Concerned about being a caregiver for a woman that is going home today from locked down nursing home. Any advice?

Is there a breakout in the home she is coming from? My moms place (knock on wood) hasn’t had any breakouts. They test staff twice a week and residents once a week. If the place has a high percentage positive I’d worry, otherwise I’d just make sure you both wore a mask and kept distance as much as you can.

I would ask that while you are within 6 ft of her that she wear a mask. You wear a mask too. If nightshift means 11 to 7 then you should be safe. Hopefully, she will be sleeping. I would disinfect any surfaces you both come in contact with. Wash hands all the time. Wearing gloves just picks up the Covid and spreads it to other services u touch.

It is time like this that I wished some company would have developed an affordable daily at home covid test. Something like that should have been on the radar months ago.

Even if the woman tests negative before leaving the facility, she could become positive the next day or the day after.

My LO was exposed in a meticulously clean, well organized AL, by a NON SYMPTOMATIC CARRIER. LO was sick for 2 days before the carrier had any symptoms.

She was sick for 3 weeks, and shed the virus for about 3 1/2 months.

I’d definitely be wary.

I totally agree with other posters. You certainly have a right to be concerned about this.

Who wants to get Covid and bring it home? No one would want to be exposed. Settle this right now before accepting the job.

Speak to the agency about protecting their employees. They have a responsibility to make sure they are sending you into a safe environment.

Inform the family that they either need to provide you appropriate PPE or that you will buy it and fully expect to be reimbursed.

as you start today (is that right?), your kinda stuck on today’s gearing up.
But use today to look careful in the home and hen do a list of items they need to have for you both to have at the lady’s home and another set / box that you have so that you can come in with fresh disposal mask, gloves, face shield. For start of your shift day after next. Also request Case of mini bottled waters, paper straws, Lysol or Wet Ones in all bathrooms and the ladys bedroom. Go online to Target & Walmart for pricing on this and present it to them if need be.

Does your city do free Covid testing? If do I’d get one done this week so you have a baseline on your being + or -.

You might want to have a laundry basket and change of clothing next to it so that you strip and donn a fresh set of clothing for entering your home. That laundry done on hot every day or sits in garage till laundry day that you do (not your hubs or your mom).

Also kinda keep track of how busy this home is..... like if the lady has all sorts of visitors and if they do PPE and social distancing. If lady is negative, it’s not her I’d be worried about but her family & friends coming in, stopping by to visit, socialize, chat & use the bathroom.
Imo if the lady’s family balk at any of this and it’s visiting with no masks etc, I’d resign from the job. You & your own household are all higher risk population and 1 of y’all will have a health issue that Covid sensitive as face it as we age we all get something....... You can find another position that has a mutual approach / collective responsibility to being Covid safe. Good luck.

You and your household are at higher risk but you need to weigh the pros and cons for yourself. If you take this on you must take all necessary precautions to minimize risk, that means ensuring you have or are provided with a sufficient amount of quality PPE plus increase ventilation in the home until a quarantine period is past.. Don't forget there are people working in those nursing homes where they have a 100% chance of being exposed.