The current COVID-19 Pandemic is turning more grave with each passing day. Started in China as an illness with symptoms similar to the flu, it has recently been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WH0).
Described as a severe respiratory illness caused by a new Coronavirus, COVID-19 has so far affected nearly half a million people and caused 22,000 deaths throughout the world. What’s more staggering is that older adults and those with severe medical conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, and diabetes are at a higher risk of getting most affected by the outbreak. For home care business franchises, this is a matter of pressing concern because any level of laxity when caring for seniors can put them in the back seat, impacting their business negatively.
This is why we thought of informing every home care business on how they can train caregivers to provide better care to seniors amid the pandemic. Let’s see:
Inform your staff
Home care business franchises should make their staff understand the constraining COVID-19 situation and how seniors are at a higher risk. Since immunity weakens once we enter into our later age, the body’s ability to fight viruses reduces significantly, which is why most Corona deaths involve seniors. Besides, no vaccine is available for this new strain of corona, which leaves only preventive measures as the best course of action to control its spread among seniors.
Educate them about the preventive steps
The virus is highly contagious, spreading from person to person through mouth droplets released in the air by an infected individual. Plus, it can spread between people who are in close contact with one another. To combat its spread among seniors, educate your staff to follow these steps when caring for them:
- Advise seniors to regularly wash their hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water. Caregivers should also wash their hands before and after assisting them with daily living tasks
- Place a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol within their reach and ask them to sanitize their hands every hour
- Give them face masks to wear throughout the day, if possible
- Do not let them step outside, no matter what
- Tell them to cover their face when coughing and sneezing. Caregivers should do the same and stay away from them as much as possible
Teach them to identify the early signs
As much as taking preventive measures is important, identifying the symptoms of the virus is also vital. Teach your staff about the early signs of the virus and what steps to take when the signs appear in seniors receiving care. Ask them to report to their office as soon as the symptoms appear or seek immediate medical attention.
Final note
During these difficult times, when the world is struggling with COVID-19, caregivers can play a significant role in ensuring the good health of seniors and minimizing the spread among them.
If you want to start a franchise for a home care business, get in touch with us. We offer franchise opportunities to people who want to buy a home care services franchise to help seniors lead a quality life.
