New fears for our ‘cocooned’ elderly

Call for urgent plans to protect vulnerable from Covid-19 if carers bring virus into homes of elderly who have been told to self-isolate

URGENT plans are needed to shield the elderly and vulnerable who have carers coming into the home who could pass on Covid-19, advocates have warned.

Family Carers Ireland has also sought to distribute personal protective equipment (PPE) to carers of family members and loved ones across the country as the crisis worsens.

The organisation’s Catherine Cox said: ‘Family carers are a very vulnerable group and they should have access to PPE similar to what someone in a nursing home setting has but they should definitely have access to priority testing if there’s a fear that they might have it – they need to be recognised as a vulnerable group in themselves.’

The HSE said yesterday that 14 more people had died from Covid19. It added: ‘The median age of today’s reported deaths is 81.’

Ms Cox said that contingency plans for carers were ‘urgently’ needed in terms of the steps they should take if they get sick or the person they care for gets sick.

She said: ‘We have been pushing for protocols for some sort of a pathway for carers if they get the infection or the person they care for gets the infection.

‘A carer’s biggest worry is: what if I get it? Who is going to care for my loved one? But also if I have to continue caring how will that be done? Particularly where you have a family with children with autism, who will care for them if the carer gets it because their needs are very different to an older person.

‘They may not be vulnerable to Covid-19 but they are vulnerable in terms of their care needs.’

Family Carers Ireland also aims to provide respite for families where possible.

But as this is proving difficult, measures are being set up to provide support from a distance. They are establishing online support groups to provide peer support and are calling families in cases where physical respite isn’t available.

The group has also developed an emergency care plan template that a carer can fill in which contains everything they do for the caredfor person, including the medication that person is on.

This is needed so that in the event they have to self-isolate, there’s a clear plan in place for whoever can come in and take over.

Ms Cox added: ‘We’re putting measures in place but there’s no doubt it will be difficult.’

When asked about the lack of PPE available to home carers, a HSE spokesperson said: ‘If a carer or home help thinks they may have Covid-19 our advice is that before direct contact with their client they phone the client’s GP and follow the advice provided to them.

‘If the client is advised to self isolate then the client’s primary care team will advise and the carer should make contact with the local community healthcare organisation to determine appropriate next steps.

‘We know many of our staff have concerns about an adequate supply of PPE. The HSE is doing everything we can to protect our staff.’

Under the emergency provisions, all over-70s as well as people whose health is compromised have been told to ‘cocoon’ or isolate themselves from the outside world.

Yesterday, it was announced that Covid-19 had claimed the lives of 14 more people, and the HSE said the median age of those affected was 81, highlighting the vulnerability of older people to the disease.

The HSE yesterday outlined exactly what cocooning means:

– Strictly avoid contact with someone who is displaying symptoms of Covid-19. These symptoms include high temperature and/or new and continuous cough.

‘Who is going to care for my loved one?’

– Do not leave your house.

– Do not attend any gatherings. This includes gatherings of friends and families in private spaces.

– Do not go out for shopping and, when arranging for food or medication deliveries, these should be left at the door.

– Keep in touch using remote technology such as phone, internet and

social media.

– Contact your GP or other essential services by phone, email or social media only.

The HSE added that essential supports from carers should continue but carers and care workers must stay away if they have any of the symptoms of Covid-19. If a main carer becomes ill, cocooning elderly people should try to have an alternative person to help.

The HSE said the Government was putting in place assistance through the local authorities, and was working with the voluntary sector services to ensure access to food, essential household supplies and medicines.

Each local authority will publish contact details in the coming days.

Health Minister Simon Harris said that postal workers had also volunteered to check on older residents on their routes.

Alone is also providing a telephone support line, seven days a week from 8am – 8pm: 0818 222 024. This line is also open to extremely medically vulnerable people.

Meanwhile, it has been warned that staff are leaving nursing homes to join the frontline fight against Covid-19 in acute hospitals, leaving vulnerable patients at risk amid several clusters in homes.

Sage advocacy and Age Action have raised concerns about nursing home care provision and home care provision. There are now 10 cluster cases of Covid-19 in nursing homes in Ireland, health authorities revealed this week.

Celine Clarke of Age Action told the Irish Mail on Sunday: ‘The weaknesses in the system are being exposed. We are concerned that the measures for the provisions of care for older people are not adequate.’ claire.scott@mailonsunday.ie