How Can I Care for A Family Member with the Coronavirus Disease at Home?

As the new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) situation continues to develop, it ’s important to know how to protect yourself and others if you are sick or taking care of someone who is sick at home.

This article describes how family members take care of patients with novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pneumonia and how to effectively protect yourselves when caring of them.

CARING FOR SOMEONE WHO IS SICK

• Stay in separate area away from the sick room and avoid using the same bathroom if possible.
• Avoid having any unnecessary visitors who do not have an essential need to be in the home.
• If the patient is unable to wear a facemask, wear one when you need to be in the same room.
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Clean and disinfect all surfaces daily and high-touch surfaces frequently throughout the day in areas other than the sick room and designated bathroom, which should be cleaned by the person who is ill. Follow CDC guidance.
• Avoid sharing household items, such as dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, bedding or other items. After the person who is ill uses these items, wash them thoroughly. If laundry is soiled, wear disposable gloves and keep the soiled items away from your body while laundering. Wash your hands immediately after removing gloves.
• Help with basic needs in the home and provide support for getting groceries, prescriptions and other personal needs.
• Care for any pets in the home. The person who is ill should not handle pets or other animals while sick.
• Treat symptoms. Make sure the person drinks a lot of fluids to stay hydrated and rests at home. Help them follow their health care provider ’s instructions.
• Monitor for worsening symptoms. Have the person ’s health care provider ’s contact information on hand. Keep track of symptoms and immediately call to get medical attention if they worsen.

• Do not share daily necessities and tableware with the observed person to avoid contact with infection.
• When it is necessary to contact the observed person, they should wear disposable medical surgical masks or N95 masks.
• Do not directly touch the secretions of the subject, especially stool and sputum.
• A strong family member needs to be fixed to look after the observed person.
• Do a good job of indoor disinfection, disinfect with chlorine-containing disinfectant, such as dining table, bedroom, furniture, etc.
• Observe your condition, if you have fever, cough, dry cough, etc., you should seek medical treatment in time.
• The most important thing is the mentality. Confidence is the most important thing. I believe that I can fight the new coronavirus.