Addressing Surfaces and Laundry

Transmission of coronavirus occurs much more commonly through respiratory droplets than through fomites. Current evidence suggests that SARS-CoV-2 may remain viable for hours to days on surfaces made from a variety of materials. Cleaning of visibly dirty surfaces followed by disinfection is a best practice measure for prevention of COVID-19 and other viral respiratory illnesses in households and community settings.

Taking measures to improve ventilation in an area or room where someone was ill or suspected to be ill with COVID-19 will help shorten the time it takes respiratory droplets to be removed from the air.

Linens, clothing, and other items that go in the laundry

• Wear disposable gloves when handling dirty laundry from an ill person and then discard after each use. If using reusable gloves, those gloves should be dedicated for cleaning and disinfection of surfaces for COVID-19 and should not be used for other household purposes. Clean hands immediately after gloves are removed.

  • If no gloves are used when handling dirty laundry, be sure to wash hands afterwards.

  • If possible, do not shake dirty laundry. This will minimize the possibility of dispersing virus through the air.

  • Launder items as appropriate in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. If possible, launder items using the warmest appropriate water setting for the items and dry items completely. Dirty laundry from an ill person can be washed with other people’s items.

  • Clean and disinfect clothes hampers according to guidance above for surfaces. If possible, consider placing a bag liner that is either disposable (can be thrown away) or can be laundered.

Hard (Non-porous) Surfaces

• Wear disposable gloves when cleaning and disinfecting surfaces. Gloves should be discarded after each cleaning. If reusable gloves are used, those gloves should be dedicated for cleaning and disinfection of surfaces for COVID-19 and should not be used for other purposes. Consult the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning and disinfection products used. Clean hands immediately after gloves are removed.

• If surfaces are dirty, they should be cleaned using a detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.

• For disinfection, most common EPA-registered household disinfectants should be effective.

  • A list of products that are EPA-approved for use against the virus that causes COVID-19 is available here. Follow manufacturer’s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products for (concentration, application method and contact time, etc.).

  • Additionally, diluted household bleach solutions (at least 1000ppm sodium hypochlorite) can be used if appropriate for the surface. Follow manufacturer’s instructions for application, ensuring a contact time of at least 1 minute, and allowing proper ventilation during and after application. Check to ensure the product is not past its expiration date. Never mix household bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser. Unexpired household bleach will be effective against coronaviruses when properly diluted.

• Prepare a bleach solution by mixing (from CDC):

  • 5 tablespoons (1/3rd cup) bleach per gallon of water or

  • 4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water

Easter is here

Our celebration isn’t quite ready to start, but we know it is coming. Which is the great gift of being Easter people. The knowledge that though the darkness comes, it is not the whole story. Great joy does await us. In this time of uncertainty, I pray your heart is filled with the universal confidence of Christians the world over - that Easter will come. Our Savior will Rise.

Happy Easter to all of our employees and their families.

Face Masks are now mandatory for Caregivers

Based on the recent recommendation from the CDC all employees of Managed Senior Care and it’s other units, including Seniors Helping Seniors of WMI, are required to wear a face mask when caring for a client. The office has a limited supply of masks available for distribution. The Admin staff will be at the office on Monday morning and Tuesday morning (and Sozo’s on Monday afternoon for Ionia area) for any employee that needs to pick up a disposable mask. A very good alternative and a longer term solution is a homemade fabric mask that can be laundered.

CDC has advised that the use of simple cloth face coverings will slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others.  Cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure. (see How To video below)

Using a Mask

Should cloth face coverings be washed or otherwise cleaned regularly? How regularly?

Yes. They should be routinely washed depending on the frequency of use.

How does one safely sterilize/clean a cloth face cover?

A washing machine should suffice in properly washing a face covering.

How does one safely remove a used face cover?

Individuals should be careful not to touch their eyes, nose, and mouth when removing their face covering and wash hands immediately after removing.

How to Make a Face Mask

If sewing is one of your gifts, we would appreciate hearing from you. We think it would be a wonderful gift from Seniors Helping Seniors, if we were able to give our seniors a mask too.

Families First Coronavirus reponse - sick pay

There have been a lot of legislative and executive changes announced lately. We want you to know we are doing everything we can to stay current on these changes and support you as you navigate the pandemic and make decisions for yourself and your family. Darcy, Nora and I are reading the alerts and legal briefings daily to make sure we are supporting you correctly. If you ever have a question, please don’t hesitate to contact the office.

While there is an exception in the regulation for small employers like us, Nora and I made the decision to implement the Act for our employees. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or Act) requires certain employers to provide their employees with paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19. These provisions will apply from April 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. ►

SICK PAY ELIGIBILITY is limited to those who are sick, quarantined due to suspected Covid-19 illness or the caregiver for someone who is sick or quarantined. PAID LEAVE ENTITLEMENTS Generally, employers covered under the Act must provide employees: Up to two weeks (80 hours, or a part-time employee’s two-week equivalent) of paid sick leave based on the higher of their regular rate of pay, or the applicable state or Federal minimum wage. A part-time employee is eligible for leave for the number of hours that the employee is normally scheduled to work over that period. Learn More Here

If you need to take time off, the office will send you a Request for Leave of Absence so that we can understand your reason for taking time off and determine the right instructions to share. There are a lot of nuances to the various aid that is being offered to workers right now and we want to make sure we send you in the right direction.