Caring For Someone in Another Home

If you provide care and support to an older person, you may have concerns about how to continue doing this during the coronavirus outbreak. Here’s what you need to consider to keep you and them safe.

You may care for someone paid or unpaid, by: picking up essential supplies; checking in with them on a regular basis; supporting them to take their medication; providing cleaning services; or supporting someone to maintain their independence at home with personal care such as helping them to eat, move about the house or shower.

Can I still provide care for someone in their home if I don’t live with them? The short answer is yes – although you might have to change the way you provide this care depending on what it is that you usually do for them. There are precautions and steps you should take to keep you both as safe as possible – such as regularly washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

How can I safely visit someone? If you provide care that requires you to go into someone’s home – perhaps you help them to get out of bed, move around their house, take their medication, or get dressed – then you can carry on doing this.

But, if you do so, you must ensure you follow simple hygiene steps to protect the person you care for. These include washing your hands when you arrive and often during your visit, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds. You should catch any sneezes in a tissue and dispose of it straight away. If you do need to cough you should cough into the crook of your elbow. You may want to consider wearing a face covering if it’s possible for you and the person you are caring for.

If you or the person you care for lives alone or in a singled-adult household you may decide to form a support bubble with each other. This can make caring easier as it means you can spend time in the house of the person you care for without needing to socially

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distance. You would also be able to stay at one another’s houses and travel together. You are only allowed to form one support bubble with another household and once you have formed a support bubble you cannot change who is in the bubble.

Can I help with someone else’s cleaning? If you help someone with their cleaning, then you can carry on doing so. But ensure you wash your hands when you arrive – at least 20 seconds with soap and water – and then regularly during your visit. Also try to keep a 2 metre distance from anyone else at all times – perhaps you could ask the person you support to stay in one room whilst you clean? You could also buy some new cleaning products or use what the person already has, as bringing your own can increase the risk of spreading the virus from home to home.

Can I help with someone else’s shopping? If you usually do the shopping or pick up essential supplies for someone, then you should continue to do this. You can now visit one other household at a time indoors and so you can help unpack shopping. Remember to maintain social distancing measures such as maintaining a 2-metre distance and washing your hands with hot water and soap for 20 seconds regularly. It’s also a good idea to wipe down any surfaces that you touch.

Popping in for a chat You are now able to spend time indoors with people from one other household at a time, so you can pop in for a chat. You can also meet with up to 5 people outside from different households, which includes private gardens and roof terraces. Don’t forget that you need to socially distance from anyone who is not part of your household or support bubble. It’s also good to remember that the risk of coronavirus spreading is lower outside so you might prefer to meet in outdoor spaces, such as gardens, when you can.

Can I still provide care if I have symptoms or I’m self-isolating? If you feel unwell, have any symptoms of coronavirus or are self-isolating for another reason (for example you’ve been advised to by NHS Test and Trace) you shouldn’t carry on providing any care or support.

Perhaps you can identify another family member, friend, trusted neighbour or local community support group that could step in and help.

If those options aren’t available or appropriate, you can contact your local councilor health care provider.

If you do not know how to do this, you can contact NHS 111. n

www.ageuk.co.uk

This information was correct as of the 13th August 2020 please be aware that local lockdown situations will change this advice.