Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

Original poster

Care home, no masks or tests

19 replies

NoFrills01 · 31/08/2022 17:35

I work in a care home, the government has now dropped all asymptomatic testing for residents and staff.

Whilst many of my colleagues are happy, I am not. I have many many health issues, with a child who is also very vulnerable and has been very ill over the last year

I'm constantly being asked why I'm still wearing a mask, constantly made to feel like I need to rip it off my face.

Facts of the matter are I had covid in March 2020 I'm pretty sure I have long covid, since then I've been very ill from other virus which have caused very random but life altering changes to my body (lost vison, hearing ect ect).

I caught covid again earlier this year, and unfortunately suffered an early miscarriage. Whilst my Dr says there isn't enough to know if it was covid I can't help but feel my body just reacts to these viruses ever since.

I enjoy my job, but I feel like I'm being pushed out. Some could argue covid is here for a while, I agree but what about those of us who immune systems are wrecked. I'm only young and have just lost my hearing to a virus! Wearing a mask makes me feel better, like I'm doing something to protect myself and my child.

I need to work, but I have no idea what to do.

OP posts:

Twonkyboo · 19/09/2022 21:36

How are you getting on now? The care home I work in told us last week mask wearing is optional. It feels strange.

vodkaredbullgirl · 19/09/2022 21:41

We still have to wear masks but only testing if we are asymptomatic.

StripyHorse · 19/09/2022 22:40

I am amazed so many people have said YABU.

You have every right to keep wearing a mask if you want to. Not only are you helping to protect yourself, but you are also helping protect the residents and your colleagues.

Interestingly, the people who were most indignant at being asked to wear masks because it restricted their choice seem to be most likely to bully those who choose to wear a mask now.

Howmanysleepsnow · 19/09/2022 22:51

Guidance is still that workers in care homes in England should wear masks. Whereabouts are you?

MangyInseam · 20/09/2022 02:22

If you want to keep wearing a mask go ahead, but I think you need to work from the perspective that covid isn't "for a while" but permanent. It is all through the population and you are being exposed anywhere you spend time. If that is not at your current job it is elsewhere.

Testing hasn't much value in that kind of scenario which is why it's not being encouraged any more. And unless you are practicing proper medical masking protocols that's of limited value too.

If you want to avoid covid you will have to find work that does not bring you into contact with others and avoid going out in public for the foreseeable future.

Mumof3girlsandaboy · 20/09/2022 03:04

We are still wearing masks but the test is optional and all visitors have to wear masks

carrotsandpeaass · 20/09/2022 03:11

What do you want to happen though?

By all means wear a mask and do what you can to protect yourself, but people cannot be expected to stick cotton buds up their noses and isolate forevermore.

Chloefairydust · 20/09/2022 07:56

The home I work in has scrapped the testing and temperature taking but has kept the masks.

Personally I would rather test at the start of each shift and not have to wear the mask. I find them so uncomfortable and I’m not convinced they offer much protection. A friend is a dental nurse and she had to be measured for a covid safe mask, they test it by spraying a fragrance, if you can smell it then the virus can get through. 🤷🏼‍♀️

KassandraOfSparta · 20/09/2022 08:19

Wear masks if you want to. Forever, if you want to.

What you can't do is expect colleagues or visitors to wear them just because you think the authorities have got it wrong.

LikeAnOldFriend · 20/09/2022 08:44

I'm sorry you're finding it so hard. I totally understand how you feel. I work in a care home too and I was honestly elated my first shift without masks - I do think it's a wonderful thing for residents and for the ease of interactions and familiarity between staff and residents.

But I totally get where you're coming from. Some of the close-up care I'm doing now I've had a worry at the back of my mind just because I've not got that barrier I've come to rely on, I'm more worried about passing something on now. I think - just like all changes we had while restrictions were easing - these things just take time to adjust to. I'm very conscious of looking out for any resident or any colleague who would rather have masks and I always would put mine back on if so, I really hope your colleagues can do the same.

The interesting thing is I have two jobs so similar, one in a hospital, I'll be there tonight and (I think!) it'll be back to masks as usual there!

CuntyMcBollocks · 20/09/2022 08:57

Keep wearing a mask then. I doubt there's many care homes that have done away with mandatory mask wearing as it is still in the government advice for staff to wear masks. I work in a care home too. There's no law stating that everybody MUST be mask-free, so do whatever you feel best for yourself. If you want to (hypothetically) wear a mask every single day for the rest of your life, then crack on, as it should be a personal choice imo.

Curlygirl06 · 20/09/2022 09:02

I work in retail and we don't have to wear a mask. However, there are a few staff members who are still wearing them, as are some customers. I'm not but I'll absolutely defend anyone's right to wear one if they want.

piegone · 20/09/2022 09:06

I need to work, but I have no idea what to do.

Wear a mask and continue to test as and when you feel the need to.

Mariposista · 20/09/2022 09:10

Just carry on as you are. Nobody has told you you can’t wear a mask.

Icanstillrecallourlastsummer · 20/09/2022 09:15

I understand your concerns, but I do think YABU to expect these things to carry on forever. Covid isn't just here for a while, it now just part of soceity's virus pool. The "plan" with covid was always that it would eventually form part of society like flu does but due to herd immunity and vaccinations for the vulnerable, we would learn to live with it. The trouble is that they spent 2 years telling us how dangerous it was (vs anything else) and that passing it on to your loved ones was basically like giving them a dose of cyanide. It's now very difficult for some people to see it in any other way.

I guess you just do what you can to keep yourself safe - masks, testing etc.

KnickerlessParsons · 20/09/2022 09:18

Do you wear a mask when you go shopping? To a restaurant? The pub, football game, beach, cinema....?

PerfectlyPreservedQuagaarWarrior · 20/09/2022 09:35

MangyInseam · 20/09/2022 02:22

Testing hasn't much value in that kind of scenario which is why it's not being encouraged any more. And unless you are practicing proper medical masking protocols that's of limited value too.

If you want to avoid covid you will have to find work that does not bring you into contact with others and avoid going out in public for the foreseeable future.

This basically sums it up. Covid is absolutely everywhere and unless you are able to work in a role that doesn't involve any contact with other people at all, you will be exposed in your job. You will also be exposed outside your job if you have any contact with other humans.

That said, people are being twats for asking you why you're wearing a mask. It's none of anyone else's business if that's your preference.

MangyInseam · 20/09/2022 13:46

piegone · 20/09/2022 09:06

I need to work, but I have no idea what to do.

Wear a mask and continue to test as and when you feel the need to.

I don't think testing is in any way useful if you are the only one doing it - it's not going to stop you from picking anything up.

I've really noticed this confusion where I live, we still have free tests being given out by the government. Many people treat them like a kind of preventative measure.

Testing only makes sense if it allows the population as a whole to avoid taking the virus into the public. One person testing makes no difference if others aren't. And at this point, even many people testing is not having that effect, because it's too widespread.

StripyHorse · 20/09/2022 16:14

@MangyInseam it depends on who people are seeing and how much contact THEY are having with others.

People testing (and isolating) when positive does stop transmission to those around them. It's not completely pointless.

We test when we see my dad as he is having chemo. He doesn't go to crowded places, doesn't socialise much and masks when he is out - so there is a clear point to testing before seeing him. When DD2 had covid we wouldn't have know if she hadn't tested. We were due to meet him. Days later he had a pulmonary embolism due to his treatment - if that had combined with covid there might have been a very different outcome.

Likewise, it makes sense for people visiting or working in carehomes to test.

Flip