CAF – Page 4 – Canadian Abilities Foundation

DEBUNKING MYTHS:

Posted on July 8, 2020August 18, 2020 by CAF

Unreliable and false information is spreading around the world to such an extent that some commentators are now referring to the new avalanche of misinformation that’s accompanied the COVID-19 pandemic as a “disinfodemic”. With help from our experts and trusted sources, we’ve taken a look at some of the common myths that are circulating.

BY STEPHEN TRUMPER

MYTH: A vaccine to cure COVID- 19 is now readily available.

FALSE. There is no known cure or vaccine for the new coronavirus right now. Scientists around the world have already begun developing a vaccine that is safe and effective in human beings but expect it will take many months or, possibly, years.

MYTH: You can protect yourself from COVID-19 by injecting, swallowing, rubbing onto your skin, or bathing in disinfectants or rubbing alcohols on to your body. Gargling with saltwater or heating your nasal passage will also eliminate the virus.

FALSE. Let us be clear, there is no known cure for coronavirus. Scientists are trying to find treatments and vaccines for the virus, and health care professionals are working to stop the spread of misinformation. Many of the suggested products are highly toxic and should never be swallowed or injected. Call 911 if this has occurred. Of note: hard-surface disinfectants and hand sanitizers with evidence for use against COVID-19 can be found at https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/disinfectants/covid-19/list.html.

MYTH: COVID-19 is just another flu.

FALSE. The flu takes thousands of lives each year but COVID-19 has already exceeded those numbers. Given the fact that we have a vaccine and greater awareness of the flu, it makes it a) more understood and b) more manageable for both individuals and health professionals. However, while the flu and COVID-19 both cause respiratory illness, COVID-19 affects humans in more ways, is more deadly and often leaves survivors with lasting organ damage.

MYTH: Rinsing my child’s nose with saline solution will help prevent coronavirus infection.

FALSE. There is no evidence that regularly rinsing with saline solution protects your little one from respiratory infections such as the coronavirus. However, regularly rinsing their nose with saline solution can help them recover from a common cold.

Graphic from the World Health Organization that says hot peppers in your food, though very tasty, cannot prevent or cure COVID-19. The best way to protect yourself against the new coronavirus is to keep at least 1 metre away from others and to wash your hands frequently and thoroughly. It is also beneficial for your general health to maintain a balanced diet, stay well hydrated, exercise regularly and sleep well.

MYTH: Giving my child a hot bath will help prevent coronavirus.

FALSE. Giving a hot bath to your little one will not prevent them from catching the virus. Their body temperature stays at 36.5°C to 37°C, regardless of the temperature of the bath or shower. Also, be careful when giving a hot bath, because very hot water is harmful to your child.

MYTH: Coronavirus doesn’t affect children and infants.

FALSE. People of all ages can be infected with the coronavirus. Older people, and people with pre-existing medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease) appear to be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill from the virus.

MYTH: COVID-19 only affects older people who are living in nursing homes. Young people and kids are safe.

FALSE. While most people with COVID-19 develop mild or uncomplicated illness, World Health Organization (WHO) reports that about 14 per cent of people infect- ed to date have developed severe disease and need to be hospitalized. Five per cent of these cases end up in an intensive care unit. Although older people, people living with disabilities or chronic medical conditions and those who are immunosuppressed are at greatest risk for complications, younger Canadians aren’t entirely safe. In fact, as of June 8, 2020, the Public Health Agency of Canada has reported the number of young people under 40 account for 34 per cent of cases.

MYTH: Social media does not provide good advice on COVID-19.

FALSE. There is a lot of misinformation on social media, but some social sites have good information. Our trusted sources for COVID-19 information include: The Government of Canada and the World Health Organization (WHO) and Provincial Ministries of Health.

MYTH: Antibiotics are effective in preventing and treating COVID-19.

FALSE. COVID-19 is a virus so antibiotics will not prevent or treat it. Antibiotics do not work against viruses, only bacteria. If you are hospitalized for COVID-19, you may receive antibiotics because bacterial co-infection is possible.

MYTH: Cold weather and snow can kill the coronavirus.

FALSE. There is no reason to believe that cold or warm weather can kill COVID-19. The normal human body temperature remains around 36.5°C to 37°C, regardless of the external temperature or weather so the risks stay the same. What we do know is that being outside and practicing social distancing is recommended over staying inside wherever possible.

MYTH: You can’t catch COVID-19 if you are wearing gloves and a mask.

FALSE. The virus that causes COVID-19 is mainly transmitted through droplets generated when an infected person coughs, sneezes or speaks. These droplets are too heavy to hang in the air. They quickly fall on floors or outdoor surfaces. You can be infected by breathing in the virus if you are within 1 metre of a person who has COVID-19, or by touching a contaminated surface and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth before washing your hands. Wearing a mask is recommended because it will reduce your risk.

Graphic from the World Health Organization that says COVID-19 is caused by a virus, not by bacteria. The virus that causes COVID-19 is in a family of viruses called Coronaviridae. Antibiotics do not work against viruses. Some people who become ill with COVID-19 can also develop a bacterial infection as a complication. In this case, antibiotics may be recommended by a healthcare provider. There is currently no licensed medication to cure COVID-19. If you have symptoms, call your health provider or COVID-19 hotline for assistance.

MYTH: Getting the coronavirus means you will have it for life.

FALSE. Most of the people who get COVID-19 have a mild case and will recover. If you have a cough, fever, and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early—but call your health facility by telephone first. However, some patients are seeing long term damage to their organs, loss of smell and sensation and other side effects even after they officially recover. The jury is still out on whether you can get COVID-19 more than once.

MYTH: Being able to hold your breath for 10 seconds or more without coughing means you don’t have COVID-19, or any other lung disease.

FALSE. The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are dry cough, tiredness and fever. Others include aches and pains, sore throat, diarrhoea, conjunctivitis, headache, loss of taste or smell, a rash on skin, or discolouration of fingers or toes. Some people may develop more severe forms of the disease, such as pneumonia. Testing is the only way to officially confirm and deny your infection.

MYTH: Pets can spread COVID-19.

FALSE. Currently, there is no evidence to suggest pets can spread COVID-19 to humans. However, according to one report in Hong Kong, a Pomeranian whose owner had COVID-19 also contracted the virus. The dog did not display any symptoms. Scientists are debating the importance of this case to the outbreak. For instance, Prof. Jonathan Ball, a professor of molecular virology at the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom, says:

“We need to find out more, but we don’t need to panic—I doubt it could spread to another dog or a human because of the low levels of the virus. The real driver of the outbreak is humans.”

MYTH: Parcels and home deliveries can spread COVID-19.

FALSE. From previous research into similar coronaviruses, including those that cause SARS and MERS, scientists believe the virus cannot survive on letters or packages for an extended period of time. The CDC explains that “because of poor survivability of these coronaviruses on surfaces, there is likely very low risk of spread from products or packaging that are shipped over a period of days or weeks at ambient temperatures.” If you want to
be on the safe side, leave the package outside or in a staging area before bringing it into your house. Or, use a disinfectant wipe to carefully clean the package.

MYTH: COVID-19 can spread through human stool.

Graphic from the World Health Organization that says can shoes spread the virus? The likelihood of COVID-19 being spread on shoes and infecting individuals is very low. As a precautionary measure, particularly in homes where infants and small children crawl or play on floors, consider leaving your shoes at the entrance of your home. This will prevent contact with dirt of any waste that could be carried on the soles of shoes.

FALSE. When you are taking care of someone who might have COVID-19, you need to protect yourself against airborne drops from a cough, sneeze and normal breathing. Although viral samples have been found in the stool of infected patients, transmission risk is low. It is not yet known whether COVID-19 is viable in other bodily fluids like vomit or urine.

MYTH: The prolonged use of medical masks when properly worn, DOES NOT cause CO2 intoxication nor oxygen deficiency.

TRUE. The prolonged use of medical masks* can be uncomfortable. However, it does not lead to CO2 intoxication nor oxygen deficiency. While wearing a medical mask, make sure it fits properly and that it is tight enough to allow you to breathe normally. Do not re-use a disposable mask and always change it as soon as it gets damp.

*Medical masks (also known as surgical masks) are flat or pleated; they are affixed to the head with straps or have ear loops.

MYTH: 5G mobile networks can spread COVID-19.

FALSE. Viruses cannot travel on radio waves/mobile networks. COVID-19 is spreading in many countries that do not have 5G mobile networks.

MYTH: The new coronavirus CANNOT be transmitted through mosquito bites or houseflies.

TRUE. To date there has been no information nor evidence to suggest that the new coronavirus could be transmitted by mosquitoes.

MYTH: Are hand dryers or ultra- violet (UV) lamps effective in killing the new coronavirus?

FALSE. Hand dryers are not effective in killing COVID-19. Ultra-violet (UV) lamps should not be used to disinfect hands or other areas of your skin, as UV radiation can cause skin irritation and damage your eyes.

Stephen Trumper serves on the board of the Canadian Abilities Foundation. He is an independent writer and editor. He is also a journalism instructor at Ryerson University.

Sources: Health Canada; John Hopkins Medicine; Healthline; Mayo Clinic; Government of North- west Territories; health24; Canadian Digestive Health Foundation; World Health Organization.

TRAVELLING/COMMUTING TO WORK

Posted on July 8, 2020August 18, 2020 by CAF

For people with underlying medical conditions, return to work means a return to transit or travelling in one way or another.

Here are some things to think about as you move around by car, in a company vehicle or on public transit:

COVID-19 is currently thought to spread mainly through close contact from person-to-person via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes.

A city bus with passengers practicing social distancing and wearing face masks.

The basics: At all times, avoid crowded areas and contact with people who have a cough, fever or difficulty breathing. Wear a mask and wash your hands often with soap under warm running water for at least 20 seconds. Keep alcohol-based hand sanitizer with you in case soap and water are not available. And, practice proper cough and sneeze etiquette.

Travelling in a vehicle with other employees: If you feel sick, stay home, DO NOT come to work and inform your supervisor. Or, if you become sick while at work, STOP working, isolate yourself from others, inform your Supervisor and go home as soon as possible, avoiding public transportation and taking measures to protect others around you.

If you had a close contact with a person suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 in the past 14 days, DO NOT come to work and inform your supervisor. If you are worried that you were exposed to COVID- 19 or have symptoms, take the Public Health Ontario COVID-19 self-assessment for guidance on next steps OR visit an assessment centre near you to get tested. For a complete list of COVID-19 related symptoms, refer to the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 Reference Document for Symptoms.

Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) recognizes the need for some employees to make essential trips to various locations (e.g., safety inspections, repairs and research stations) in the course of their work. In order to ensure that physical distancing is practiced during these trips, it is recommended that:

Each employee travels in a vehicle (either their own or the company-owned) without a passenger.
If travel alone is not possible, employees travel in a large enough vehicle to maintain at least two metres from each other with masks.

If these options are not feasible, and employees must travel together in a vehicle where 2 metre physical distancing cannot be achieved, the following precautionary measures should be followed:

Hand hygiene: Immediately before and after each trip, everyone should wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Dry hands with a paper towel or with cloth towel that no one else will share. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 per cent alcohol if soap and water are not available. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.

Mask: Everyone inside the vehicle should wear a non-medical mask during each trip as it can reduce the spread of their own respiratory droplets to others. Non-medical masks may not provide complete protection against viral particles. Wash your hands immediately before putting the mask on and immediately after taking it off (in addition to practicing good hand hygiene while wearing it).

Cover your nose and mouth with a mask and make sure it fits comfortably against the side of your face. Be careful not to touch your eyes, nose and mouth when removing their mask and wash your hands immediately or use hand sanitizer after removing. For a disposable mask, discard properly, replace it as soon as it gets soiled, damp, damaged or difficult to breathe through.

A cartoon group of people wearing masks to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

What to bring: In addition to the tools, parts and/ or equipment required for the job, take the following on the trip:

Supplied cleaners or disinfectants
Disposable gloves for use in cleaning and disinfection
Disposable garbage bags
Extra non-medical face masks
Hand sanitizer with at least 60 per cent alcohol
Tissues and or wipes
Charger and mobile phone

All personnel should handle their own personal bags and belongings during loading and unloading and limit intermixing for team travel in taxis/Ubers.

Keep your distance: Minimize the number of passengers (e.g., the driver and only one passenger in a four-door or standard-sized vehicle, including a king cab pickup truck, and two passengers in a van with two benches) and the distance between the individuals inside the vehicle. The passenger in a four door or standard-sized vehicle should sit in the back seat opposite to the driver.

Air quality: Avoid using the recirculated air option for the car’s ventilation. Use the car’s vents to bring in fresh outside air and drive with the windows open. Minimize contact with frequently touched surfaces such as door frame/handles, windows, seatbelt buckles, steering wheel, gearshift, signalling levers, and other vehicle parts before cleaning and disinfection.

Gloves should be removed with care to avoid skin contact with the outside of the glove. Always wash your hands immediately after removing the gloves or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 per cent alcohol. Follow appropriate steps to take off gloves.

Clean and disinfect: Before and after each trip, clean/ disinfect the frequently touched surfaces in the vehicle. And, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines on the use of disinfectants and wear disposable gloves if needed to avoid skin irritation.

Respiratory etiquette when coughing or sneezing:

Cough or sneeze into the elbow or a tissue, even with a face mask on. Dispose of any tissues used as soon as possible in a garbage bag.

Travel for work outside Canada: The government of Canada is advising all Canadians to avoid non-essential travel outside the country until further notice. Know that if you are outside Canada:

You may have difficulty obtaining essential products and services and face quarantines.
Your insurance may not cover your travel or medical expenses.
You may only have access to limited consular services.

Check the quarantine requirements at your destination, and be aware that you will have to self-isolate for 14 days when you return to Canada.

If you must travel: Register with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service. Make sure your contact information is complete and up to date. This will allow consular officials to contact you, provide updates and confirm your situation. Regularly check your destination’s Travel Advice and Advisories.

Monitor local media to stay informed of the situation.
Follow the advice of local authorities.
Keep important documents in a safe, but easy to access, place.
Make sure your passport is valid for six more months.
Make sure you have enough money, medication, food and water in case you can’t leave due to movement restrictions.
Make sure you have a local SIM card and charger.
Contact your family and friends until you return to Canada as soon as you can.

The moral of the story: When travelling, and/or commuting, during COVID-19, follow recommended precautions while on the road. Wash your hands and be especially careful to change your clothing when you return home before the welcoming hugs, wipe down parcels, briefcases, suitcases or any items you’re bringing home.

COPING IN DIFFICULT TIMES

Posted on July 6, 2020July 10, 2020 by CAF

It is moments like these when we need all the resilience we can muster to lighten up our hearts and minds, maintain our core values and keep moving forward during COVID-19 return to work. Our editors have pulled together a few ideas from experts that we hope will help you avoid the hurdles and keep your chin up:

1. Don’t get knocked down: There’s a thing called negativity bias that sets in before we know it. A single newscast or critical comment can knock the wind out of us very quickly.

Wise advice: Pause and refocus. Take a moment to appreciate something calming, sweet or beautiful. Try a morning photo of someone or something that makes you laugh or smile.

Result: By refocusing your attention it helps you shift away from negative stressful thoughts.

2. Avoid going it alone: Hard to do while social distancing, but isolating yourself is a surefire way for most of us to start feeling blue.

Wise advice: Reach out to others. But, rather than comparing and despairing start and finish conversa- tions on a positive note. Greet a person with a positive comment. Say something happy, grateful, friendly or funny to set the tone and energy of your conversation.

Result: When you stay in the moment and carry optimistic messages you’re more likely to excel and feel more energetic.

3. Feel like time’s a-wasting? Right now it might feel like we’re spinning our wheels or going in the wrong direction.

Wise advice: Topple this hurdle by finding a purpose. Think carefully about how you’re spending your time, what drives you and develop a multi- faceted home/work/relationship to-do list that helps you prioritize and find balance.

Result: Your self-esteem will remain intact because you’ll feel worthwhile, even if the task list is different than normal.

4. Too much change to deal with? Right now things are somewhat chaotic and it’s hard to stay grounded.

Wise advice: Set aside time to disconnect from social, email, telephone, even if its just for ten minutes. Practice 5-3-1-1. At any time of day:
take five deep breaths, think of three things you’re grateful for, smile one real smile and set one new intention.

Result: A calmer, less anxious you who’s ready willing and able to handle what life is dishing out.

FYI

Posted on July 6, 2020July 10, 2020 by CAF

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Research that matters

An experimental 40 foot long Microsoft datacentre with 864 servers and 27.6 petabyte has been submerged 117 feet beneath the sea off Scotland’s Orkney Island. Nicknamed Natick, the centre is currently processing massive workloads for a global coronavirus project. Researchers are using artificial intelligence to simulate protein folding in the virus that causes COVID-19 and design therapeutics to stop it.

Source: The Verge

Two doctors in full PPE standing at an older female patient's bedside.

Alarming triage protocols

ARCH Disability Law Centre recently raised significant concerns about a draft document called the Clinical Triage Protocol for Major Surge in COVID-19 Pandemic, from Ontario Health. This document first released in March is meant to help doctors make difficult decisions about who will receive critical health care during the COVID-19 pandemic if there are not enough medical resources. ARCH has been working closely with disability rights groups in different ways to ensure that if such a document is ever needed, that persons with disabilities will not be disproportionately and discriminatorily impacted.

archdisabilitylaw.ca

Career Re-boot?

A fashionable young man with dwarfism sitting in a mobility aid.

After months of maneuvering through the coronavirus crisis, nearly half of 500 office employees surveyed are rethinking their careers. Online interviews also showed that employees in this group:

Were 60 per cent more motivated to work for a firm that values its staff during unpredictable times.
Almost 50 per cent more likely to prioritize. their personal life over their job in the future.
1/3 more likely to look for a more meaningful or fulfilling position.

COVID-19 True or False?

A near-constant stream of news, sometimes contradictory, can cause anyone to feel lost and distressed. Make sure to use reliable sources such as
the UNICEF and the World Health Organization’s sites to get information, or to check any information you might be getting through less reliable channels or visit: www.canada.ca/covid-19/coronavirus

Source: Robert Half

An illustration of the coronavirus bacteria.

14 Days

Is the approximate length of time human coronavirus symptoms may take to appear after exposure to the virus.

SAFER AND SMARTER

Posted on July 6, 2020August 18, 2020 by CAF

BY PAT IRWIN

Reducing risk for vulnerable persons with disabilities and seniors.

The 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic has created the biggest social experience of our time; quarantine and self-isolation. Spending this much time alone or with our immediate families, we have learned a lot about ourselves, our family members, essential work and our society. Our challenge is to take that learning, apply it to improve our own lives and the greater good, and to take that learning into the future as our world begins to open up again.

What have we learned?

We have heard wonderful stories about those on the front lines of healthcare. We have heard heart-wrenching stories of loss and wonderful tales of communities helping each other and sewing face masks. We’ve also heard distressing stories about the treatment of our most vulnerable citizens— the elderly and people living with disabilities.

Together, we’ve learned alternate ways of working; a recent Angus Reid poll reports only 36 per cent of Canadians plan to go back to the office permanently. How will they integrate working and family life into the long term?

Let’s look at the experience of several Canadian families and how they’re coping with the new normal that the pandemic has introduced:

ALEXIS’ FAMILY

Alexis is a labour lawyer whose husband, Bob’s, stroke five years ago rendered him paraplegic. They managed with a jigsaw of care from social services and a private agency. When she got home in the evening, Alexis would take over. Working from home during quarantine, Alexis developed a new routine: she would get up at 6 a.m. and work for a few hours until the visiting personal support worker (PSW) came to help her husband. She realized that taking a break for a few hours meant she could spend time with her husband, have a daily workout, and make and eat dinner together. Alexis and Bob re-arranged for the same PSW to cover dinner clean-up and bedtime prep while Alexis worked a few more
hours in the evening.

Quarantining taught Alexis a few things:

That she could indeed effectively work from home and that adjusting Bob’s care schedule could actually enhance their lives.
She realized that she could still make time for herself and had extra time and energy without her daily commute.
She enjoyed spending additional time with her husband during the day and being able to walk their little dog.
The couple agreed to cancel their weekly cleaning service as a precaution and bought a robot vacuum that Bob could operate.
Bob was ready, willing and able to assume additional responsibilities and felt good about doing more.
Bob was actively involved in all new decisions and was comfortable with suggestions related to the revised plan. He agreed to manage grocery orders by phone and online for delivery, switched all of his routine medical appointments to online tele-health appoint- ments and arranged for his medications and personal care items to be delivered by the local pharmacy.
Alexis had also reviewed the hygiene protocols for themselves and any agency caregiver coming to the house to make sure everyone, including herself, was safe. She ensured they followed the caregiver guidelines outlined by the provincial Ministry of Health. These include:

Care providers should wear surgical/procedure masks at all times during the home visit.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) should be supplied by the client and used, and properly discarded, at the client’s home after use in a contactless, lined receptacle.
Hand hygiene is to be performed before putting on and, after removing masks.
If a client has a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19, care providers should delay care if possible and only provide essential nursing, therapies and personal support services.

She has also asked the agency to provide her with regular updates and notify her of any staffing changes so she could be ready to re-orient new care providers herself.

After March and April, the couple both agreed it was achieving an even better work/life balance than before the quarantine and Alexis plans to discuss modified work from home with her law firm partners as things open up again.

NINA’S FAMILY

Nina has been a surgical nurse at the local hospital for 25 years. Lately she had been working very long shifts at a local COVID-19 assessment centre. Hearing media coverage about COVID-19 outbreaks in nursing homes convinced her to relocate her 86-year-old mum from long-term care into her own home. It only took a few weeks to realize that her mom missed the activity, her table-mates and friends. And, she found it hard to be alone for 12-14 hours while Nina was at work. Despite the risk, Nina and her mum decided to ask about returning to the home after a couple of months, but her mum’s bed had been re-assigned and she would have to start again on a waiting list.

They researched some options until mum’s turn came. Social services advised that lists will be even longer post-COVID-19 but that she qualified for a visiting PSW for daily personal care. As government funded care was limited a top up would likely be necessary from mum’s pension (usually needed to pay her nursing home fees), Nina and her mum got creative.

They analysed exactly the care that mum needed— personal care a few times a day, toileting every few hours and administering medication were the main items.
In fact, Nina’s mum was alright for a few hours after the PSW’s visits, as long as she was near her commode, with the cell phone and TV remote nearby.
A personal emergency response device that mum could wear around her neck gave her the ability to call either Nina or the monitoring centre if she needed emergency help.
All groceries and drug store items would be delivered to the house to avoid the risks associated with shopping now and in the future (it saved time and turned out it wasn’t more expensive).

In addition, Nina approached her human resources department, asking to do assessments via home visits for split shifts, for the same number of hours. This allowed Nina to work in the neighbourhood from nine a.m. till noon, come home and give her mum lunch and her medication, and return to work for the afternoon. Nina’s husband, who managed to come home from work early or work from home, was able to help with dinner.

All of them were concerned, but as a nurse, Nina knew what she had to do. First, was consult the Ministry of Health’s public health website and also the guidelines from her employer. She also implemented additional precautionary measures because of her mum, who was in good health but still more vulnerable given her age:

STEP 1: Nina created her own ‘hot-spot’ in the garage where she removed her scrubs and her husband removed his work clothes and put them directly into the washing machine. They both changed into fresh clothes before entering their home environment.

STEP 2: They also immediately entered the adjacent bathroom to wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

STEP 3: Nina has instructed her mum on prevention techniques such as:

Cough or sneeze into a tissue or the bend of your arm, not your hand.
Dispose of any tissues you have used as soon as possible in a lined waste basket and wash your hands afterwards.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.

STEP 4: At least twice a day, she sanitizes surfaces such as toilets, phones, electronics, television remotes and kitchen surfaces.

STEP 5: All deliveries are wiped down and staged for a few hours before being brought into the house.

Nina also reviewed the PSW agency’s protocols to make sure she was comfortable and insisted that her mum and the care provider wear masks, practice distancing where possible and also wash their hands frequently. Nina and her mum have agreed to try this arrangement for six months, ideally adding a day program and friendly visiting when public health allows. If her mum is still lonely, they will accept a nursing home bed when it’s offered.

BRIAN’S FAMILY

A middle-aged Asian man wearing a face mask.

Brian is a project manager in a bank’s IT department. His son David, 16, has a developmental disability; his daughter Laurel, 14, has been off school and is self- isolating at home.

David has always been restless and reacts poorly to supervision, so Brian has enrolled him in various after-school programs to keep him busy; all of which are cancelled at present. Brian is struggling to get his work team motivated to finish a major project deadline and is itching to get back to the office. His spouse is also working from home.

However, interesting things have emerged during their time at home together. When a kitten appeared at the back door one chilly March evening, David not only brought him inside and bonded with him but started to tenderly care for him. Laurel is also keen on the kitten and has become more kind that usual to her brother. Together, they plan marathon video game sessions. By spending time at home with them, Brian is realizing that both his son and daughter have become more confident and self-sufficient. Could they actually leave David at home alone for a few hours each day after school rather than forcing him to attend after school programs that he doesn’t always enjoy?

What do Brian and his spouse need to know about going back to work and David and Laurel’s safety in going back to school?

As schools reopen, the family should make sure that their children’s school is following local recommendations for cleaning and disinfecting. In David’s case, a sense of routine and predictability is the key to success. He’s shown enthusiasm for pet care and keen interest in video gaming and can be proud of what he’s achieved during the quarantine period. Perhaps he’d like to decide which after-school programs he wishes to pursue for his own interests.

What can Brian expect as he returns to his downtown office? Again, each provincial Ministry of Health has guidelines.

None of these families who’s stories I’ve shared are strangers to adversity; they have learned over time to live with medical concerns and vulnerability. They have also had the wisdom to keep on learning, and by example, help all of us to learn as well.

Illustration of a man and woman social distancing while sitting at a table.

Guidelines to share with employers

Each provincial ministry has guidelines for return to work during COVID-19. Here are Ontario’s as an example:

Provide access to hand-washing and have available alcohol-based hand sanitizers at multiple, prominent locations, with non-touch, lined waste disposal receptacles.
Implement physical distancing, maintaining a distance of at least 2 metres from other people.
Use telephone, video or online conferencing instead of in-person meetings.
Permit flexible hours and stagger start times, breaks, and lunches or stagger days that workers are in the workplace.
Provide physical barriers, such as plexiglass dividers, between workstations.
Mark out a distance of 2 metres between seats and seating areas to ensure physical distancing in common or shared spaces and lines (i.e., reception areas, meeting rooms, waiting rooms, kitchenettes, elevators, offices and other workspaces).
When physical distancing cannot be maintained, employers may implement the use of face coverings as source control (e.g., non-medical masks or cloth masks).
In addition to routine cleaning, surfaces that have frequent contact with hands should be cleaned and disinfected twice per day and when visibly dirty. Special attention should be paid to commonly touched surfaces in the workplace such as doorknobs, elevator buttons, light switches, toilet handles, counters, handrails, touch-screen surfaces, and shared materials, equipment, workstations, keypads, etc.
Place clear, visible signage at all entrances and within the workplace reminding workers and customers about the signs and symptoms of COVID-19, what to do if they feel unwell and how to protect themselves (e.g., hand hygiene, etc.).
ALSO: Be mindful of the needs of persons with disabilities (PWD) who are employees and customers.

Pat M. Irwin, BA, AICB, CPCA, is president of ElderCareCanada, offering expert opinions, eldercare mediation, options for housing and care, moving and house clearing, and care management—eldercarecanada.ca/patirwin@eldercarecanada.ca

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Author: CAF