Receive At-Home Care
- If you are already receiving care at home, work together to ensure infection control and safety with your home health team
- Receiving at-home care ensures your health is managed and helps prevent the need for care in a facility where infection risk dramatically increases
Clean your hands often
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Practice Social Distancing
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick
- Maintain 6-foot distance between you and others
- Put distance between yourself and other people if COVID-19 is spreading in your community. This is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.
Cover coughs and sneezes
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow.
- Throw used tissues in the trash.
- Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Wear a facemask if you are sick
- If you are sick: You should wear a facemask when you are around other people (e.g., sharing a room or vehicle) and before you enter a healthcare provider’s office. If you are not able to wear a facemask (for example, because it causes trouble breathing), then you should do your best to cover your coughs and sneezes, and people who are caring for you should wear a facemask if they enter your room. Learn what to do if you are sick.
- If you are NOT sick: You do not need to wear a facemask unless you are caring for someone who is sick (and they are not able to wear a facemask). Facemasks may be in short supply and they should be saved for caregivers.
Make a Plan
- Meet with your home health team to develop an individualized COVID-19 emergency plan specific to you and your needs.
- Meet with household members, other relatives, and friends to discuss what to do if a COVID-19 outbreak occurs in your community and what the needs of each person will be.
- Get to know your neighbors. Talk with your neighbors about emergency planning. If your neighborhood has a website or social media page, consider joining it to maintain access to neighbors, information, and resources.
- Create an emergency contact list. Ensure your household has a current list of emergency contacts for family, friends, neighbors, carpool drivers, health care providers, teachers, employers, the local public health department, and other community resources.
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Stay Home if You Are Sick
- Stay home if you are sick, except to get medical care.
Stay Home. Period.
- As much as possible, just stay home.
- Ideally, everyone you interact with should also stay home.
- If you get cabin fever, go outdoors for a walk, or take a drive, but avoid going into public places.
Limit Exposure to Small Group of People
- Ideally, you are interacting only with a small group of family members at home, who are also staying home.
- Working with at-home team of nurses and medical professionals to receive services needed to keep you healthy and out of the hospital
Clean and disinfect
- Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.
- If surfaces are dirty, clean them: Use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.
Stock Up On Supplies
- Medications, medical supplies, cleaning supplies, masks, etc.
- Plenty of groceries, including frozen and canned items
- This enables you to stay home where you are not exposed to COVID-19
Take Everyday Precautions
- Avoid and eliminate contact with sick persons
- Avoid touching high-touch surfaces including elevator buttons, door handles, handrails, handshaking, etc.
Stress and Coping
- Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories and social media.
- Take care of your body.
- Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate.
- Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, and avoid alcohol and drugs.
- Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.
- Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy.
Identify Aid Organizations in Your Community
- Partner with your home health agency to ensure you are in touch with organizations that can help.
- Create a list of local organizations that you and your household can contact in the event you need access to information, health care services, support, and resources.
- Consider including organizations that provide mental health or counseling services, food, and other supplies.
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