I stopped carers visiting my mum - who has advanced alzheimers - at the start of lockdown, last visit was 20th March. I was thinking I would restart care visits after 12 weeks (about now), but I'm a little concerned about carers bringing the virus to mum and I know if she got it then that's the end.
What do other people think? Is there any guidance from government or the Alzheimer society?
The alternative is to self-isolate until there is a vaccine, which could be a year or more away (if at all). Personally I am coping but I am a little concerned that I might beging to buckle after a cold, dark winter of not going out much.
Primary concern is that carers often seem lackadaisical about hygiene in the past - although that might have changed in the last 3 months & they may have proper PPE & be trained in using it.
Also worried that one of the main route of the virus into care homes was carers moving between care homes, working in multiple sites and acting as carriers of the virus. Nothing would be riskier (in my opinion) than a carer moving from customer to customer, with the associated increase in risk of catching and then spreading the virus. I must admit I am worried & would like some guidance - and reassuring words - from scientists & government & Alzheimer society.
I think the answer would be weekly tests for carers and a proper functioning of a 'track, trace & isolate' system. Also high quality PPE, plentifully supplied and trained in how to use it. Even then I may be unwilling to take the risk.
I suppose it is all about how much risk one is willing to accept. I have had nurses come to the house in PPE to treat mum and accepted that risk. Having carers come on a regular basis may be an increased risk I will not to take....unless the level of virus in the community is very low. Or until I start to go crazy!!!
All advice welcome. Thanks in advance.
What do other people think? Is there any guidance from government or the Alzheimer society?
The alternative is to self-isolate until there is a vaccine, which could be a year or more away (if at all). Personally I am coping but I am a little concerned that I might beging to buckle after a cold, dark winter of not going out much.
Primary concern is that carers often seem lackadaisical about hygiene in the past - although that might have changed in the last 3 months & they may have proper PPE & be trained in using it.
Also worried that one of the main route of the virus into care homes was carers moving between care homes, working in multiple sites and acting as carriers of the virus. Nothing would be riskier (in my opinion) than a carer moving from customer to customer, with the associated increase in risk of catching and then spreading the virus. I must admit I am worried & would like some guidance - and reassuring words - from scientists & government & Alzheimer society.
I think the answer would be weekly tests for carers and a proper functioning of a 'track, trace & isolate' system. Also high quality PPE, plentifully supplied and trained in how to use it. Even then I may be unwilling to take the risk.
I suppose it is all about how much risk one is willing to accept. I have had nurses come to the house in PPE to treat mum and accepted that risk. Having carers come on a regular basis may be an increased risk I will not to take....unless the level of virus in the community is very low. Or until I start to go crazy!!!
All advice welcome. Thanks in advance.