The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed our personal and professional lives in unforeseen ways. We must empower ourselves with the lessons learned and continue protecting ourselves, our families, and those we encounter. Remaining vigilant and taking necessary precautions when faced with the threat of an upper respiratory tract infection must now be our default approach.

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As service providers, we have access to clients, their food, personal space, and personal belongings, and as such, can easily spread an infection to them or catch something from them. For this reason, we must harm ourselves with the knowledge necessary to protect them and ourselves. Nurses and caregivers provide personal care, cooks and housekeepers handle food and personal belongings, the gardener/groundskeeper/caretaker handles food, and all circulate in the clients’ personal space; hence, it is crucial to remain alert and take appropriate actions to prevent transmission.

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Two types of infections commonly transmitted from service providers to clients are respiratory and gastrointestinal tract infections. For this reason, we have outlined two sets of protocols to be observed by all Angelbee Nursing & Other Home Care Services’ service providers while on duty, for the safety of all involved.

 

Upper-Respiratory Tract Symptoms | Infections Protocols

 

Service providers must adhere to the following guidelines:

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1. Wear a properly fitting mask if you exhibit symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection or you are in prolonged, close contact with individuals showing such signs.

2. If you are at home, supposed to report to work, and develop symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection, inform your supervisor or client and seek permission to come to work wearing a mask if you feel well enough to do so, then follow their directives. Do not report to work with symptoms without prior notification to and consent from your supervisor or client. Once at work, ensure all necessary actions are taken to protect the household from potential infection you might have.

3. If symptoms develop while on duty, discuss the situation with your supervisor/client and follow their directives. If advised to remain on duty and you feel well enough to do so, put on a mask immediately.

4. If you are sneezing or coughing, use a tissue large enough to cover your mouth and nose, dispose of it in a garbage receptacle, and sanitize your hands thoroughly.

5. Sanitize your hands by washing with soap for 10-20 seconds or utilize a hand sanitizer containing more than 60% alcohol between activities, after touching surfaces that are not sanitized, or whenever unsure about hand cleanliness.

6. If using public transportation, thoroughly sanitize your hands upon disembarking, as public places are rife with germs.

7. Change your shoes upon arrival at work before entering the inner house. This should be done at a designated spot beyond which outside shoes do not pass.

8. Wash or sanitize your hands after changing your shoes and before entering the inner house.

9. Remove work clothing, wash hands and exposed arms, and put on clean work attire.

10. Stand upright and avoid leaning against surfaces in public spaces. If leaning against surfaces is unavoidable, sanitize and change your clothing before engaging with clients, colleagues, or your household.

11. Clean shared telephones with alcohol swabs frequently.

12. Use headphones or Bluetooth devices with cellphones rather than holding the phone close to your mouth, as phones frequently come in contact with insanitary surfaces.

13. Upon returning home, leave street shoes outside the safe area, remove and place clothing in the wash, bathe, and change before interacting with your household.

14. Nurses escorting clients to appointments should take along masks for themselves and the client and wear them if forced to remain in enclosed spaces with individuals exhibiting signs of a respiratory infection. Only comment on the person’s signs of infection if you are expressing empathy.

15. Sanitize yourself and the client upon returning home.

 

Gastrointestinal Tract Symptoms | Infection​ Protocols

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All service providers must observe the following:

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1. If you are at home, develop symptoms that include vomiting and or diarrhea (running belly), are supposed to report to work, and your job includes handling food, stay home. Report this to your supervisor or client and stay away from work until your vomiting and or diarrhea stops.

2. If the symptoms arise while you are on duty, report this to your supervisor or client and go home. Do not provide any food service: no cooking and no uncooked meals.

3. If you have these symptoms and your job does not involve direct patient care or food service, report to your supervisor and reach a mutually agreeable decision on your course of action.

4. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and running water after each bowel movement, as this is the most effective measure to prevent the spread of gastrointestinal infections.

5. To aid in recovery, replenish fluids. Drink, or sip if vomiting, adequate fluid after each episode of vomiting or restroom visit to help flush out germs and prevent dehydration, which can weaken the body.

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The gardener, Groundskeeper, Caretaker may question how their upper respiratory or gastrointestinal tract symptoms or infection could affect the client. Consider this: if you are reaping from the garden and supplying the kitchen, the possibility of infecting someone in the house with an upper respiratory tract infection is very real, while spreading a gastrointestinal infection is even higher. The person to whom you make the delivery is at risk of catching whatever you may be carrying, as well as anyone in the household who comes in contact with a surface that you may have coughed or sneezed on. Vegetables should be thoroughly washed and will be cooked in some instances, but consider something like cherries or soursop, which can be a challenge to wash thoroughly and will be used in their raw state. The chances of delivering an infection to the kitchen, if you have one, would be multiplied, so please observe these protocols.

 

It is hoped that the information contained here will contribute to your growth as an excellent service provider.

The button that takes you to the Code of Conduct | Terms of Service, the next step of the application process is under the “Job Opportunities” tab.

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If you are a nurse applying for a job in a nursing home, please listen to or read the Code of Conduct | Terms of Service for Nurses Caregivers, then return to the "Job Opportunities" tab for the application form for nursing homes. 

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Remember, you may choose to listen or read, but please note that the Code of Conduct | Terms of Service is different for each category of jobs, so do be careful to choose the one that represents the job you are interested in.