Every day I feel more and more conflicted about the right thing to do for my mom and uncle, both of whom have caregivers and live together.
I'm 32 and my husband and I both moved back to my home state last year (we actually posted on this forum for advice!) to be closer to my ailing mom and uncle and I don't regret a minute of it.
They live alone and because we rent a non-handicapped accessible apartment, we cannot bring them here. We were house hunting for something suitable but COVID has paused that.
We both have full-time jobs and live about 15 mins away. We cut their staff from ~12 per week (various shifts) to 2 M-F and no weekends (we do those shifts). There is a nurse that comes weekly for blood draws as well.
Every day I wonder should I cut all the staff and try to juggle our jobs and caregiving? They are okay overnight, but they cannot bathe, take meds, make meals etc on their own.
The staff is required to wear a mask (we are making them reuse because they are short supply), wash hands frequently, stay 6 ft away when possible and take their temperature at the door. I struggle with the fact that if we eliminate all of them we would lose the agency hours and if my husband or I got sick no one could help them and they would be stranded.
Anyone else a caregiver for family that doesn't live in home but pretty close by?
Other than that - isn't this up to your mother and your uncle to decide? Or are they not capable?
One other idea: they can't move in with you - could you move in with them?
Unfortunately I cannot - their apartment is very small and there would be no where for me to stay and still maintain sleep / immunity.
If they do NOT have these symptoms or fever, (like your caregivers) they can come in, wash their hands and THEN put on a mask. We do not want dirty hands touching the face.
Your caregivers are OK to come in but must keep the mask on at all times.
All visitors including your care workers must have their temp taken, hands washed BEFORE putting on a mask and then enter your home.
On the way out, they must again, have their temp taken and hands washed before taking off their mask.
If they eat at your place, they must stay 6 feet away from everyone to eat and then follow the same procedure as before on donning and removing the mask.
We are reusing our masks at the clinic because we are in short supply. We keep them in a plastic bag when not being used and never touch them unless our hands are washed. We use gloves but still wash our hands again after removing the gloves. Hope this helps...