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.

Sending lots of love and respect to you all. I've often thought about you doing this job and how you were exposed so much.

Terrifying to read and you get my thanks for all you do.

Wish we could help in some way.

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/302897

This petition is being heavily promoted. Please sign it. I have.

Domiciliary care workers play such a huge contribution and make such a difference; you should be protected too.

Thank you @Absentwomen

It means a lot

Have signed the petition and will send out. That needs a debate in Parliament.

Thankyou Absentwoman. That is nice of you.

I have signed and shared the petition

Thank you. I will certainly be forwarding on.

For any of you with young children there is a lovely story on you tube - time to come in, bear by kim st lawrence.

Made me cry.... but everything does these days

@Apirateslifeforme

Feel so sad reading peoples experiences. I am an OT and we are having similar problems with PPE.

I've been reading up, and we have just got to be extra vigilant.
So I've seen -
• Wear all PPE that you can get your hands on.
• leaving shoes outside of their houses or wearing shoe covers.
• Don't sit down in their houses if you can help it, so the virus doesn't transfer from clothes to fabric.
• Keep as far away as possible as to not touch or transfer germs.
• If doing personal care, wear a mask if it's available.
• Wash hands until there's no skin left to wash 😖

I don't know what else there is to protect us and them.

I cant keep away. Where I go most have small bathrooms where I do personal care. I also have to sit by her bed while she falls to sleep. I dont know how I can change it. She has dementia and has tiny rooms. If I didnt sit down she would get agitated x

I work as a home carer. I have an industrial mask with a filter. As it tightens all round your face. I wear it all the time. Plus apron and two pairs of gloves. I never wash my hands in clients homes. Unf some of them have awful hygiene practices. I plaster my hands with hand gel the minute I'm out of the house.

Also a care worker but in a home, our residents have been on lockdown for a while but are still able to go to the local shop with a member of staff. Only PPE we have is usual gloves and aprons, very quickly running out of hand sanitizer.. No sanitizer in rooms just 3 around the house. Obviously can't social distance due to the nature of the work and it's scary!

After a week back at work I am seriously on my knees with exhaustion.
I can't sleep with worry, there isn't enough face masks for each client, some are completely oblivious to it and try to hug and kiss us daily.
I am frightened to death. Petrified.
I'm terrified to eat or drink while I'm out cos I don't want the germs transferred from my food, even though I've washed my hands and wear gloves I still don't want to risk it.
I can not carry on like this.
My heart feels like it's coming out of my chest and I can't catch my breath.
I need to ring the gp don't I?

doris

Yes you do. It's not worth your mental health.

I am lucky that I work in a LA facility, so we do have quite a bit of PPE. I am due back to work on Tuesday and I am nervous. We work with PMLD adults who need complete PC, you cannot stay 2m away.

The main worry for me is that most of our clients would be seen off by catching CV. I dont want to be responsible for that.

Same as above. I worry about passing it too. I feel like a germ everytime I go in and out the car. I'm constantly washing.

I feel like I'm letting people down though, the staff and the service users.
I literally can't stand to think if I take it into their house, they could die that's the bottom line, most wouldn't survive this no way.
I'm wearing full PPE, washing hands when I get in and when I leave, anti bac my hands before I get in the car, wipe my steering wheel and all that each time I get in the car, strip off when I arrive home, don't touch anything and get straight in the bath/shower.
I don't know what other precautions to take to make me and others safe!