Who all should be Home Cared?

Out of all the COVID positive people, many fall under mild infection so they could always be taken care of at home for comfort care in a known environment.

Sick People who are:

  • Stable patients
  • Have mild illness
  • No risk factors
  • Display Mild symptoms
  • Have No or mild fever

These set of cases could be isolated at:

  • Hotels (Govt Allocated)
  • Govt approved Quarantine centers
  • Home Quarantine

These patients should be chosen by the health professional after a very thorough & careful clinical judgment.

Is your Home Quarantine Friendly?


After this important question, the next few things you should think about are:

  • Well ventilated home/ bedroom/ bathroom
  • Adequate caregivers
  • Separate bedroom with attached bathroom to maintain social distancing
  • Resources for access to food & necessities
  • Household members capable of following safety precautions
  • Absence of High-risk members
  • Accessible location (near the hospital)
High-Risk Population

What is essential while Home Care?

While taking care of a person at home we all should adhere to a few recommendations:

Limited contact:

The contact should be very limited to the patient. They should be taken care of by either a health care professional or a caregiver. A well ventilated separate room preferably with an attached bathroom should be used.

NO VISITORS

Avoid direct contact:

If the room has to be shared with someone then a minimum distance of 1 meter should be maintained (separate beds/ tables/ chairs or couches)

Eat separately:

  • Keep the movement of sick person minimum 
  • Do not use a common area for meals. 
  • The sick person should be provided in bed or the room but not with all the occupants.
  • Wash the utensils with soap and water followed by 1% sodium hypochlorite solution.
  • Keep the hands clean. 
  • If hands are already clean the sanitize the hands regularly.
  • DO NOT SHARE
  • Avoid sharing personal items and things to stop cross-infection.

Wear protective gear:


The caregiver should take extra precautions:

  • Use face mask & glovesUse face shield & cover the hair
  • Keep hands clean and sanitized
  • Clean the surfaces & items once or twice in a day with 0.5% bleach solution

Hand hygiene:

Hand hygiene is most important to follow a few basic rules and you’ll do just fine

  • Use gloves
  • Do not reuse the glovesWash hands/ sanitize after changing gloves
  • Regularly wash hands or sanitize them

Laundry:

  • Change clothes & bed linens daily
  • Keep the used clothes in a different hamper.
  • Use gloves while handling the clothes.
  • Do not shake the soiled clothes.
  • Wash clothes at the highest temperature settings (60-90°C/ 140-194°F)
  • Keep them under the sun for drying thoroughly
  • Wash hands properly after washing clothes

Trash:

  • Use lined trash cans to avoid soiling the hands. 
  • Keep the infected trash separate and dispose of them in double-lined trash.

Last but the most important “As a caregiver keep a track of your own health”

While taking care of a corona infected patient at home keep your mind open towards the warning signs. You could reach out to the professionals if the need arises.

Warning Signs

  • Troubled breathing
  • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
  • Confusion/ Dizziness
  • Inability to wake/ stay awake
  • Bluish discoloration of lips/ face/ fingertips

Few hospitals have home care packages worth checking: Medanta, Fortis, Max, etc.

Be Healthy & Be Safe.