FirstLight – Coronavirus / COVID-19 Care Policy

Updated 10/11/21

IMPORTANT NOTE: By 11/30/21 the state of California is requiring all Home Care Aides either to be either:

• FULLY vaccinated (both shots of a 2-dose vaccine or one shot ofa 1-dose vaccine), or
• granted an exemption.

FirstLight is required to comply with this rule and you can read the details here: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CCLD/PINs/2021/HCS/PIN-21-07-HCS.pdf

***FIRSTLIGHT HOME CARE CORONAVIRUS / COVID-19 CARE POLICY***

To protect the safety 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:

1. test positive for Coronavirus — until they are medically cleared of being free from the virus and no longer contagious
2. have had direct exposure to someone with Coronavirus in the last 14 days
3. exhibit Coronavirus-type symptoms — until they test negatively for Coronavirus
4. have had a household visitor with Coronavirus-type symptoms in the last 14 days

In addition, before every shift each caregiver must pass a symptom-screening process.

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.

If you or someone you know has Coronavirus, or you are caring for someone who does, below are some guidelines:

GUIDANCE FOR THOSE WITH CORONAVIRUS / COVID-19 (and those caring for them)

This guidance is intended for:

• People with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, including persons under investigation, who do not need to be hospitalized and who can receive care at home;
• People with confirmed COVID-19,who were hospitalized and then determined to be medically stable to go home;
• Household members, intimate partners, and caregivers in a non-healthcare setting of a person with symptomatic, laboratory-confirmed COVID-19.

PREVENTION STEPS

The person should remain at home except to get medical care

• Restrict activities outside their home, except for getting medical care. Do not go to work, school, or public areas. Avoid using public transportation, ridesharing, or taxis.

Separate person from other people and animals in their home

• People: As much as possible, the person should stay in a specific room and away from other people at home. Also, they should use a separate bathroom, if available.
• Animals: Person should restrict contact with pets and other animals while they are sick with COVID-19, just like they would around other people. Although there have not been reports of pets or other animals becoming sick with COVID-19, it is still recommended that people sick with COVID-19 limit contact with animals until more information is known about the virus. When possible, have another member of the household care for their animals while they are sick. If the person is sick with COVID-19, avoid contact with their pet, including petting, snuggling, being kissed or licked, and sharing food. If they must care for their pet or be around animals while they are sick, make sure they wash their hands before and after they interact with pets and wear a facemask.

Call ahead before visiting your doctor

• If they have a medical appointment, call the healthcare provider and tell them that they have or may have COVID-19. This will help the healthcare provider’s office take steps to keep other people from getting infected or exposed.

Wear a facemask

• Person should wear a facemask when they are around other people (e.g., sharing a room or vehicle) or pets and before they enter a healthcare provider’s office. If they are not able to wear a facemask (for example, because it causes trouble breathing), then people who live with them should not stay in the same room with them or should wear a facemask if they enter the person’s room.

Cover your coughs and sneezes

• Person should cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when they cough or sneeze. Throw used tissues in a lined trash can; immediately wash your hands, and person’s hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or clean hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains 60 to 95% alcohol, covering all surfaces of your/their hands and rubbing them together until they feel dry. Soap and water should be used preferentially if hands are visibly dirty.

Clean your hands often

• Have them wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or let them clean their hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains 60 to 95% alcohol, covering all surfaces of their hands and rubbing them together until they feel dry. Soap and water should be used preferentially if hands are visibly dirty. Make sure they know to avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Avoid sharing personal household items

• Person should not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, or bedding with other people or pets in their home. After using these items, they should be washed thoroughly with soap and water.

Clean all “high-touch” surfaces everyday

• High touch surfaces include counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables. Also, clean any surfaces that may have blood, stool, or body fluids on them. Use a household cleaning spray or wipe, according to the label instructions. Labels contain instructions for safe and effective use of the cleaning product including precautions you should take when applying the product, such as wearing gloves and making sure there is good ventilation during use of the product.

If symptoms worsen

• Have person seek prompt medical attention if their illness is worsening (e.g., difficulty breathing). Before seeking care, make sure they call their healthcare provider and tell them that they have, or are being evaluated for, COVID-19. Have them put on a facemask before they enter the facility. These steps will help the healthcare provider’s office to keep other people in the office or waiting room from getting infected or exposed. The healthcare provider should call the local or state health department. Persons who are placed under active monitoring or facilitated self-monitoring should follow instructions provided by their local health department or occupational health professionals, as appropriate.

• If it is a medical emergency and need to call 911, notify the dispatch personnel that they have, or are being evaluated for COVID-19. If possible, they should put on a facemask before emergency medical services arrive.