative care to seniors throughout Sussex County, DE. Our personalized, high-quality service has made us a trusted name in caregiving.

Here, we describe 4 ways you can help your loved one have a speedy recovery after a surgical procedure:

Organize Their Home For Their Needs

After an operation, it will be difficult for your elder loved one to move around his or her (or your) home as normal. It will also be difficult for him or her to reach for important items like phones, remotes, plates, glasses, and more. A crucial aspect of post-surgery care involves reorganizing to accommodate the needs of the patient.

First, you should create open paths throughout the home’s interiors by arranging furniture to clear obstructions in your loved one’s way. Also, move any rugs or other items that present a falling or tripping hazard.

Then, ask your loved one for the things he or she needs and place the key items within his or her reach. Later on, offer to get any other items. And if you live in a two-story home, create a comfortable sleeping area on the ground floor so your senior loved one won’t risk him- or herself by going up or downstairs.

Plan Out What Your Elder Needs

Before the surgery, try to have everything your loved one may need on hand. Discuss with their physician what the likely effects of the surgery will be and what equipment or other items he or she will need for a comfortable recovery.

Make a list of the items and purchase them according to the needs of the patient. Planning in this way will ensure both a faster and easier recovery for your loved one as well as a less strenuous experience for you and any caregivers.

Attend Follow-Up Appointments

Another way to facilitate a faster recovery is by attending your loved one’s post-op appointments. Although he or she may not have memory issues, the doctors may give overwhelming amounts of details about conditions, recovery needs, and medicine. Hearing all this first-hand can help you accurately remember these details later on.

Plus, attending appointments with your loved one provides you a chance to ask his or her doctor about questions and concerns you’ve had when taking care of them. You can get the answers needed to ensure you continue giving the best care possible.

Ensure Support in All Circumstances

Finally, recognize that not all circumstances are the same. You can manage some challenges, but there will be others where professional help is required. That’s when you’ll want a friendly and expert caregiver from Coastal Home Care.

Our nurses provide all manner of post-operative care and form personalized care plans that suit each patient’s needs. Hire a trained post-operative care nurse and discuss your loved one’s preferences to ensure they get the care they need.

Coastal Home Care: Dependable Post-Operative Care in Sussex County, DE

Seniors struggle with recovering from surgery, but they can return to full health and a higher quality of living with the right support and caregiving. At Coastal Home Care, we aim to ensure that all of our patients get the best personalized post-operative care possible. We also provide other home care services to patients and their families throughout Sussex County, DE. Our quality services are flexible and affordable for almost any schedule and budget.

Contact us at (866) 687-7307 to learn more and make an appointment with one of our trained post-operative caregivers today.

Everything gets a bit more complex when a loved one has Alzheimer’s or dementia. All of the sudden, he or she may be confused or forget schedules and plans. And such forgetfulness may upset or depress your loved one. At that point, you must decide whether to be a devoted caregiver yourself or to hire outside help.

Recently, these conflicts gained a new dimension: COVID-19. Now, you must reduce your loved one’s risk of infection from both the outside world and yourself. Instead of trying to manage this burden alone, turn to Coastal Home Care. We proudly provide reliable Alzheimer’s and dementia care to folks in Wicomico County, MD. Our home care services allow your loved one to live where they choose, and our updated care methods will help maintain their health.

Here, we discuss how Alzheimer’s and dementia care can help ease the dangers posed by COVID-19:

Our Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care

First, let’s outline our standard care practices for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients. We strive to help them enjoy their independent lives by focusing on specific concerns:

• Instead of solving all issues at once, we work through daily obstacles. We help patients to create routines and practices that help them manage symptoms and care for themselves.
• We also try to help patients feel comfortable. The memory loss that occurs with Alzheimer’s and dementia can make them feel baffled and depressed. So, we tweak common tasks and give them chances for self-expression.
• We maintain our patients’ well-being. Dementia patients often wander or stop physical activities. Thus, we adapt patients’ homes for safety and prepare for accidents.

How We Have Adapted Caregiving for COVID-19

Next, let’s detail how caregivers adapted their processes for Alzheimer’s and dementia care in response to the pandemic. We have summarized the strategies for COVID-19 care on our website already, but let’s review them here.

We’ve added wellness checks to our routine duties. Now, both caregivers and patients are screened daily for COVID-19 symptoms. We also conduct mental health screenings on patients to address symptoms of loneliness and depression.

We’ve also boosted our cleaning procedures. Caregivers already helped patients with cleaning, but now they disinfect frequent-use surfaces including light switches, countertops, faucets, and so on. What’s more, caregiving now requires increased hand washing.

And since many families are protecting their loved ones’ health through distance, caregivers promote activity and connection. We help patients combat boredom by urging them to perform daily activities and hobbies as well as self-care. We can also help your loved ones stay in regular contact with Zoom and Facetime.

Benefits of Hiring a Dementia Caregiver during COVID-19

So, how can hiring a caregiver for your senior loved one help you (and the rest of your family) in the COVID environment? We’ve already posted advice on caring for elders during COVID-19 and how the pandemic might affect them. But our services suit Alzheimer’s and dementia patients particularly well.

Even though many families mean well by isolating their loved ones, this may confuse a dementia patient. So, our caregivers can remind them about the situation during visits. We can also check for symptoms while ensuring that we don’t introduce the virus ourselves.

Also, if your loved one has coronavirus symptoms, you and your family should avoid contact with them. A caregiver can get them to a hospital safely thanks to our training with infectious diseases. You need not endanger yourself or your family’s health.

Contact Coastal Home Care for Reliable Caregiving in Wicomico County, MD

In such a difficult environment, we know the challenges of an Alzheimer’s or dementia patient can feel hopeless. That’s why you should not take it on alone: by reaching out to Coastal Home Care, your loved one can receive professional Alzheimer’s and Dementia care at their home in Wicomico County, MD. Call us at (866) 687-7307 to discuss your options for home care. We’re available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week!

The pandemic has changed many aspects of our daily lives. Those affected most by these changes, along with the risks in contracting the coronavirus, are the elderly. Limitations have made it difficult for them to perform their normal activities and access the resources they need to live healthily and comfortably.

At Coastal Home Care, we have taken strides to improve our services in response to the pandemic so that we are able to continue providing the highest quality caregiving services possible. Our nurses are trained to provide personalized post-operative care, dementia and Alzheimer’s care, and hospice support. Along with our service, we also ensure our caregivers are prepared to follow local and federal guidelines regarding COVID-19.

Here is what we’ve learned about the potential effects of the pandemic on your elderly loved ones:

Lack of Physical Activity

Among the biggest effects the pandemic has is the overall reduction and limitation of physical activity. Most of us, including our elders, end up becoming more sedentary while in quarantine, which can lead to some very detrimental health effects.

Some of these include:

• Reduced strength and muscle mass
• Joint flexibility
• Bone strength
• Higher blood pressure
• Higher risk of stroke and harmful diseases

While it can be difficult to stay active during these times, it’s best to support your loved ones by ensuring they do what they can. Take them out for a walk through the neighborhood, or help them perform indoor exercises at home with whatever equipment you have, along with some instructional videos you can find online.

Increased Isolation

Another effect that can deeply impact your elderly loved ones is the absence of family and friends due to social distancing. For many, this can lead to feelings of isolation, further leading to depression, anxiety, and loneliness.

According to the CDC, such conditions can result in raising a number of health risks for elders, including an increased risk of dementia, heart disease, and stroke.

To diminish these risks, we recommend making as much contact as possible with your loved ones, whether it be by phone call, or through online video calls such as with programs like Skype or Zoom. Also, depending on your family’s social distancing practices, try meeting outside or for short increments of time.

Additionally, you can also hire a caregiver from Coastal Home Care, who is trained and equipped to maintain current health and safety standards while assisting with and caring for the needs of elderly patients.

Insufficient Medical Care

The availability of healthcare providers has also been affected by the pandemic, with many hospitals and practices maintaining strict holds on non-emergency visits and appointments.

This is done in an effort to limit the spread of the COVID-19, as many potential carriers could be mixed in with other patients seeking care for other conditions.

Although it is good that your loved one avoids any chance of getting sick, they may need medical care at some point during quarantine, and it could put them at risk if they don’t receive it when they need it.

We recommend having family regularly check on their condition, while also utilizing telemedicine services as a temporary alternative to a direct doctor’s visit.

Ultimately, if an emergency arises, you can and should seek medical emergency services. Hospitals and practices all take the proper precautions to prevent exposure.

Coastal Home Care: Qualified Post Operative Care in Wicomico County, MD

The ongoing pandemic has deeply impacted everyone, and while many of us are able to manage the effects, it’s important to take care of those who are more vulnerable, especially our beloved elders. One way to do this is by hiring a caregiver from Coastal Home Care.

Our registered nurses are trained in providing high-quality post-operative care, medication management, and many more personalized caregiving services. We provide regular companionship, as well as thorough health monitoring and welfare management.

Contact us at (866) 687-7307 to schedule an appointment with a professional caregiver.

In the prime of our lives, we can take everyday capabilities for granted: our freedom and hobbies, our ability for self-care, our independence, and our pride of place. But aging does not guarantee the same capacities. Without proper planning, what was once simple and natural might become demanding or unreachable. Research indicates that one’s golden years come with a variety of draining challenges: isolation, financial troubles, and loss of mobility are common concerns.

However, this foreknowledge has a silver lining: you can plan ahead, create a strategy for aging in place, and retain your quality of life. At Coastal Home Care, we will support your independence. We are trusted with compassionate companion care throughout Wicomico County, MD and much of the DelMarVa peninsula, and have built a reputation for excellence over the past decade.

Here, we address some questions about aging in place and consider what it could look like for you or your loved one:

What is Aging in Place?

“Aging in place” applies to someone that lives in a residence of their choice for as long as they are capable. It includes folks who do so with or without outside support services. Either scenario would be ideal for many people, since most of us want to remain in the place we consider home rather than a nursing facility.

As mentioned above, aging comes with a variety of challenges, and requires careful planning and a fair bit of imagination. You’ll need to consider how you or your loved one might be limited in the future: will stairs become unmanageable? Can retirement savings last for years (or decades)? Will others be around to check in and visit? These are valid questions for anyone planning to age in place.

Additional Care and Support

As you age in place, you are personally deciding on the following:

• How to spend your retirement
• How to customize your home layout and design
• Health care options
• Types of assistance/support
• Course of actions during major life events (illness, living transitions, finances, etc)

While making the following choices above on your own can be challenging, you’ll be able to have more freedom and control over how you live your life as you age. However, it’s important to note that aging in place doesn’t mean you need to take it all on alone.

At Coastal Home Care, our companion care team can help make living transitions and other life events and decisions much easier. Whatever your wants and needs are, our team is trained to patiently listen to your concerns to ensure we carry out the support you require to live your desired quality of life.

Companion Care Services That You Can Trust in Wicomico County, MD

Coastal Home Care is proud to continue offering our personalized companion care service to those in need throughout the Wicomico County, MD area. We understand that times are challenging, but we will work with you each step of the way to ensure your loved one receives the highest level of care possible. With a custom Plan of Care, your loved one can feel comfortable knowing that we treat them like our own and will make sure they are properly cared for no matter what their needs are.

Call us at (866) 687-7307 or fill out a form to schedule a consultation with a member of our team today!

In order to avoid putting your elderly loved ones at risk, many family members have forgone or severely limited their visits and activities with them. Physical distancing has left older adults vulnerable to social isolation and loneliness, so it’s important for them to maintain a sense of connection throughout these difficult times. Research has shown that loneliness is linked to a higher risk for various physical and mental conditions, including high blood pressure, heart disease, depression, a weakened immune system, and cognitive decline. One option to limit the effects of isolation on your loved one is with the companionship of a caregiver.

At Coastal Home Care, we provide senior companion care to clients in Wicomico County, MD with an emphasis on respect and protecting privacy and dignity. As home-based care for seniors is considered an essential service during this time, we are continuing to operate while taking all necessary precautions to protect the health of our staff and clients. See the proactive measures Coastal Home Care has taken to stay safe in accordance with CDC guidelines.

Below, we discuss the various ways senior caregivers can help your loved one during the COVID-19 climate.

Wellness Checks

In addition to completing daily health screenings themselves, our caregivers regularly monitor the health of our elders according to their completed COVID-19 training program. Comprehensive health screenings of clients are performed at every clinical touchpoint.

Caregivers can also engage in mental check-ins with elders to identify any signs of anxiety or other issues. Fear surrounding the virus combined with social isolation from friends and family can impact a person in different ways, and it’s usually evident in their speech or behavior.

Enhanced Cleaning

Maintaining cleanliness and safety in the home has always been a priority for caregivers, who are now following additional protocols including:

• Cleaning and disinfecting frequently used surfaces, such as countertops, faucets, cabinets, doorknobs, and light switches.
• Frequent hand washing before, during, and after visits to the home.
• Continued and updated training on infection protocol and prevention.

Continued Activity and Connection

With visitors restricted or limited in the home, a senior caregiver can ensure that your loved one receives the companionship and assistance they need. Some of the ways caregivers help include:

• Encouraging the client to avoid boredom with physical and mental activity such as reading, stretching, painting, working on a puzzle, etc.
• Making sure the client continues with daily activities such as personal hygiene and grooming, grocery shopping, cleaning, as well as cooking and preparing highly-nutritional meals.
• Assisting older adults with communicating with loved ones virtually via Facetime, Zoom, or with other video applications.
• Empowering the client by involving them in decision-making over ordering meals, groceries, or prescription medicine online for delivery.

Coastal Home Care: Professional Senior Companion Care in Wicomico County

It can be difficult to balance the desire to help your elderly loved one with the recommendation to limit physical contact during this time. At Coastal Home Care, we are continuing to offer senior companion care in Wicomico County, MD, and taking all preventative measures and precautions to protect our elders while providing quality care.

We begin the process with an assessment by one of our Registered Nurses, who will then create a personalized “Plan of Care” for your loved one, which our Certified Nursing Assistants follow under careful supervision. Our elderly care options are individualized to match your loved one’s needs and preferences, and we offer services to help with a range of daily activities.

Contact us at (866) 687-7307 to learn more about our compassionate care services, or fill out a form to schedule a consultation today.

The rise and spread of COVID-19 over the past several months has affected many aspects of our lives, including how we approach caregiving for the elderly and others whose health is vulnerable. Immunocompromised persons, including those who recently underwent surgery, are at an increased risk and must be protected to limit the spread of COVID-19. In addition to fulfilling basic needs such as administering medication, extra precautions must be taken to minimize the risk of COVID-19 after surgery.

In order to meet these demands, it may be beneficial to seek professional post-operative care. At Coastal Home Care, our staff of highly-trained and certified nursing assistants provide flexible post-surgical care to fit the needs of your loved one, from companionship and help with everyday tasks to more intensive care such as repositioning and help with physical activity. After nearly 10 years of caring for residents in Worcester County, MD, we have proven to be a leader in home care services.

Below, we’ve provided best practices for family members or other caregivers to keep patients safe during the recovery process.

Help with Basic Needs

Post-operative care begins with providing support and helping with essential needs.

• Help the patient follow the doctor’s instructions and monitor medication. Ensure the proper dosage of medication and that it is taken regularly.
• Assist with errands. Help the person with grocery shopping, filling prescriptions, and purchasing other items they may need. If possible, consider using a delivery service to limit contact with others.
• Take care of their pet(s). It’s advisable to limit contact between the person in recovery and their pet when possible, so assist with caring for the animal’s everyday needs.

Watch for Symptoms

It’s important to monitor the patient as well as yourself for symptoms related to COVID-19. If you develop a fever, cough, or shortness of breath, reach out to your primary health care provider for guidance in managing the situation. The CDC’s self-checker tool can also help you determine the right course of action.

Limit Contact

COVID-19 spreads between people in close proximity (within about 6 feet) through respiratory droplets created when people talk, sneeze, or cough. Here are some recommendations to increase prevention:

• If you are at a higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19, do not take on the responsibility of being the primary caregiver. If possible, seek assistance from professionals in post-operative care.
• Avoid having visitors. Visitors to postoperative patients should be avoided as much as possible. If a family member or friend must visit, screen them for symptoms and check their temperature. Have them wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. They should also wear a clothface covering while limiting contact with the patient and nearby surfaces.
• Increase ventilation in shared spaces. While it is recommended to have the patient use a separate bedroom and bathroom, there will be occasions where you will be sharing a space. Make sure the room has good ventilation to remove respiratory droplets from the air; open a window or turn on a fan to ensure good airflow.
• Avoid sharing personal items. Do not share dishes, cups, utensils, or electronics (like a cell phone) with the patient. Also, use gloves when washing dishes, and wash your hands afterward.

Wash Your Hands Often

Hand washing is the first step to protecting yourself and your loved one. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

If soap and water are unavailable, you can use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Make sure to cover the entire surface of your hands and rub them until dry.

Additionally, avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Wear a Cloth Face Covering and Gloves

When leaving the home, wear a cloth face covering and keep a distance of 6 feet from other people. As a caregiver, always wear gloves if you will be coming into contact with the patient’s blood, stool, or any bodily fluids. Dispose of gloves in a lined trash can and cleanse hands afterward.

Clean and Disinfect

Make a habit of cleaning and disinfecting “high-touch” surfaces and objects around the house. These include light switches, countertops, doorknobs and hardware, toilets, faucets, and electronics.

Clean the area or item with soap and water, then use a household disinfectant. Be sure to follow the instructions on the label to ensure it’s used effectively. Electronics can be cleaned with wipes or spray with at least 70% alcohol.

By following these practices above as a caregiver, you can minimize the risk of COVID-19 while supporting your loved one during their post-operative recovery.

Coastal Home Care: Skilled Post-Operative Care in Worcester County, MD

With a busy schedule and personal responsibilities, caring for a loved one after an operation can prove challenging. Added to this are concerns regarding COVID-19, which require additional steps to be taken. However, with assistance from Coastal Home Care, the recovery process can be made as safe and efficient as possible. Our caregivers are fully certified and equipped to provide the highest quality post-operative care to every one of their patients, whatever their specific needs may be.

If you have a loved one planning to undergo an operation, contact us at (866) 687-7307 to schedule a consultation.