Should home care workers wear a face mask at their client's homes during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Yes, yes and yes!

Disposable gloves too!!

Absolutely!! Otherwise what point is there in your clients isolating! I’m horrified that they aren’t already. No excuses!
And they should be washing their hands as soon as they arrive and before they leave as a minimum.

ABSOLUTELY!!! YOU MAKE IT YOUR OWN HOUSE RULE. Prior to the quarantine, I had masks that I gave all who visited. It wasn't in our home state in reports yet. When the first was reported I posted a sign in the window that we were self quarantining. This was prior to March 1st. Look where we are now. look on line find a sign print it i couldn't include one here and post in the window even if you aren't there.

If the home care workers are seeing multiple clients, then I would require them to wear a mask. If they are the same person every day, I would not require a mask unless there are other visitors coming into the house. Nomatter my thoughts, you have to feel comfortable.

Short answer - no. No one comes into my house without a face mask (and none of us leave the house without one). We have 2 immune compromised family members, so it's a house rule.

Just the idea that someone who has daily contact with people in the high risk bracket would not automatically wear masks astounds me.

I would insist upon it.  If you want them to wear a mask, tell them to wear a mask.  Otherwise you are exposing your loved ones to EVERYONE they have been around.  Yes, it is very hot and very uncomfortable, but they are healthcare workers they should understand.

YES

Before the pandemic I had five caregivers covering a 24/7 schedule for my 89 year old dad in Oregon (I live in California). To limit his risk, I reduced to three caregivers, based on their personal situation and assurances they would be adhering to shelter in place orders outside of dad’s home. I have not asked the carers to wear masks during their long shifts, due to the fact that it would be terribly uncomfortable for them, and would no doubt confuse my dad who has dementia. Instead, I require them to leave their Purse, coat and shoes at the door, where they also sanitize their cell Phones and wash their hands and scrub their nails before seeing my dad. This seems reasonable to me, but I’m interested in hearing others’ responses. Thanks for posing the question.

I am not going to give you a "pat answer" but give facts about COVID-19 and you can decide:

COVID-19 FACTS:
1 - This virus can be deadly for the older population, those with heart disease, those with lung disease, those with diabetes and those with immune response issues.

2 - Incubation of disease is anywhere from 2 days to 6 weeks, 2 weeks being the usual.

3 - Transmission can be through inhaling infected exhalations of others or touching infected surfaces and then touching face or mucus membranes. A cough will travel farther than 6 feet. Individuals may be asymptomatic when spreading the disease. Most will have a dry cough and fever. Other symptoms resemble flu or upper respiratory infection.

4 - There is no vaccine yet. There are a few drugs that are promising for treating symptoms but nothing that will "kill" the virus.

5 - Illness spectrum. 75-80% of people will have no symptoms or mild symptoms (walking pneumonia). The remaining 20% will develop pneumonia that will require respiratory assistance in a hospital - including mechanical ventilation. Those that survive being hospitalized may need extensive rehab to rebuild muscle and endurance. There is a risk of permanent lung scarring leaving those patients with impaired quality of life. 3-5% of the population will probably die and almost all of those will be from the hospitalized patients.

The goal of social distancing efforts - masks, social distancing, increased hygiene and cleaning procedures - is to reduce the number of patients requiring ventilator care in our hospitals. In effect, the slow down the spread so we always have enough health care resources.

We will not have an end to this disease until every person meets 1of 2 criteria:
1 -successfully recovered from infection with positive test for antibodies
2 - vaccine administered and converted to positive test for antibodies

I request my homemakers to wear masks.

I always wear a face covering to my patients home, no room for error when it comes to keeping my clients safe. That’s just me though 😊

Absolutely. Bottom line..... know one knows if they are asymptomatic. Masks are for your protection and mine. Granted, they are uncomfortable, but if you consider the possible risk of exposing an elderly patient (or anyone else) then it's a no brainer. Not wearing one is unprofessional and selfish. Hopefully they are diligent about sanitizing, hand washing and all protocols necessary to help keep our vulnerable population safe.

Just curious....which state are you from?

I demand face masks for all caregivers, OT/PT, medical staffing and even family when visiting HIGH RISK individuals = our SENIORS. Are people really so reckless and dumb out there to visit the elderly unprepared like that?? wow

Because of the horror of the situation, what choice do we have - we must wear masks in the presence of others. No choice. I hate them but I wear one.

Yes, it’s important for others who are vulnerable! It’s just the right thing to do plain and simple!!

Yes !! Absolutely Yes!!!

Absolutely..
My dad has a HHA who comes four days a week ,and when the pandemic first began I said to her that if she or anyone she was around became sick to let me know.She showed up one day sick wearing a mask .I sent her away for a week and she got tested.

She comes wearing a mask and gloves and if she didn't she wouldn't be allowed in.

In my opinion, they should be wearing masks. I'm very surprised that your state has no recommendations regarding their usage. I would have them at the door and I would request that they was their ha nds and wear a mask while interacting with your parents.

Thanks I just asked if my agency required mask of their aids and they said yes.
I told them mine weren't so they are going to tell them to. I said if they are more than 6 feet away I wouldn't be as concerned but if they get up to wait on him I want mask on

Absolutely! For the safety of your parents, it should be a no brainer. The elderly are so vunerable!
And caregivers should also be using gloves and possibly gowns over their clothes whenever in the home as well. Every safety precaution should be taken: "Protect don't infect" has been a motto in Hawaii.
Be an advocate for your parents'
Health and wellness.

I would think you would want them to wear a mask as long as they are closer than 7 feet, they should.. If they walk away for a bit, they can take off the mask for that bit...

The daytime caregivers for my mom (who passed recently, naturally, not from Covid), who was their only client, didn't wear masks in the home. Mom got a kick out of seeing their smiles and so forth. The night time people were from an agency, which required them to wear masks and gloves; they had multiple clients. Mom had some dementia, so I don't think she understood the Covid situation and I think the mask wearing wasn't all that comforting, to say the least, as when she could see faces. I could tell the difference. I'm not advocating not wearing masks, just that there is a tradeoff to be considered.

Imho, yes, they should wear a face mask.

YES

HI, just started a home care job and I have worn a face mask during interview and during my first night as I cooked and served fed and cleaned and it was the client that asked me when I was going to take off the face mask?
Are they uncomfortable with it ?

I wear one when I contact with others and can’t wait to get into my car to take it off. It is hard to breath through, uncomfortable and hot but I wear an N95 Mask which will protect myself as well as others and they are very tight. There are other types of masks that look to be more comfortable and breathable which are designed to protect others, I do believe caretakers should wear those.

Everyone wear your mask when you are going to be around other people. It saves lives. Always wear your mask out in public.

Yes

Absolutely. Positively. No Question. No mask? No visit!

I would I would say they should wear a mask when arriving at your parents home. However I think it would be best to talk with them after you speak to their agency (assuming you're using one) to let them know that people entering the home are required to wear a mask. Now a good agency should already have that regulation in place and they should also offer to pay for the masks and give them to their employees. It can be problematical if you're not using an agency or they're not caring for their own staff who don't make a great deal of money. If you're using private people then I would say you should tell them they should wear a mask; you should pay for the mask or have the mask available when they arrive.