Information on COVID-19/Coronavirus

NHS Website
For health information and advice, read the NHS web pages on coronavirus.

GOV.UK 
For latest guidance, information and updates visit Public Health England.

1. Requiring people to stay at home, except for very limited purposes or for those classed as key workers
2. Closing non-essential shops and community spaces
3. Stopping all gatherings of more than two people in public

Every citizen must comply with these new measures. You can read about each of these and what they entail here.

As key workers, we can and will continue to serve the most vulnerable in our communities so they can remain living safely in their own home. We are continuing to follow the Government’s guidance and updating our policies and procedures accordingly and we remain in close contact with our Clients and care teams to keep them informed of the situation as it unfolds. There’s no doubt that the coming weeks and months are going to be challenging.

We know how important social interaction is to our mental health and wellbeing so think about ways you can continue to communicate with people that you would usually visit face-to-face. There are lots of free apps you can use such as FaceTime, Zoom or Skype to communicate with multiple people during a single call and this handy article from the BBC provides suggestions for keeping in touch with older relatives virtually. Mental health charity Mind has also put together helpful advice and guidance on taking care of your mental health and wellbeing during isolation. Whilst staying indoors, it’s also important to keep your brain active, with activities such as Sudoku, puzzles and jigsaws, rather than watching TV all day.

Exercise is also strongly encouraged, as this releases endorphins which can improve your mood. There are hundreds of exercise videos on YouTube which will allow you to exercise in your own home or garden. Now is the time where we can all play our part to help our communities. By following the Government’s new measures, we are providing a safer environment for our key workers to continue serving those who need support the most during this challenging time.

Other useful links:
Looking after your mental health during the Coronavirus outbreak: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/looking-after-your-mental-health-during-coronavirus-outbreak
How to look after your mental wellbeing while staying at home: https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/coronavirus-covid-19-staying-at-home-tips/

Keeping our Clients safe
We understand that this is a worrying time and you will be concerned about your loved ones but we want to provide you with peace of mind that we are doing everything we can to keep our Clients safe and comfortable at home. Read our blog here: Keeping our Clients safe and connected during the coronavirus outbreak.

Mental health and wellbeing
Your mental health and wellbeing should always be a priority but during these challenging times, where we are spending the majority, if not all of our time indoors, it’s more important than ever to look after yourself and look out for others.

Read our latest blog, ‘Maintaining your mental health and wellbeing whilst isolated at home‘ which includes six key tips for maintaining mental health and wellbeing during the coronavirus pandemic.

We understand that this is a worrying time for families who are concerned about the health and safety of their loved ones requiring care. We want to reassure our Clients and their families that we are doing everything we can during this difficult time to continue providing the safe, high-quality care we are known for.

By sharing some of our frequently asked questions around homecare during the coronavirus, we hope this will help to put your mind at ease.

Is it still safe for my loved one to receive homecare?

We have been asked this a lot and the answer is yes. We have been and will continue to be closely following Public Health England’s guidelines around Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and are updating our policies and procedures accordingly to ensure the safety of both our Clients and our CareGivers.

Please also be assured that we have a solid supply route for PPE, so our CareGivers have everything they need to keep both themselves and your loved ones as safe as possible.

All of our CareGivers have received robust training on COVID-19 infection prevention and control, handwashing and the safe use and removal of required PPE. Our CareGivers will clean any surfaces that they have touched during their visit and disinfect their face visors after every care call.

For more information on how we are keeping our Clients safe and connected during this time, please click here.

If my loved one is self-isolating/shielding, can they receive care from Right at Home?

Yes – following the guidelines mentioned above and wearing the required PPE, we can continue delivering care safely to those who require our services, including those who are in the ‘extremely vulnerable’ category, as defined by the Government.

What services can you support my loved one with during lockdown?

For us, it’s still very much business as usual and as such, we are continuing to provide the same trusted homecare services we normally would. This is anything from companionship, meal preparation and medication reminders, through to light housekeeping, running errands and dementia care.

For Clients who are shielding or self-isolating, our care teams can pick up shopping using dedicated hours at the supermarkets and collect prescriptions so Clients can avoid unnecessary contact with others.

We also offer specialist care to those with conditions that require additional expertise or specialist equipment, such as neuromuscular disorders, spinal injuries and cancer care.

For those with loved ones who require one-to-one support, we also offer 24-hour live-in care, where a CareGiver lives with the Client. This service enables Clients to remain living in the comfort of their own home for as long as possible.

For more information on our services and how we can support you and your family, please click here.

I’m considering care for my loved one, can you still take on new Clients at this time?

Yes – Right at Home can continue to undertake care assessments and new Client packages. All of our care packages are highly-personalised and tailored to meet individual needs. We pride ourselves on being able to respond to urgent care needs with speed but without compromising on standards. We have measures in place to support families with completing a new care assessment and are on hand every step of the way.

What can I do to support my community during the coronavirus outbreak?

First and foremost, following the Government’s instructions around social distancing and staying at home will provide a safer environment for our CareGivers to travel to and from our Clients’ homes.

Secondly, if you would like to help us support those most vulnerable in your local community, why not consider becoming a Right at Home CareGiver? Our care teams are doing an outstanding job keeping Clients safe and connected during this difficult time and you could be too. Find out more about becoming a Right at Home CareGiver.

You can also play your part by checking in with relatives and neighbours to make sure they have the essentials they need but also to check how they are feeling. For people who live alone, self-isolating/shielding can be a very lonely time and you may be the only person they talk to that day or even that week. For more information on maintaining mental health and wellbeing whilst isolating, click here.

If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch 0161 905 2888.

We can support you to stay safe, Right at Home.