Corona Virus – Covid 19

On 28th March an order came into effect from government for everyone to stay at home for 2 weeks.  This was further extended until 5th May.  This has meant a lot of businesses have closed including pubs, restaurants, hotels, hairdressers, retail shops apart from ones which provide essential items like supermarkets, construction sites and many more.  Many people have been laid off their work or are working remotely from home.   These measures introduced the concept of cocooning for all people over 70.

 

What is Cocooning?

On Friday 27 March, the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced new measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

These included the introduction of cocooning to protect people who are over 70 years of age and people who are extremely medically vulnerable to COVID-19 by minimising all interaction between them and other people. The reason for cocooning is to protect people who are at very high risk of severe illness from COVID-19 from coming into contact with the virus.

Cocooning essentially involves staying at home in all circumstances.  Even within your home, you need to minimise all non-essential contact with other members of your household. If you have been advised to cocoon, you should not go to the shops, leave your home or garden, or go to any gatherings, even if you feel fit and well. You should also avoid all non-essential face-to-face interaction. Instead, you should stay connected to friends and family through the phone or internet.

 

Why are staff at St. Attracta wearing face masks more?

The nursing home is receiving a lot of expert advice from people in clinical, medical, infection prevention & control and care of older peoples care field.  On a daily basis they are touch with the nursing home to see how all the residents and staff are and what measures are in place to keep everyone safe.  One of the measures currently recommended is wearing of face masks for all close contact with other people.  These masks may seem a little unfriendly but it’s the same big smiles behind the masks!!

 

What can you do to help keep yourself and others safe?

  • Inform us if you feel differently in any way or if you feel any aches/pains/chills/loss of appetite etc.
  • Practice good hand hygiene. Wash your hands throughout the day and use the wipes and hand sanitizers available.
  • Keep your distance from others and keep at least 6 feet away from other residents where possible.

 

What can I look forward to?

We are planning and hoping that in May the government will modify some of the current restrictions and we hope to introduce some form of visiting for your families and friends.  We don’t promise this will be as it was before and might take some adjustment but we will do all we can to get the faces of your family back to you and do it in a way that keeps everyone safe.

Every day that passes and we remain Covid free is a good day.  We must try to focus on the positive things that continue and appreciate the simple things like:

A sunny day, a yummy treat, a visit to the garden, a laugh with staff & friends, a call from family, a nice meal, some comforting prayers, getting your nails done….