Clients receiving home care in Regina and area continued to be supported during COVID-19. Consistent care during the pandemic was a priority for interdisciplinary teams across the province. While a few services were scaled back initially, the team was able to resume most services in accordance with the resumption plan.
“Our teams were able to keep our services consistent by reimagining the way performed them,” said Sue Pitura, Regina Primary Health Care Director. “It was the work of the entire health care team that made this successful and kept our clients healthy.”
Home care teams are made up of a variety of health care workers, each with a unique skill to assist the clients. Here are some of the ways these teams are delivering service differently, but just as effectively:
- The assessor coordinators and therapy teams conducted virtual assessments and treatments. This helped reduce contacts but also helped reduce the time required in the home when in-person visits were needed.
- The team of community support workers ramped up their services to ensure that vulnerable clients had food in the fridge so they could remain home and reduce contact.
- The wound resource team began teaching clients and their families how to perform dressing changes on their own. Teaching was done in the treatment site and in homes when needed.
- The nurses and Continuing Care Assistants (CCAs) conducted regular follow-ups for those vulnerable patients who were not able to receive in-home care.
- Care huddles, both before and after shifts, moved to a virtual format.
Many of these adaptations will continue into the foreseeable future. Although care approaches have adapted over the last few months, the care and commitment our health care providers have to their clients is stronger than ever.
Members of Regina's Home Care team