Coronavirus

Since life is beginning to return to a new normal, we wanted to share a little graphic to help keep you safe from Coronavirus. This graphic highlights the ways one can prevent catching and prevent spreading Coronavirus.

Coronavirus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person contact. This means that the virus spreads between people who are in close contact to one another (within 6ft), through respiratory droplets that are produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, and the virus can spread even when the carrier is asymptomatic. The number one way to prevent spreading the virus is to not catch it. However, this is rather difficult when an infected person may not show symptoms usually 2-14 days after exposure. Be on the lookout if symptoms develop. The main symptoms of Coronavirus include a fever over 101°F, dry cough, shortness or breath, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea.

Please wash your hands for at least 20 seconds, wear a cloth mask when in public to contain your personal droplets, cover your coughs and sneezes, and keep practicing social distancing!

Source listed on graphic. Information about Coronavirus is from cdc.gov.

Many people are following the CDC recommendations when it comes to wearing cloth face masks and face coverings. The cloth masks are intended for the person wearing it to keep their germs to his or herself, not protection for the wearer. With the new data on how COVID-19 spreads, the CDC is recommending that people wear a cloth face mask or cloth face covering when out in public, especially when one might be in close proximity to another person. The CDC still recommends that we stay at least 6 ft from another person when in public. The face masks and coverings are not a substitute for social distancing; rather they are a small way to keep more of your germs to yourself. Since COVID-19 can be asymptomatic for 2-14 days, it is important to take all precautions to protect yourself and others from this virus (social distancing for you, masks for others). The CDC recommends all persons wear a cloth mask or face covering except those younger than age 2, anyone who typically has trouble breathing, an unconscious person, or a person who is unable to remove the mask without assistance.

Please note that the face masks are a recommendation intended to prevent the spread of the virus by keeping your germs to yourself. 

Also please note that surgical masks and N95 respirator masks are not being recommended for general public use. These masks are in short supply and are needed by those in the medical setting and first responders.

Please take a couple of minutes and read this pdf from the CDC on how to properly wear the masks to maximize effectiveness: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/DIY-cloth-face-covering-instructions.pdf

All information in this post is from the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html and https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover-faq.html. 

Providing care where patients call home is what hospice is all about. With social distancing being the new normal, why should you let hospice or palliative clinicians into your home to care for you?

Hospice and palliative care workers adapt to work in extreme conditions.
Hospice and palliative workers don’t get a break when we get an ice storm, tornado, or other natural disaster. Through emergency action plans, regular interdepartmental team meetings, and daily communication, our team is always communicating to determine the best course of action to care for patients.

Hospice and palliative care is provided wherever the patient calls home, meaning less exposure for the patient.
The goal of hospice and palliative care is to keep the patient in the home setting and out of the hospital. With expert care being provided in the home, pain and other symptoms are being properly managed. This is especially important during this pandemic.

Clinicians are expertly trained to provide necessary care while keeping patients safe.
Our hospice and palliative team members are specially trained in the prevention of exposure through current KY and CDC guidelines. Our clinicians have also been trained to avoid infectious disease transmission during normal and abnormal times. Currently, all staff are self-monitoring to ensure safety of employees and patients before the work day and are notifying their supervisor and staying home if exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19.

The patient’s care team is only a phone call away and available to him/her 24/7.
While our nurses, aides, chaplains, social workers, and volunteers cannot be in the home with the patient all the time, they are only a phone call away should the need for a visit arise. If your loved one is exhibiting any symptoms or needs, give us a call at (270) 826-2326 and someone will assess the situation and make a visit- day or night, weekday, weekend, or even on holidays.

Chaplains provide necessary spiritual care.
With houses of worship closing their doors, many people are feeling lost and/or alone without their spiritual guidance. Our chaplains are still helping provide an extra layer of comfort and spiritual support to ensure you are where you want to be in that aspect of your life. Our chaplains never try to change your spiritual beliefs, rather they help you meet your needs.

Hospice and Palliative clinicians remain in contact with your physician.
Many physician and specialist offices are closing, converting to telehealth, or rescheduling numerous appointments during these hectic times. Our clinicians remain in contact with your physician to determine the best symptom management options for you to keep you at home and out of the hospital.

Social Workers can assist with advanced directives.
Patients in hospice and palliative care are often considered the most vulnerable patients, should they contract COVID-19. Having advanced directives such as a Living Will, Power of Attorney, or Five Wishes in place ensures that your wishes will be honored after your death. Legal jargon can be difficult to understand and it can also be difficult to begin the process. We have social workers that specialize in assisting you with these documents so your healthcare wishes will be honored and it will be easier on your family after your passing.

Hospice care includes bereavement services for your loved ones.
Not only does hospice care holistically treat the patient; grief support is offered to the family for 15 months after the patient passes away. We want to be sure the family is emotionally cared for and we provide grief camps, grief support groups, and grief counseling.

Our clinicians provide education to the patient and family.
Whether the patient and family needs education about the patient’s life-limiting disease or COVID-19, we can provide it! Our clinicians will provide in-home education on COVID-19 symptoms, transmission, testing, and treatments to ensure the patient and family remains safe.

Should the patient require additional care or the caregiver need a break, we have the Lucy Smith King Care Center.
Our community is fortunate to have an inpatient hospice facility, the Lucy Smith King Care Center. The facility is staffed 24/7 to provide acute care for symptoms that cannot be managed in the home setting. In addition to a higher level of care, we also provide respite care. Respite care is provided for up to 5 days in which the caregiver gets a break from caring for their loved one.

As we navigate through the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is necessary to keep up with accurate information. Please visit our webpage of frequently asked questions or the CDC website for updates and additional information.

If you are unsure if hospice or palliative care if appropriate for you or a loved one, take our short quiz.

With all the stress of social distancing and quarantine, we wanted to share some things that our staff members are doing to keep a bit of “normal” or “sanity” in their lives this week.

• We have seen patients while wearing our new fancy masks; special thanks to our amazing volunteers for making them!
• We have celebrated some pup birthdays and lots of dog and cat snuggles!
• We are continuing to screen patients, visitors, and staff members for signs of COVID-19.
• We are living by quotes and scripture verses we hold near our hearts.
• We are homeschooling our kids and enjoying the sunshine!
• We are collecting toilet paper to give to staff members and patients who are having difficulty finding any. Promise we are not only building forts 😉
• We are having lunch with coworkers, from a safe distance.
• We have volunteers helping us with many projects- including refinishing the benches outside the Lucy Smith King Care Center and adding some new flowers.
• We made some little healthy kits with a comparison/contrast of COVID-19 vs. flu, hand sanitizer, tissue pack, and our card.
• We are crafting, playing some social distancing cards, reading, and fishing in our spare time.
• We are lighting up green for the lives lost to COVID-19.
• We are looking forward to the 4pm daily Governor Andy Beshear briefings.

With all the things we are doing or have done, here’s some things we are not doing:

• We are NOT letting this virus get our spirits down.
• We are NOT living in fear of this virus, rather we are taking proper precautions to protect ourselves, our patients, our families, and our patient’s families.

We are so honored to be serving residents of Henderson, Union and Webster counties and are not going to let this virus get in the way of helping our patients. Thank you for allowing us to help you in critical times and after the passing of a loved one!