Caring for a Covid Patient At Home

The coronavirus disease of 2019 has been around for only a short while, yet everyone has adapted to the new world where the virus is a daily reality. Every day, more people are testing positive, sending them straight back home where they need to be quarantined. Caring for a Covid patient at home can be stressful, but also very manageable if the necessary precautions are taken. Even if a Covid-positive person isn’t experiencing major symptoms, it is important to keep a watchful eye as they remain at home, so keep these basic aspects in mind.

Warning Signs

For some people that have been diagnosed with Covid-19, it may feel like the worst possible flu and pneumonia in the world. Even those that don’t seem very ill can still develop serious, life-threatening symptoms. The most important warning signs to look out for are excessive trouble breathing, blue lips, and hypersomnia, the inability to stay awake. Other emergency signs that the patient is becoming sicker is if their skin changes to a pale gray or blue. They may require a respirator to help to increase their oxygen levels, and possibly be admitted to the hospital. Covid can present with no warning signs, or it can suddenly worsen even if the person has been feeling physically well.

Create a Clean Room

The most important thing is that the Covid patient does not infect any more people of a household. This means staying home at all times, and if possible, confining that patient to a single room and bathroom. All bedding and clothing must be washed regularly and completely separate from any other washing. One effective way is to use a hospital gown or dress that opens up in the back. It gives better access if the patient needs to be attended to, and is easier than washing many items of clothing each day.

It is also important to protect yourself with masks and gowns. Since Covid came around, government-tested and approved gowns have been provided for carers to limit contamination when caring for at-home patients that need to be isolated.

Gloves Are Not Immune

Many people believe that wearing latex gloves will protect a person from spreading the disease. Where it does limit infection rates, gloves are still exposed to the outside elements. Anytime someone touches their face or the door handle with that glove they are spreading germs. A separate pair of gloves must be used each time the patient is attended to. Gloves must be wrapped in plastic and sealed tightly. Hands must be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized anytime the gloves come off. It’s quite a process, but entirely necessary.

When caring for a Covid patient at home it is generally better to delegate one person that will be in contact with the patient. It limits any contact and only one person has to worry about being sanitized and routinely tested for the virus.

The Covid-19 virus is here to stay for some time, so learning to care for a patient at home is becoming more common every day. Every precaution must be taken to limit the spread of the virus, and patients at home must be watched carefully for any signs of the virus worsening.