Covid19

Dear Client and Family

We hope you are in good health and safe. In the last months, despite all the recent events we have strived to provide our service effectively as we have always done, and although we are looking forward to return to normal, we are also aware of the changes and precautions that we have to take. While most cases of COVID-19 are mild, causing only fever and cough, a very small percentage of cases become severe and may progress particularly in the elderly and people with underlying medical conditions. Because this is the primary population that we serve, we understand your concerns and want to share with you how our organization is responding to the threat of COVID-19.

We are following updates and procedures from the New Jersey Homecare Association, the Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and local and county authorities. Our response and plans may adjust according to the recommendations from these organizations.

• As a standard practice, we have an emergency preparedness plan in place. We will continue to follow it as this situation evolves or update it accordingly.

• All caregivers follow established protocol regarding staying home when sick. This practice is not new to our staff.

• Communication with caregivers to assess any known risk factors, such as travel to areas with widespread outbreaks or local contact in areas known to have reported cases are ongoing. We will advise them not to report to work if they are deemed high-risk.

• We believe that home remains the safest place for you or your loved one, as indications show that the virus is spread more quickly in facilities and larger group or public settings. Possible exposure will remain the lowest for those who are able to stay in their homes with limited outside contact. For this reason, we feel fortunate to be able to provide care that can keep people at home or limited exposure in group settings through personalized care and support.

• For clients we serve who reside in facilities or other group-type living situations, we will work closely with the facility on any protocols, exchange of information, or other guidelines as necessary.

• Many of our clients are especially at risk, given they are older adults or have underlying health issues. We are vigilant about our need to help protect these individuals from illness be it the flu, COVID-19, or any other communicable disease. These measures are not new to us as we seek to minimize risk regularly for our clients, regardless of an outbreak such as this new coronavirus.

Apreciado Cliente y Familia

Queridos clientes y familiares, esperamos que se encuentren bien de salud y a salvo. Los ultimos meses a pesar de los recientes acontecimientos nos hemos esforzado por prestar nuestro servicio de manera efectiva como siempre lo hemos hecho, y aunque estamos a la espera de poder regresar a la normalidad somos conscientes de los cambios que debemos hacer.

Como ya saben, la mayoría de los casos de COVID-19 son leves y solo causan fiebre y tos, un porcentaje muy pequeño de casos se vuelve grave y puede progresar particularmente en los ancianos y las personas con afecciones médicas subyacentes. Debido a que esta es la población principal a la que servimos, entendemos sus inquietudes y queremos compartir con ustedes cómo nuestra organización está respondiendo a la amenaza de COVID-19.

Estamos siguiendo las actualizaciones y los procedimientos de la Asociación de Atención Domiciliaria de Nueva Jersey, el Departamento de Salud, los Centros para el Control de Enfermedades (CDC) y las autoridades locales y del condado. Nuestra respuesta y planes pueden ajustarse de acuerdo con las recomendaciones de estas organizaciones.

• Como práctica estándar, tenemos un plan de preparación para emergencias. Continuaremos siguiéndolo a medida que esta situación evolucione o actualizándolo en consecuencia.

• Todos los cuidadores siguen el protocolo establecido con respecto a quedarse en casa cuando están enfermos. Esta práctica no es nueva para nuestro personal.

• Comunicación con los cuidadores para evaluar cualquier factor de riesgo conocido, como viajar a áreas con brotes generalizados o contacto local en áreas que se sabe que han reportado casos en curso. Les aconsejaremos que no se presenten a trabajar si se consideran de alto riesgo.

• Creemos que el hogar sigue siendo el lugar más seguro para usted o su ser querido, ya que las indicaciones muestran que el virus se propaga más rápidamente en las instalaciones y en grupos o grupos públicos más grandes. La posible exposición seguirá siendo la más baja para aquellos que pueden permanecer en sus hogares con contacto externo limitado. Por esta razón, nos sentimos afortunados de poder brindar atención que pueda mantener a las personas en el hogar o una exposición limitada en entornos grupales a través de atención y apoyo personalizados.

• Para los clientes que atendemos que residen en instalaciones u otras situaciones de vivienda de tipo grupal, trabajaremos estrechamente con la instalación en cualquier protocolo, intercambio de información u otras pautas, según sea necesario.

• Muchos de nuestros clientes están especialmente en riesgo, dado que son adultos mayores o tienen problemas de salud subyacentes. Estamos atentos a nuestra necesidad de ayudar a proteger a estas personas de enfermedades como la gripe, COVID-19 o cualquier otra enfermedad transmisible. Estas medidas no son nuevas para nosotros, ya que buscamos minimizar el riesgo regularmente para nuestros clientes, independientemente de un brote como este nuevo coronavirus.

• Cancel non-essential doctor’s appointments

• Schedule telehealth sessions for appointments you can’t miss

• Designate an emergency contact

• Wash your hands frequently

* (scrub for 20 seconds with soap and water)

• Use hand sanitizer when soap isn’t available

Social distancing, also called “physical distancing,” means keeping space between yourself and other people outside of your home. To practice social or physical distancing:

• Stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arms’ length) from other people
• Do not gather in groups
• Stay out of crowded places and avoid mass gatherings

In addition to everyday steps to prevent COVID-19, keeping space between you and others is one of the best tools we have to avoid being exposed to this virus and slowing its spread locally and across the country and world.

Limit close contact with others outside your household in indoor and outdoor spaces. Since people can spread the virus before they know they are sick, it is important to stay away from others when possible, even if you—or they—have no symptoms. Social distancing is especially important for people who are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.

Two kinds of tests are available for COVID-19: viral tests and antibody tests.

• A viral test tells you if you have a current infection.
• An antibody test tells you if you had a previous infection

An antibody test may not be able to show if you have a current infection, because it can take 1-3 weeks after infection to make antibodies. We do not know yet if having antibodies to the virus can protect someone from getting infected with the virus again, or how long that protection might last.

Viral tests check samples from your respiratory system (such as swabs of the inside of the nose) to tell you if you currently have an infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Some tests are point-of-care tests, meaning results may be available at the testing site in less than an hour. Other tests must be sent to a laboratory to analyze, a process that takes 1-2 days once received by the lab.

Antibody blood tests, also called antibody tests, check your blood by looking for antibodies, which show if you had a previous infection with the virus. Depending on when someone was infected and the timing of the test, the test may not find antibodies in someone with a current COVID-19 infection. Antibodies are proteins that help fight off infections. Antibody tests should not be used to diagnose someone as being currently sick with COVID-19. To see if you have a current infection, you need a viral test, which checks respiratory samples, such as a swab from inside your nose.

Antibody tests are available through healthcare providers and laboratories.

www.cdc.gov

covid19.nj.gov

www.nj.gov/health