(925) 829-8770
or contact us online
Donate Now
Donate Now Contact 925.829.8770
  • ABOUT
    • Our Mission
    • Where We Serve
    • Careers
    • Press Room
  • SERVICES
    • COVID-19 Information
    • Hospice Care
      • Hospice Care Explained
      • Hospice Care FAQs
      • Hospice Patient / Family Referral
    • Grief Support
    • Dementia Support
    • Family Caregiver Support
    • Advanced Illness Care
  • GRIEF SUPPORT
    • For Adults
    • For Children and Teens
  • GIVING
    • Online Donation Form
    • Ways to Donate
    • Legacy Giving
    • Donating Securities
    • Leadership Circles
  • VOLUNTEER
    • Program Overview
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Volunteer Interest Form
    • Volunteer FAQs
    • Works of Hope
  • EVENTS & RESOURCES
    • Calendar of Events
    • Family Caregiver Education Series
      • Upcoming classes
      • Archived recordings
    • Education for Clinicians
    • Publications
    • Testimonial Videos
    • Helpful Information
  • PATIENT REFERRALS
    • Physician Referral
    • Eligibility Criteria
  • BLOG

View All Blogs
  • Filter by tags

    • Caregiver Mistakes Series
    • Caregiver Tips
    • Dementia
    • Hope's Story
    • Hospice
    • Senior care
    • social work
    • Spiritual care
    • Volunteering
August 13th, 2021

Infection Control in the Home

you can't live in a bubble

Here comes cold and flu season and, yes, we’re still battling the COVID-19 pandemic. If someone in your household is an older adult or has certain underlying medical conditions, then all household members should act as if they are at an increased risk for severe illness and take special precautions. If you don’t, then the effort put toward protection of your sensitive person(s) goes to waste if other residents are careless in public and bring germs back home. 

Although you can’t live in a bubble, you can practice extra infection-control measures if you live with someone who’s at high risk of major illness.

Stay home as much as possible. Easier said than done, but the reality is that each time you go out into a public space, you’re encountering microscopic enemies ready to attack. The increased availability of grocery delivery, curbside pickup, and restaurant take-out service makes being homebound a bit easier.

Wear a mask (KN-95 if possible) whenever you do leave the home, regardless of your region’s current mask-wearing regulations. 

Abide by physical distancing recommendations of at least 6 feet. 

Frequent hand washing has never been more critical. Wash with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you’ve been out in public, have coughed or sneezed, or have come into contact with a high-touch surface. Dry with a clean paper towel, not a reusable cloth. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer made with at least 60 percent alcohol.

Keep your hands off your face. Even the best hand washers will still harbor bacteria and virus picked up from whatever they touch. Don’t give the germs a free ride to your orifices. 

Don’t hug, kiss, touch hands, or share food and beverage with people who are at an increased risk in your household. It’s also a good rule of thumb for all people during flu season. 

Avoid having visitors into your home. In an emergency, like needing a home repair person, advise the guest of your high-risk household and be sure they do not have symptoms of illness. Any guest in your home must wear a mask and wash their hands.

Create good airflow. When it’s practical to do so, open windows to create a cross-breeze of fresh air. 

Regularly clean high-touch surfaces and any shared items like doorknobs, countertops, toilets, cabinet handles, TV remotes, and such. Thorough cleaning involves two steps: wiping objects and surfaces with a household cleaning product to remove dirt and grime, followed by spraying with a proper disinfectant such as Lysol. 

Hand Washing—Take Your Time With This Simple Task

Hand washing is the single most important way to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. It’s best to use an antimicrobial soap during these concerning times, but any hand soap will work if you follow proper protocol:

Rub your hands together with soap for at least 20 seconds to produce lots of lather. Use antimicrobial soap if available. Lather-up away from running water so that the lather is not washed away. 

Wash thoroughly—front and back of hands, between fingers, and at least two inches up your wrists.

Rinse well under warm running water. 

Dry your hands on a clean cloth or paper towel, not a resuable towel.

Note: The CDC recommends using alcohol-based hand rubs with 60–95 percent alcohol in healthcare settings. Unless hands are visibly soiled, an alcohol-based hand rub is preferred over soap and water in most clinical situations due to evidence of better compliance compared to soap and water. 

man holding elderly woman's hands

Why I Volunteer, Dan’s Story

By Volunteer Dan Felton Peggy* was in her late eighties and had lost her husband about two weeks before I […]

gloved hands planting in the garden

Why I Volunteer, Meg’s Story

By Volunteer Meg Belichek Throughout my life, I have volunteered for many organizations. Each experience offered something special: a giving […]

HOSPICE CARE
  • Hospice Care FAQs
  • Hospice Patient / Family Referral
GRIEF SUPPORT
  • Grief Support
VOLUNTEERING
  • Volunteer Opportunities
  • Volunteer FAQs
  • Volunteer Application
DONATE
ABOUT
  • Our Service Area
  • Careers
CLASSES & RESOURCES
  • Family Caregiver Education Series
  • Helpful Information
FOR HEALTHCARE
PROFESSIONALS
  • Education & Training
  • Eligibility Criteria
Hope Hospice Logo

6377 Clark Avenue
Suite 100

Dublin, CA 94568-3024

Phone: (925) 829-8770

Main FAX: (925) 829-0868

Joint Commission Accredited State Licensed, Medicare and Medi-cal Certified

Joint Commission Accredited
State Licensed, Medicare and
Medi-Cal Certified

We Honor Veterans Badge
California Hospice and Palliative Care Association Badge signifying our membership.

Hope Hospice Honors Veterans

COPYRIGHT © 2019 HOPE HOSPICE INC., ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PRIVACY POLICY – TERMS OF USE

MENU
  • ABOUT
    • Our Mission
    • Where We Serve
    • Careers
    • Press Room
  • SERVICES
    • COVID-19 Information
    • Hospice Care
      • Hospice Care Explained
      • Hospice Care FAQs
      • Hospice Patient / Family Referral
    • Grief Support
    • Dementia Support
    • Family Caregiver Support
    • Advanced Illness Care
  • GRIEF SUPPORT
    • For Adults
    • For Children and Teens
  • GIVING
    • Online Donation Form
    • Ways to Donate
    • Legacy Giving
    • Donating Securities
    • Leadership Circles
  • VOLUNTEER
    • Program Overview
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Volunteer Interest Form
    • Volunteer FAQs
    • Works of Hope
  • EVENTS & RESOURCES
    • Calendar of Events
    • Family Caregiver Education Series
      • Upcoming classes
      • Archived recordings
    • Education for Clinicians
    • Publications
    • Testimonial Videos
    • Helpful Information
  • PATIENT REFERRALS
    • Physician Referral
    • Eligibility Criteria
  • BLOG

LET HOPE HELP

Phone: (925) 829-8770

How shall we contact you?

I would like information on:

Hospice Care
Grief Support
Volunteering
Consultation
Other