Covid-19 Response

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For our clients and your loved ones

Our highest priority is to protect our clients and your loved ones. To that end we are in constant communication with both our clients and their providers to alert them of all the developments. All current and new providers have been given specific thorough Covid-19 training which includes: effective hygiene, surface sanitization, symptom pre-screening, PPE donning and doffing, PPE usage and conservation as well as a directive that they must notify agency of any symptoms both from themselves and our clients. Your loved ones are safe in our care.

Primary Home Care is an essential service

We are authorized to continue to provide essential services to our clients throughout this crisis even during a curfew or shelter in place orders.

Allowed activities during a shelter-in-place order:

  • Travel to and from an essential business – working as an attendant for our client is considered essential
  • Traveling to and from a grocery store, pharmacy, gas station
  • Traveling to or from a family member whom you care for
  • Performing outdoor activities such as walking, running, hiking, biking – only if you follow social distancing guidelines

Allowed activities during a curfew order:

  • Travel to and from an essential business – working as an attendant for our client is considered essential
  • Please show any authorities this notice if you have any issues traveling to or from your attendant services

Essential Service Screening Process

ATTENTION: Providers / Attendants – Prior to providing services screen yourself, our client, anyone else in the client’s home and anyone who comes in to the home.

Did you, your client, anyone in your client’s home, or anyone entering the clients home:

  1. Recently travel to a Covid-19 Affected geographic area outside of the united states in the past 14 days.
  2. Have new covid-related symptoms such as: cough, shortness of breath, chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell.
  3. Have a fever of above 100.0 F°
  4. Have been in close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past 14 days.
  5. Have been told by a health care provider you might have COVID-19.

Please call the agency if you have any questions (956) 720-4490

See published notices:
1. COVID-19: Guidance for Community Attendants and InHome Caregivers
2. Agency-Based In-Home Caregivers Screening Flowchart

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vOoa3x1qSo

Recent Developments

Valley Central

CDC

Resources

Covid-19 Info

Covid-19 is a type of coronavirus that currently has no cure or vaccine. It is a virus that causes respiratory issues. The immune-suppressed and the elderly are the most at risk. The main reason why Covid-19 spreads so easily is because after exposure a person can spread the virus between 2-14 days (average 5 days) before they develop any symptoms.

How it’s Spread

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is spread from person to person through the water droplets from an infected person when they sneeze or cough. These droplets can possibly be in the air within 6 feet of a cough or sneeze, land on surfaces, or on the hands of an infected person. This can then pass on to a healthy person if they inhale the cough or sneeze particles, or when they touch surfaces or the hands of an infected individual. It enters the body when their now-infected hands then touch their own mouth, nose or eyes.

How to protect yourself

  • Practice exceptional hygiene
    • Wash your hands every time before and/or after you make contact with a person, yourself, or a common surface (keyboard, mouse, doorknob, handle, etc)
    • Wash with hot water and soap for 20 seconds
    • Use hand sanitizer
    • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth before first washing or sanitizing your hands.
  • Avoid close contact from anyone
  • Cover coughs and sneezes into the pit of your elbow, or your hands. Do not let yourself cough into the open air.
  • Constantly clean common surfaces like phones, tables, mice, keyboards, door knobs, etc.

How to Prepare

The primary reason you will need to prepare for an extended time (1-2 weeks) is only in the event of self-isolation so you have enough individual food for yourself. If you have no way to have food delivered to you during this time, the best thing will be to have a short stock of food.

What to get:

  • Frozen food – meats, veggies
  • Canned Food – tuna, beans, fruits, veggies
  • Pastas
  • Water

Hoarding supplies from grocery stores is harmful. There are no known supply shortages of any grocery product. The current shortages we are experiencing are a result of massive amounts of people engaging in panic, and emptying current stocks of supplies. As a result, people who are regularly in need for these supplies such as the very sick, elderly, nursing homes ,hospice care, cancer patients, and others are being negatively impacted.

Readiness checklist for individuals and families

What are the Symptoms

  • Fever
  • Shortness of breath
  • Cough

What if I get sick

  • Stay home
    • Don’t expose anyone else if you are sick, whether it’s the flu, cold, or COVID-19.
  • Self-Isolate
    • Even within your home, limit your contact with any other roommates, family members, or visiting friends who may go out into the public.
  • Wear a face mask
    • If you are infected, a face mask can collect the droplets you cough, sneeze, or breath out. This will protect others from inhaling the droplets or touching surfaces where the droplets may have landed.
  • Cover your coughs and Sneezes
    • If you don’t have a face mask, do you best to cover your coughs and sneezes at all times
  • Check Your Symptoms
    • Seek medical attention if your symptoms persists or get worse
  • Get Tested
    • Because the symptoms of COVID-19 are very general it will take a referral from your doctor to get tested at a facility.

This post is also available in: esEspañol (Spanish)