***READ OUR CORONAVIRUS / COVID-19 CARE POLICY***
(designed to keep clients and caregivers safe)
FirstLight Clients & Families, we’ll be using this page to update on the latest critical information regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19) as it relates to the care we are providing for you and/or your loved ones (and your own well-being). (In addition to phone calls, texts and emails).
Please call or text us any time at 916-742-5328. The entire office team is keeping up to date on this virus, and when you call you can talk to any one of us: myself (General Manager), Sabrina (Client Care Director in charge of scheduling), Tesia (Caregiver Recruitment & Training) and Cathy (Director Of Community Relations). Here’s a picture of us. Thanks. — Paul
The first section below provides USEFUL LINKS. The second section contains periodic UPDATES FROM FIRSTLIGHT HOME CARE (with a date specifying when the update was posted).
USEFUL LINKS
Below are links to regional and national updates/guidance and local Coronavirus-related news (including the latest on “lockdowns,” quarantines and “shelter-in-place” guidance).
30-Second Video: How To Make A Mask With A Bandana – No Sewing Required! (added 4/2/20)
Article On Handwashing & Other Coronavirus Safety Topics (added 4/1/20)
Funny Handwashing Video (added 4/1/20)
White House – 15 Days To Slow The Spread (social distancing guidance extended through the end of April)
CDC (federal) Guidance
California
Sacramento County
Placer County
El Dorado County
Sacramento Bee Updates
UPDATES FROM FIRSTLIGHT HOME CARE
3/26/2020 Update
***FIRSTLIGHT HOME CARE CORONAVIRUS / COVID-19 CARE POLICY***
To protect the lives of you — our clients, caregivers and all involved loved ones — for the foreseeable future we have made the difficult decision not to provide care to clients or potential clients — and not to send out caregivers — who:
- test positive for Coronavirus — until they are medically cleared of being free from the virus and no longer contagious
- have been within six feet of (or in a social gathering with) someone who has tested positive for Coronavirus in the last 14 days
- exhibit Coronavirus-type symptoms — until they test negatively for Coronavirus
- have had a household visitor with Coronavirus-type symptoms in the last 14 days
In light of the above, we highly recommend you keep household visitors to the absolute essential ones until this pandemic subsides.
In addition to safety concerns (we do not have the proper face masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) to provide care safely), FirstLight staff are not medically trained, and are therefore not the proper personnel to provide care.
Clients and caregivers: we urge you and/or your loved ones to seek immediate medical help if symptoms develop or you test positive for Coronavirus.
To help everyone involved stay safe, we are asking for everyone’s help enforcing the above policy. Clients and caregivers, please let us know if you fall into any of the above three categories. Only by trusting each other with full honesty and transparency in this difficult time can we maximize all of our safety.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to the rapidly changing situation, we apologize in advance for any temporary gaps in coverage that occur if/when a caregiver or client falls into one of the above category, or if a caregiver’s availability changes.
3/18/2020 Update #2
According to most guidance provided by state and county governments (see links above), our services are considered “essential” — meaning, our caregivers are still permitted to visit our clients. If that changes we’ll let you know.
3/18/2020 Update #1
Dear Clients and Families:
FirstLight Home Care of South Placer County is actively monitoring the progression of the coronavirus, COVID-19, to ensure that we have the most accurate and latest information on the threat of the virus. As you know, this situation continues to develop rapidly as new cases are identified in our communities and our protocols will be adjusted as needed.
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 First Light serves, 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 Centers for Disease Control (CDC) State Department of Health, local and county authorities, the Home Care Association of America and other agencies and resources. Our response and plans, summarized below, may be adjusted 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.
- All caregivers have been reminded to follow proper sanitation best practices (including washing hands frequently with soap and water (or hand sanitizer), avoiding close contact with people who are sick, and covering their mouth and nose with a tissue when they cough or sneeze.
- 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.
Contingency Planning for You or Your Loved One
- Depending on the severity of the spread of illness in communities or the response taken by national and state authorities (ex. mandatory isolation, closure of schools, etc.), our staffing levels may be affected. As a result, we may be unable to cover all shifts.
- We will make every effort possible to provide our clients with safe and appropriate care and seek to avoid canceling shifts, however, we cannot guarantee this will not occur given the uncertainties about this situation.
- At all times, regardless of a viral outbreak or other situation, we strongly recommend that our clients have alternative arrangements for the provisions of care in the event we are unable to provide services. We encourage you to begin considering and putting into place back-up plans now, as the severity of the spread of this illness and planned interventions is still uncertain.
What You Can Do to Protect Yourself and Your Family
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.
- Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces.
- Eat well, drink lots of water and get rest to strengthen your immune system.
- Have a family emergency preparedness plan that includes care coverage and back up support, if possible.
- Stay at home and away from others if you are feeling ill.
- If you have underlying medical issues that put you in the high-risk category, avoid large public gatherings or other places outside the home. Limit your contact with others.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me. I want to assure you that we are following all the necessary protocol to protect our clients and your loved one. I will continue to update you as more information becomes available.
Sincerely,
Paul Terpeluk
President & General Manager
HCO License Number 314700018