Finally will be getting in home help for my hubby but worried about COVID

numb

hubby is vaccinated but we've all heard the effectiveness is waning. The city  I live in has the MOST vaccinated in the area but also the  HIGHEST amount of new cases : (   

Now I'm worried an aide comes in that's been taking care of others and that my hubby will be put at risk. I'm very careful when I go out the mask, hand sanitizer etc. but of course would have no idea if the aide is careful.

Anyone else worried about aides coming into the home?

Also his primary care doc wants to start him on Celexa 20 mg a day for "agitation"  He sleeps alot but when I have to change his depends /clothes etc he gets angry at me. Is Celexa  a med used in those with dementia?

Thank you.

M1

Yes on both fronts numb:  Celexa can be very useful in these scenarios so it's worth a try.  And yes, I would be worried.  You can request vaccinated aides (or ask him/her directly), but only 40% of aides/nursing home employees are vaccinated in my area.  Quite sad, this is where the federal mandate MAY help but it may also worsen workplace shortages if a lot of people quit.  I'd rather do without than take the risk with this delta variant, frankly.

dayn2nite2

Yes on the Celexa.

As to the other, yes you can ask for vaccinated aides - but it certainly doesn't keep them from getting it and bringing it into your home, does it?

As for the mandates, if things go like they are in my many local hospitals, they're now claiming to be short-staffed because so many people are leaving due to "stress and exhaustion" but everyone knows it's because of those hospitals' deadlines for vaccination.  I expect agencies will be similar.

I guess the solution will depend on how desperate you are for help.

DrinaJGB

My son in law is 39 and healthy--no risk factors. Fully vaccinated. Got covid. Had to be put on steroids ; fever; constant sweats. Quarantined for 10 days. Went back to work. Leg hurting and went to doctor. Ultrasound revealed blood clot. Put on blood thinners; recovering but still painful.Doc said if he had not been vaccinated it would have been far worse.

I do not take my DH anywhere except his appointments where he is masked , and I would not have a home health aid come into this house under any circumstances.Not anymore.

Iris L.

Yikes!

Thanks for this story Drina.  May your SIL continue to improve!

Iris

numb

I called the agency sending the aide they said all aides must have at least one vaccine by Oct. 6 so they will have no idea if who is sent here is vaccinated. 

I have my hubby on a medicaid waiver program and the "service coordinator" told me if I refuse aides they will take him off and all medicaid coverage is cancelled : ( 

So it's either take a chance with different aides and covid or continuing to take care of him myself and he will be off of medicaid. Dam I don't need this shi^ right now. 

Drina prayers for your son in law he makes a full recovery, that is so scary. 

Thank you for all of your replies.

mommyandme (m&m)

I have hand sanitizer right at the entrance of my mothers home and a thermometer.  I take their temps when they walk in and have them wash their hands. I also wipe down doorknobs etc, after they leave.  We actually had a caregiver test positive the day after caring for my mother.  She was apparently sick when she was over.  My mother didn’t catch it, nor did I, or at least we had no symptoms.  That was before vaccinations.  

I am just so sick of all the Covid fears.  If I don’t have caregivers to relieve me I will go insane.  

Ugh, I probably need to vent.  Sorry for your troubles.  

numb

M&M  So glad you or your mom did not catch it. I thought with vaccines etc covid rates would go down but it just keeps getting worse and worse. 

dayn2nite2

People who have and have not been vaccinated are still getting Covid.

sunnydove

Before I went back to work last September 2020, I put in a camera. I'm so glad I did. Our caregiver who had been a favorite from before, as well as a retired RN, wasn't wearing a mask! she was when she arrived and when I facetimed with Mom, but off the rest of the time. I was livid. Needless to say she never worked for us again and I had the agency replace her midshift. 

This year I am no longer working because Mom can't cope with anyone else. But it's such a scary situation. Even the most careful aides could still end up spreading it. 

Stuck in the middle

People who have been vaccinated can still transmit the virus.  They just don't generally get as sick or don't get sick at all.  Since you and hubby are vaccinated, you may be risking your health more by refusing help than by risking a covid exposure.  I would accept the aide if it was me.

scarfire

hi numb. i require all home health aides to be vaccinated in order to come in the house. otherwise i stay home and take care of my mother. the aide agency knows this a requirement for my mother and she is covered by medicaid also. i've never been told that refusing an unvaccinated aide would result in loss of medicaid. you should double check that claim.

i know it is still a risk even when they are vaccinated but it's a risk i must take. so far we have managed to avoid covid. we are on Long Island NY and the covid numbers are low here. i'm planning on getting my mother the covid booster ASAP.

good luck and stay healthy!

kmasen_act2

Depending on what state you're from, the healthcare worker may already be mandated to have gotten the vaccine.  In my state, we have until next month to get it.