COVID-19 Updates
updated October 29, 2020
COVID-19 has created a public health incident that we have not dealt with before and it brings uncertainty and questions for everyone. During this time, we honor and respect any choices our volunteers make, to serve or not to serve.
In response to this challenging and changing situation, Faith in Action has reduced office staffing to a minimum. A schedule has been devised so that two employees will staff the office each day on a rotating basis. Since the beginning of the Pandemic, Covid-19 Guidelines and additional sanitation practices have been implemented to keep our Care Receivers and Volunteers as safe as possible.
The FIA Office is accepting all medical rides. Drivers are needed as more requests are coming into the office. Many doctors’ offices are scheduling appointments at this time please check RideScheduler often. Non-medical rides are limited and will only be accepted if all medical rides for the day have drivers.
Orientations are being done on a 1:1 basis. Attendees must register prior to the orientation, wear a face mask and wash their hands prior to entering the office.
All Volunteers and Care Receivers must quarantine for 10 days if they have been exposed to a person testing positive for COVID 19.
Should a Volunteer or Care Receiver test positive for COVID 19, they must provide to Faith in Action, written proof of recovery by results of a negative COVID 19 test.
STANDARD HEALTH QUESTIONS are listed below
| STANDARD HEALTH QUESTIONS (SHQ) COVID-19 Screening Questionnaire for interacting with Vulnerable Seniors The care you provide to our vulnerable seniors is so important, and in order to ensure they continue to receive services during the COVID-19 precautions, we are providing additional guidance for Volunteers who are conducing assessments or providing services at a Senior Center. To protect the vulnerable seniors and their caregivers, the Illinois Department on Aging (IDOA) has recommended the following screening. This screening tool should be used to screen the older/vulnerable adult and/or visitors, daily prior to a face-to-face contact. Within the past 14 days: 1) Have you or someone you live with been experiencing new shortness of breath, or cough or at least two of the following: – Fever – Chills or repeated shaking with chills – Muscle pain – Headache – New loss of taste or smell Yes No 2) Have you or someone you live with been exposed to an individual with a positive COVID-19 diagnosis? Yes No 3) Have you or someone you live with been tested positive for COVID-19? Yes No 4) Are you currently awaiting results from a COVID-19 test? Yes No *If a participant responds “yes,” to any of the above questions the Volunteer must contact the Executive Director for further direction. Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms shall not work or interact with Care Receivers until symptom free or can provide written evidence of a negative Covid 19 test. **This screen tool is based on the latest guidance from the Center for Disease Control & IDPH. Volunteer Guidance Assessment Volunteers Assessment Volunteers are the first volunteers to meet the prospective Care Receiver so every effort of caution should be used. Please follow the Procedures below when you interact with the Care Receiver. Prior to the Home Visit · Call the prospective Care Receiver and ask them the standard health questions (SHQ).. · Any time the Volunteer meets with the Care Receiver, the questions need to be asked. · Prior to arriving make sure you can answer “No” to all the SHQ questions.. · Make sure you take a clean face mask and have a spare for the prospective Care Receiver and potentially another family member. Faith in Action has extra face masks at the Office. It would be a good to keep clean, extra face masks in a plastic bag with you for your visits. · Wash your hands at least 20 seconds before leaving your home. · Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are unavailable. During the Assessment Visit · The Assessment visit can take place if all the SHQ questions have been answered “No.” · Upon arrival, the questions should be asked again; if all questions are answered, “No” proceed with the assessment process. · Porch visits are encouraged during good weather. · During the visit: o Maintain a distance of at least 6 feet between the home visitor and any family members during the visit. o Use a face mask to prevent asymptomatic spread of the disease and provide protection when social distancing is hard to maintain. o Minimize contacting frequently touched surfaces at the home. o Wear a clean face mask. Wearing disposable gloves is up to each Volunteer. o Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Leaving the Assessment Visit · Wash your hands frequently (20 seconds of rubbing) after completing the assessment visit. · Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are unavailable. Transportation Driver Volunteer Transportation Driver Volunteers pick up the Care Receiver at their home and take them to their appointment. When, meeting the Care Receiver, every effort of caution should be used. Please follow the Procedures below when you interact with the Care Receiver. Prior to Picking up the Care Receiver · Call the Care Receiver the morning of their appointment to confirm they still need a ride. During that conversation ask the Care Receiver the SHQ questions. · Prior to arriving make sure you can answer “No” to all the SHQ questions. · Make sure you take a clean face mask and have a spare for the prospective Care Receiver and potentially another family member that will be in your vehicle . Faith in Action has extra face masks at the Office. It would be a good to keep clean, extra face masks in a plastic bag with you for your visits. · Make sure to wipe down frequently touched surfaces in your vehicle prior to arrival. · Wash your hands at least 20 seconds before leaving your home. · Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are unavailable. Arriving to Pick up the Care Receiver · Both the Volunteer and Care Receiver should wear a mask. · The Care Receiver should sit in the back seat on passenger side of the vehicle. · If weather permits, keep the windows open. · During the Ride: o Keep a bottle of hand sanitizer or wipes in your car and have your care receiver wipe their hands when they enter your car. o Use a face mask during the Ride to prevent asymptomatic spread of the disease and provide protection when social distancing is hard to maintain. o Minimize contacting frequently touched surfaces. o Wear a clean face mask. Wearing disposable gloves is up to each Volunteer. o Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. o Keep a small bag for trash in your vehicle. Upon completion of the Transportation Ride · Wash your hands frequently (20 seconds of rubbing) after completing the ride. · Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are unavailable.· Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces in your car using regular household cleaning spray or disinfectant. Shopping Volunteers Shopping Volunteers are matched with a Care Receiver. Occasionally, an unmatched Care Receiver will contact the transportation desk to request shopping services (See Transportation Rides). Shopping Volunteers are encouraged to pick up groceries “for” their Care Receiver instead of “with” their Care Receiver. Meeting the Care Receiver, every effort of caution should be used. Please follow the Procedures below when you interact with the Care Receiver. Shopping for the Care Receiver – Preferred · Call the Care Receiver the morning of their shopping appointment to see if they still want you to shop for them. Since you will have contact with the Care Receiver, during that conversation ask the Care Receiver the SHQ questions. · Prior to arriving make sure you can answer “No” to all the SHQ questions. · Make sure you wear a clean face mask and have a spare for the Care Receiver during your transactions. Faith in Action has extra face masks at the Office. It would be a good to keep clean, extra face masks in a plastic bag with you. · Make sure to wipe down your vehicle with a cleaning solution prior to arrival. · Wash your hands at least 20 seconds before leaving your home. · Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are unavailable. · When shopping for a Care Receiver, use the “Shopping Receipt List” found in the volunteer forms on the Faith in Action website. Arriving to Pick up the Shopping list or to pick up the Care Receiver · Both the Volunteer and Care Receiver should wear a mask. · If you are taking the Care Receiver, he/she should sit in the back seat on passenger side of the vehicle. · If weather permits, keep the windows open, if possible. · During the Ride: o Keep a bottle of hand sanitizer or wipes in your car and have your care receiver wipe their hands when they enter your car. o Use a face mask during the Ride to prevent asymptomatic spread of the disease and provide protection when social distancing is hard to maintain. o Minimize contacting frequently touched surfaces. o Wear a clean face mask. Wearing disposable gloves is up to each Volunteer. o Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. o Keep a small bag for trash in your vehicle. Upon completion of the Transportation Ride · Wash your hands frequently (20 seconds of rubbing) after completing the ride. · Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are unavailable. · Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces in your car using regular household cleaning spray or disinfectant. Friendly Visit Volunteers Friendly Visit Volunteers are encouraged to telephone their Care Receiver. At this time, “Porch Visits” can occur if agreed upon between the Care Receiver and the Volunteer. When meeting the Care Receiver, every effort of caution should be used. Please follow the Procedures below when you interact with the Care Receiver. Calling Care Receivers (PREFERRED) · No special requirements are needed. Prior to a “Porch Visit” with the Care Receiver (Special permission will be needed by the Director) · Call the Care Receiver the morning of their appointment to confirm they still need would like an “in person” visit. During that conversation ask the Care Receiver the SHQ questions. · Prior to arriving make sure you can answer “No” to all the SHQ questions. · Make sure you take a clean face mask and have a spare for the Care Receiver and potentially another family member that will be home. Faith in Action has extra face masks at the Office. It would be a good to keep clean, extra face masks in a plastic bag with you for your visits. · Wash your hands at least 20 seconds before leaving your home. · Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are unavailable. Meeting with your Care Receiver · Both the Volunteer and Care Receiver should wear a clean mask. · Maintain a distance of at least 6 feet between the Volunteer and the Care Receiver. · Minimize contacting frequently touched surfaces. · Wearing disposable gloves is up to each Volunteer. · Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Upon completion of the Friendly Visit · Wash your hands frequently (20 seconds of rubbing) after completing the visit. · Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are unavailable. STANDARD HEALTH QUESTIONS COVID-19 Screening Questionnaire for Senior Centers The care you provide to our vulnerable seniors is so important, and in order to ensure they continue to receive services during the COVID-19 precautions, we are providing additional guidance for Volunteers who are conducing assessments or providing services at a Senior Center. To protect the vulnerable seniors and their caregivers, the Illinois Department on Aging (IDOA) is requiring staff to ask the following questions to staff, participants and visitors prior to enter a Senior Center. This screening tool should b used for the following: o To screen staff, daily prior to entry into the center, before a face-to-face contact with an older/vulnerable adult. o To screen the older/vulnerable adult and/or visitors, daily prior to entry int the center, before a face-to-face contact. Within the past 14 days: 1) Have you or someone you live with been experiencing new shortness of breath, or cough or at least two of the following: § Fever § Chills or repeated shaking with chills § Muscle pain § Headache § New loss of taste or smell Yes No 2) Have you or someone you live with been exposed to an individual with a positive COVID-19 diagnosis? Yes No 3) Have you or someone you live with been tested positive for COVID-19? Yes No *If a participant responds “yes,” to any of the above questions the Volunteer must contact the Executive Director for further direction. Anyone with COVID-19 systems shall not work or interact with Care Receivers until symptom free for three consecutive days. **This screen tool is based on the latest guidance from the Center for Disease Control & IDPH. IDoA reserves the right to Modify the tool in the event of updates from either agency. ***Replaces all previous versions of the screening tool. |