Personal support workers (PSW) can make a significant difference in the lives of many seniors and individuals needing assistance to live independently. A PSW focuses on providing comfort, safety, and supporting an active lifestyle for the well-being of their clients.
PSWs support individuals wherever they call home with many functional tasks, which includes activities of daily living (ADLs) like companionship, personal care, meal preparation, escorts to doctor appointments, etc.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, however, has increased anxiety among families and individuals receiving care at home. Many are questioning whether or not it’s safe to have a caregiver visit from outside their household.
In keeping up with Public Health guidelines, we are actively screening all our PSWs for COVID-19 for the safety of our clients, along with many other measures to keep our clients, their families and our staff safe.
How We Ensure PSW Safety During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Toronto
Self-Screening for Symptoms
All of our PSWs need to self-screen before coming to work and throughout their shifts. We require them to call the office and inform us if they have any symptoms of COVID-19 as they are prohibited from working while at risk. We also advise them to immediately self-isolate and contact their public health unit.
Wear a Mask
All PSWs wear PPE (“Personal Protective Equipment”) when providing care to clients. We encourage them to wear masks at all times when in the client's home.
Additionally, we advise them to wear masks to protect themselves anytime when physical distancing is not possible or while traveling to work.
Hand Hygiene
An important way to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 is to observe good hand hygiene. All our PSWs follow this protocol as soon as they arrive at work before providing care to the client. We also regularly educate and share tips on handwashing by following the guidelines from Toronto Public Health.
Clean and Disinfect Surfaces
All of our PSWs follow strict cleaning and disinfecting guidelines for the safety of our clients. Before the shift ends, they are required to disinfect the common areas and frequently touched surfaces such as tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, keyboards, toilets, faucets, sinks, and phones.
Exposure or Symptom Notification
We require all our PSWs to inform us regarding any COVID-19 exposure or if anyone in their household develops symptoms. In such situations, we require them to stay home and consult Toronto Public health authorities, and if they recommend it then to get a COVID-19 test.
We understand the concerns of family members and individuals at this time, and we can assure you that our team is committed to offering quality, personalized homecare despite the challenges we are all facing. We closely follow all the recommendations from the public health officials and our PSWs are trained in the best practices around infection control and hand hygiene. We also provide regular updates and education to our PSWs to ensure they stay safe in the community.
ActivePro Nursing & Homecare provides at-home assistance like personal care, companionship, respite care, meal preparation, light housekeeping, and other services with COVID-19 safety protocols in place.
You can contact ActivePro Nursing & Homecare Inc. in Toronto today to learn more about how our home caregivers in Toronto can support you or your loved ones during COVID 19.