Caring for Someone Isolating at Home with COVID-19
Though the transmission rate of the virus that causes COVID-19 is considered low in the New York metropolitan area听, the pandemic persists.听Hospitalizations are down,听but听some听New Yorkers may听end up听caring for a COVID-19-positive loved one at home.听
Although the virus that causes COVID-19 poses unique challenges听because of contagion,听starting with basic caretaking support is good first step.听
The patient听will need fluids, rest, and help following medical instructions. Since the patient听has to quarantine听until they test negative for the virus,听they鈥檒l need help with grocery shopping and obtaining prescriptions.听
Physicians and the听Centers for Disease Control and Prevention听(CDC)听recommend听.听
鈥淚t鈥檚 much more difficult when you don鈥檛 have the听living听space the spare听but still have to limit contact,鈥 acknowledges听Rachel听Smerd, MD,听assistant attending physician at鈥NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and听assistant professor of medicine听鈥痑t 富二代成版人app Medical College.听听
Keeping听windows open听to听ventilate听the home, and听carefully听cleaning听the space where the COVID-positive patient has been, especially the听kitchen and bathrooms, is can make a difference, Dr.听Smerd听says. If possible, she听adds, the patient should not prepare food, and听the听dishes and utensils听they鈥檝e used听should be washed in the hottest water possible.听听
Caretakers should limit contact听with the patient听and wear a mask, even in their own home.听Dr.听Smerd听underscores that the CDC has confirmed that the virus can听,听so听wearing a mask protects the COVID-19-positive patient from getting sicker,听and听the caretaker from becoming sick.听
It also can help to have certain听medical items听such as听a blood pressure cuff and pulse oximeter, especially for patients over 50. That makes it easy to update physicians via telemedicine, Dr.听Smerd听says.听听
The CDC recommends having emergency phone numbers on听hand, and of course, watching carefully for signs that the patient鈥檚 condition is worsening. Those can include听trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion, inability to stay awake, and bluish lips or face.听
Caretakers need to听remember to听take care of themselves, Dr.听Smerd听says,听including听getting听a听flu shot.听听
鈥淭he flu shot doesn鈥檛 protect you against COVID-19, but against the flu,鈥 she says. 鈥We want to make sure as many people get it as possible, because we鈥檙e going to have two serious viruses around at the same time.鈥听听
Dr.听Smerd听also听advises caretakers to听reevaluate the necessity of听, and听seeking听accurate information听about听how to care for patients with听COVID-19听through听reliable听sources,听including听听听and the听.听听