Home care workers provide vital service
WHILE most of us are staying home to protect our loved ones, others are heading out in the community to provide vital home care assistance to those who need it.
One of those is wheelchair user Valerie Hayden, who lives in Camolin and has been cocooning for a number of weeks as she has a long term illness, Multiple Sclerosis.
Her days are broken up by three daily visits from her carer, Marta Cullen.
In the morning, Marta helps Valerie out of the bed and prepares her for the day ahead. She returns at lunchtime and again in the evening, all the while maintaining social distancing.
Marta, who works with Woodbrook Outreach Home Services, now wears a face mask and gloves to protect Valerie, herself and her own family.
Marta said that the Covid-19 crisis can be seen as scary, as she feels carers like her have more responsibility than they ever had before, but it’s clear that Valerie is very grateful to Marta.
‘I need help with of lot of personal care to basically function, and to live as full and as independent a life as I possibly can,’ said Valerie.
The concept of cocooning over the last number of weeks has proved positive for people like Valerie, who have long term health issues.
The latest data as at April 26 showed that there have been 58 Covid positive cases out of 20,000 clients in this home and community care settings.
The reasons for this have included the fact that there is lack of turnover in care and nursing staff with clients, as well as wider community restrictions but there are concerns over the lack of priority of testing for people like Valerie.
‘Home is proving the safest place for people to be but we cannot be complacent. Government must maximise home care capacity to adapt to the “new normal” and continue to keep Covid-19 at bay,’ said a spokesperson for Home and Community Care Ireland.
It was agreed with Health Minister Simon Harris that testing would be ramped up for people like Valerie in their home settings to capture the full picture of this section of society.
HOME IS PROVING THE SAFEST PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO BE BUT WE CANNOT BE COMPLACENT