{"id":1778,"date":"2020-04-07T08:35:15","date_gmt":"2020-04-07T12:35:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lunarivervoices.com\/staging\/?p=1778"},"modified":"2020-12-04T21:08:26","modified_gmt":"2020-12-05T02:08:26","slug":"prepare-your-household-for-a-covid-illness-a-checklist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lunarivervoices.com\/staging\/retreats\/prepare-your-household-for-a-covid-illness-a-checklist\/","title":{"rendered":"Prepare Your Household for a Covid Illness: A Checklist"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We\u2019ve been dealing with coronavirus for many months now, and we’re facing a dramatic surge in the number of cases as we head into winter. Are you prepared if someone in your household gets it? Following is a list of actions to consider putting in place before<\/em> illness strikes.<\/p>\n

I first published this blog post in April 2020 and thought it worth reposting. The information was inspired by an article in the Washington Post and adapted based on what my household is doing. <\/p>\n

The CDC also has guidance<\/a> on what to do when caring for someone who is ill or caring for yourself if you are ill.<\/p>\n

Note<\/strong>: If you or someone you are caring for has coronavirus and is within the high-risk category, seek medical attention immediately.<\/h5>\n

If members of your household are weathering coronavirus at home, it\u2019s important to isolate the patient from everyone else. Here are some suggestions for preparing now\u2014not waiting until someone gets sick.<\/p>\n

Designate a patient room and a well room<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If you share a bedroom and bathroom with others, and you have a spare bedroom, designate the spare room as the patient\u2019s room while the caretaker sleeps in the shared bedroom. This allows the caretaker to more or less continue as normal, with access to clothes and other items.<\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t have a spare bedroom and you share with the patient, the patient is probably better off in the shared room while the caretaker camps out on the couch.<\/p>\n

If someone gets ill, after you relocate the patient to the other room, disinfect everything in the shared bedroom and launder the sheets, towels, and all dirty clothes in hot water (sanitizer cycle if your machine has one). Consider wiping down the dressers, pictures, and other knickknacks in the entire room.<\/p>\n

The patient will isolate in the designated room until their temperature has returned to normal for at least 72 hours (without the use of fever-reducing meds) AND other symptoms have subsided, AND at least 7 days have passed since the first symptoms appeared. Symptoms can subside one day then come back the next, which is why the timing is important. If the caretaker does have to enter the patient\u2019s bedroom, wear a mask, eye protection, and gloves, then disinfect yourself after leaving; wash your hands and face at least. The caretaker should avoid entering the patient\u2019s room, if at all possible, until the patient is recovered.<\/p>\n

If possible, the patient and caretaker should also have separate bathrooms. If you have only one bathroom, the caretaker should wipe it down with disinfectant after every use\u2014both by the patient and the caretaker. There is no such thing as over-cleaning when it comes to coronavirus!<\/p>\n

The caretaker may want to wear a mask and at least keep their toiletries in a separate room, including a toothbrush. Brush your teeth in the kitchen sink instead, and bring only your necessary toiletries into the bathroom when you need to use them.<\/p>\n

Each adult in the house should pack a small bag with at least a week\u2019s worth of clean clothes so that everyone has a bag ready to go to their respective bedroom (either designated patient room or caretaker room). If the patient stays in the shared room, caretakers will not want to go in the patient\u2019s room for clean clothes.<\/p>\n

Supply the patient bedroom <\/strong><\/h3>\n

Some of the common things (painkillers, decongestant, tissues) you can put in the patient room now. Bring other items to the room according to the needs of the patient. Here\u2019s what you\u2019ll need.<\/p>\n