Will summer camps be open?
As far as that idyllic camp experience that every kid dreams of having, it doesn’t  seem likely this summer. Many summer camps and recreational day programs are still undecided as to how, when and if they’ll reopen. Some won’t open, others are implementing changes to accommodate stricter health protocols. Most camps are questioning whether or not they can provide the type of camp or summer program that kids look forward to each summer. Anticipating lower head counts, higher operational costs from heightened safety measures, potential cancellations and reduced operating budgets, many camps are likely to remain closed until safety measures can prevent the transmission of COVID-19.

“Parents who once depended on camps and day care are questioning how safe it is to have their children attend programs with many children enrolled. “

 What about daycare centers?
The federal Guidelines for Opening Up America Again, released April 16, appears to allow summer camps and day care centers to reopen, based upon an expected reduction of infections. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it plans to publish “guidelines and decision tools” to help parents in the decision making process of whether or not they should send their children to camp or daycare. The American Camp Association released a field guide for camps  on May 18, 2020 that incorporates CDC guidance on risk reduction that may help parents make a decision as to where their children will be supervised this summer.

What can parents do?
Parents can follow guidance from governors, the CDC and local ordinances. and can expect enhanced health and safety measures, including health checks on every visitor entering the center, employees wearing masks and frequent handwashing.

What child care options are available for children whose parents say no to camps and day care centers?
An option that limits transmission potential is child care in your own home.  Fewer people involved, less chance of COVID-19 exposure.  Home care is increasingly popular, as parents opt for a professional caregiver to care for their children, in their own home to minimize exposure. 

Home care agencies such as SYNERGY HomeCare use a 6-step safety protocol when in clients’ homes, something that is difficult to enforce in a large groups of children:

1. Complete fitness for work / Lack of exposure questions before each visit
2. Wash hands upon entering client’s home
3. Wear face masks when working around clients
4. Wear gloves when touching clients
5. Sanitize frequently-touched surfaces
6. Taking their own temperature throughout the work day

“Home care is increasingly popular, as parents opt for a professional caregiver to care for their children, in their own home to minimize exposure.”

It’s a hard decision for parents
Parents need to get back to work to keep their households running. After months of quarantine, parents are reluctant to allow their children to reintegrate with the world due to the worry of them contracting the virus. Parents are juggling their fear of their children being exposed to COVID-19 against their need to earn money to house, nourish and clothe their family. Many parents have said, “If I let my child go to daycare and they get the virus, I’ll never forgive myself.”

Is it roulette or do parents have enough information to make a decision they can live with? Agonizing choices between health risks and paychecks are plaguing parents throughout the country.

With no signs of the coronavirus decreasing its wrath or a clear message from the government on how it is handling the spread of the pandemic, parents are in the biggest predicament of their lives.  

In-home child care certainly is the safer option for both children and parents, based on the number of people involved alone. While over 50% of the nation’s child care centers have closed with uncertainty of if or when they’ll reopen, many parents are trusting home care agencies to care for their children. 

The post Child care during the summer of COVID-19 appeared first on SYNERGY HomeCare of South Austin.

Make sure you know what you’re supposed to do to manage your recovery. What medications are you expected to take? How long are you expected to take them? What exercises should you be performing to make your recovery easier? Make sure that your doctor writes down all the instructions your home care team will need.

Think about temporary changes to your home to make your recovery easier. You don’t need to attempt to get up and down stairs several times a day, for example. Think about what will need to be done to your home to make your post-surgery recovery easier. Do you need a table to set beside your bed or the couch? Clutter removed to make it safer for you to walk across the house? Knowing what will need to be done makes things easier both for you and for your home-care team post surgery.

Know what tools you need. Do you need heat packs or ice packs? A special walker or other equipment to make it easier for you to get around post-surgery? Make sure that you have all of these tools available prior to your return home and that you have a good idea of how to use them.

Know how often you’ll need care. Depending on the type of surgery you’ve had, the amount of care you’ll need will vary. Have a good understanding of what type of care you’ll need, and discuss it with your home care team as you prepare to return home.

Have contact information for your doctor readily available. This will be valuable for both you and your home care team if you have any questions. 

Looking for a winning home care team to help with your recovery after surgery? Contact us today to see how we can help!

For more resources please check online articles like this one here. 

The post Planning for Home Care for Surgery Recovery appeared first on SYNERGY HomeCare of South Austin.

Organization

Having an organized home is crucial for the blind and visually impaired. Everything must have a specific location so it can easily be accessed. Labeling is another important key to independent living. Very large print labels or raised labels can be added to household items. A simple process like matching ones clothes comes easy to the sighted. But for the blind, it is extremely difficult. It is helpful if the clothing is labeled, so they are able to dress themselves properly. Labeling and organization are much more important when it comes to the use of food and cleaning products. A SYNERGY HomeCare caregiver can assist with these issues.

 Reading

Most blind people are taught braille at an early age. However, for those who lose their vision later in life, learning braille is rarely undertaken. Reading the mail or important documents becomes nearly impossible for many of the visually impaired. SYNERGY HomeCare caregivers can assist in reading these items to clients, assist with filling out forms, and even reading enjoyable materials to our clients such as newspapers or books.

 Cleaning

Many able-bodied blind people are perfectly capable of cleaning their own home. But, if you cannot see, you do not know what you have missed.             SYNERGY HomeCare caregivers can take on the cleaning of these overlooked areas in the home. The clients home then remains a clean and safe envoirnment for the client to live in. 

These examples are only a few of the many ways in which a                 SYNERGY HomeCare caregiver can assist the blind and visually impaired so that they can remain in the comfort of their own home. It is entirely possible for individuals with visual impairement to have a high quality of life with just a little help. Contact  SYNERGY HomeCare today for more information on how our trained and screened caregivers can help you or your loved one. contact us at 512-872-6116.  

The post Benefits of Non Medical Home Care for the Blind and Visually Impaired appeared first on SYNERGY HomeCare of South Austin.