Anyone working in care homes- face mask related?

[milkysmum]

I work in a mental health residential care home and we are following the PHE guidance on using surgical face masks on shift due to being unable to socially distance when at work. But by word this is challenging! 12.5 hour shifts, it's so hard to breath in them, a huge part of our job involves communication and it's so much more difficult with a mask on. Eating with clients is a big part of our day, normalising daily routines, but how do we do this without taking our masks off? I just don't understand how we can do our job and comply with guidance. Anyone else in a similar situation? Just looking to share experiences and maybe how to overcome barriers. Thanks in advance!

Same problem where I work. Dementia care, they don't understand social distancing and why I'm in a mask, resitive residents will rip it off you aswell. My face is hot sweaty and breaking out at the end of 12 hours.

Nursing home, with some dementia patients.

I hate masks, hate them! They're hard to breathe in, my chest actually hurts after 12 hours with one on. They make me cough, therefore make others paranoid I've got Covid.
Residents struggle to understand what we're saying, or think we're ignoring them. There's no facial expression when you're wearing them, so that's confusing for people too.

It's shit right now. On top of normal gloves and aprons we'd wear, there's added plastic sleeves/a visor and a mask.... I feel constantly damp because of the sweat.

And this week the government have been bleating on about how they've been helping care homes as mush as possible, don't make me laugh! They wouldn't even test us (who had symptoms) until it was too late, let alone help with PPE. Pure shit show.

We are a small home, 9 residents, mainly younger adults with chronic mental health problems. Most are being really good about us being in masks but one in particular is finding it really difficult as is making her really paranoid. We are also used to eating meals at the dining table with our residents ( it's more like a family home than a care home) but how do you eat at the table with them and not remove your mask? We have no staff room so staff have to eat there meal in the office whilst residents sit at the dining table, it's all so bizarre and I wish I knew when it would end?

Can you link me in to the guidance on this?

The care home I work in insists we only wear masks if a resident is symptomatic, tested+but asymptomatic, or back from hospital. We don't wear masks otherwise.

Yes we are wearing for whole 12 hr shift too and it’s hell. I’m worried about my health as I think they are bad for you! Hot, dirty air going straight back in your lungs. Hideous. The heat today plus the face masks was unbelievable!

www.florence.co.uk/posts/face-mask-care-home

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachmentdata/file/881329/COVID-199Howtooworksafelyyincareehomes.pdf

Thanks, milky.

We have no cases and are literally just wearing them so nobody can complain that the company didn’t protect them if we do have a case. All staff hate them.

We thought our residents would be freaked out but weirdly they have barely batted an eyelid to them.

Lots of changes, the previous guidance on only using PPE if someone is symptomatic has been withdrawn. If you are within 2 metres of a resident then a surgical mask must be worn at all times, full PPE if doing any personal care- the guidance breaks it all down.
We are playing catch up and have only implemented this week but this guidance apparently came out last month.

If they told me now that I’d have to wear for another six months I’d hand my notice in now. I’m worried about the staffing. Care homes had a staffing crisis as it is. Who the hell is going to want to work in a care home now after they’ve been all over the news.

That explains a lot as I've been off the week.

We have had no cases at all, so have not needed to wear masks. However we have been given masks to wear while shopping.

If you work in a care setting vodka it doesn't matter if you have cases, according to the updating guidance you should be wearing a surgical mask at all times throughout the duration of a shift if you are having any contact with residents and only take it off on breaks. I'm glad it's not just us who didn't know about this up until this week!

my cpn visits me every two weeks to give me my depot and shes having to wear a mask. once she gets here, she knocks on the door then has to stand on the doorstep and put on mask, apron and gloves before she can come in. theyve also put them in a uniform which they never had to wear before. it makes it hard for both of us because its hard for her to talk to me in the mask and i get paranoid she's laughing at what im saying behind her mask. Theres no other option though as i cant not have my depot. I feel bad for her that she has to do that for every one of us she comes out to

We’re on our third week now.

Mums care has had no cases, but even so when I dropped off some clothes a full month ago, they were all wearing full PPE. I found it unsettling to see, and it must be hell to work in, but with no cases I suppose you can't complain.

We thought we had no cases, then one nurse went off sick, thought it was something else then got tested.
So they tested the whole building, staff and residents. Turned out most residents did have it and no one had any symptoms, same with the staff.
So only wearing when a person starts to show symptoms doesn't work, it's too late by then.

I'm wondering if anyone else works in a setting with younger adults like us? Most of the time when people talk about care homes they think of older adults and the guidance is predominantly written with older adults in mind I guess?
Our residents age from early 20's to 65. Some with no underlying health conditions but some with diabetes, COPD etc..

I work with dementia, we have not beeen told to wear mask while working. As said before we had no cases, locked down before the offical lockdown started.

I work nights, I will check tonight when i go in. All staff are now been tested and waiting results. The test was horrible, no way would all our resident tolerate the test.

My husband visits lots of care homes for work. He goes in wearing overalls/masks /gloves and staff are only in masks in some places. Lot of outbreaks in care homes here.

DocMarten does he work for an agency?

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachmentdata/file/881329/COVID-199Howtooworksafelyyincareehomes.pdf

Vodka I would definitely ask why your care home is choosing not to adhere to the updated guidance. The number of deaths in date home residents is disproportionately large compared to the general public so we really need to ensure all precautions are taken in reducing risk of transmitting the disease.