Domiciliary care workers

[ginforthewin4]

Hi.
I am a domiciliary care worker (home care worker).
Is there anyone else on here in this job at the minute?

We are going into clients houses with no masks, basic gloves and aprons. We have no sanitizer left. We are going into vulnerable adults, we do not know if we have the virus with no symptoms, we do not know if we are carrying the virus but have not had symptoms yet, same for the client.

We are crying out for masks but it is falling on deaf ears. We all have family at home that we risk carrying this too. No body knows what way each individual will react to this virus.
We have been told that masks do not protect us...... how can this be when it can pass through droplets? We cannot social distance from clients.

I just was looking to see if any of you are on the same boat as me. It is such a worrying time. I am so stressed all the time and just want proper equipment to do my job properly and safely.
We keep hearing how we do not need equipment UNTIL someone has symptoms.... why?? It is spreading like wildfire! It is too late to wait until symptoms show. We need the equipment now to protect those most vulnerable and ourselves and our families.

But then it stays on clothes and shoes doesn't it so we can be infecting ourselves with it being on our clothes? And well have to change our gloves 100000 times a day every time we touch something

gin4thewin - we can only have them from the company to use with clients that have been tested positive they gave said. I haven't been able to find any myself. I am worried we will get it before the person shows symptoms and most won't be tested anyway.

I love my job to bits but it makes me want to quit.

Also a domiciliary Carer. Wish we would be provided with face masks. Even the paramedics I was talking to the other night said we ought too be going in and out of different homes. I went on a new call the other day both coughing and spluttering everywhere and there was no way I could social distance washing someone whilst they were coughing in my face. I have been in bed since about 2 o clock this afternoon alternating between freezing cold but feet sweating loads, and burning up. I have also started coughing a fair bit too. Hopefully it's just because I'm tired and run down and maybe a touch of hay fever. Don't know about anyone else but constantly wearing gloves for work has caused my hands to break out something chronic. I look like I have nettle rash all over my hands they're that bad. The burning and itching is driving me insane and trying to put hand cream on is torture at the moment. It feels like I'm dipping my hands in battery acid. I'm even waking myself up during the night scratching away at them. I've tried changing glove size from small to medium but the mediums don't fit snug to my tiny wrists and I don't like to have any gaps in them

Same. We do have sanitizer that's it. I go from home to home worrying if I spread it. I know some clients have had family over too. Its crazy there is no protection for us:(

I don't know what else we can do?
It's flipping frightening for everyone involved.
We should be provided with masks definitely.
I don't know what I'd do if I brought it into someone's house and they died, can you imagine my god I don't think I'd live with myself.
Or if I brought it home to my kids.
Oh it don't even bear thinking about!

I want to quit after this thread.

Ohdoris those thoughts go through my head constantly. I'd feel bad for quitting yet I feel bad every time I come home to my kids.

So do I.
We're on the front line, just like the nhs staff aren't we!

If we strip off before we get in the house, leave our shoes outside, wash the clothes as soon as we get in on a hot wash that will help I think.

I'm not coming home in my breaks either, not worth the risk. But then will I get told off by police for sitting in my car?
What about car fabric will it be in that as well?

I have stopped coming back inbetween but sometimes I get back late 11-midnight and I just dont always put clothes on a wash as I just slump in exhausted. I get spluttered on often, I cant really social distance when I am helping someone stand and washing them.

We finish at 10, so it's not as bad as you, that's very late! What on earth do they make you do until 11-12am?!
I'm a bugger for coming in and sitting down

Do you know, out of all this I don't want to quit. I want to do my job, I love my clients, I want to protect them but how can I without anything to protect myself. I too have those conflicting thoughts..... what if I infect a client, what if I bring it home to my children, what if I take it really bad and cannot see my kids for weeks or worse die. It is all so disheartening. We are all putting ourselves at risk. There needs to be more measures in place, no matter how precautionary, too help and protect us so we CAN do our jobs.

No you can't social distance when you are giving personal care can you it's impossible.

I love my clients too, but I love my family and I don't know if I can carry on like this!

I am really glad to know I am not the only person feeling this way.

All the other girls at work are quite blasè about it, all very well be alright don't worry about it.

No one seems to worry that there isn't masks, I mean they only stopped doing social calls last week!! Taking elderly clients out to the shops! I mean did you ever 🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️

Gin, me too my lovely, me too.
I thought I was being over dramatic but I realise I'm not. I'm definitely not.

I think carers and Domicillary workers have been largely forgotten about - it's so sad as you're doing such a vital role too (and for the lowest pay). Please agitate with your Agencies and the Councils to get the proper PPE - keep going on- ask about the new testing kits that will be coming soon - make sure they're available to you.

Pah - we'll be the last to get anything we need!!
We can ask all we like, we won't get it if they think we don't need it!

Hi I just wanted to say you're all amazing and I'm so sorry that you're often overlooked and underpaid.

I know this won't help but lots of the hospital staff don't have proper PPE either. A few of my close friends and relatives are in regular contact with patients with potential coronavirus in hospitals without the correct PPE. One of them is asthmatic.

Meadow -
It's disgusting that nhs staff in contact with covid confirmed patients do not have the correct ppe!
Do the hospitals not care that these people are literally putting their life on the line for others?
What is their thinking?
I just don't know.
I want to stay locked in my house with my other half and kids until this is all over. Bugger getting paid. We can't go anywhere to spend it anyway.

My postman earlier had a mask and gloves and that is good. He stood right back before I opened the door. How are we meant to avoid getting infected if a clients coughs near us etc when we are bathing them for example. It really worries me.

So post people get masks but carers don't?!
🤷‍♀️

I'm a carer and I'm afraid I've decided to stay at home from today. No ppe at all unless we provide it. Shops run out. Hand gel forget it. My hands are like sandpaper. I've worked 7 days a week until now but its come a bit close to home now and I can't risk it. I'm fortunate that I can take a hit. I know others arent so lucky.