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ST. JOSEPH — Right now, as many work from home and find new books and Netflix shows to keep occupied, there is a group of workers on the COVID 19 front lines battling to keep area seniors and individuals with disabilities healthy, taken care of and connected to services and support to meet their vital needs. These workers are the area caregivers and home healthcare workers of Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties.

Home healthcare workers help patients in need, some of whom have no one else to turn to with tasks they cannot accomplish themselves. This can involve anything from bathing, dressing and feeding them, to clinical tasks such as administering lifesaving medication, maintaining high-technology medical equipment for nutrition and respiration, monitoring blood pressure readings, helping those experiencing incontinence and keeping regular range of motion exercises to prevent atrophy.

The first call to slow the spread of the coronavirus was asking employers to let employees stay home and work remotely.

“That is not an option for home healthcare workers and caregivers, who must be on-site physically to do their job. These are life-sustaining tasks for the clients they serve,” said Christine Vanlandingham, of the Area Agency on Aging. “Not only for medical reasons. Oftentimes, these workers are the friendly face, the regular conversation and the caring friend that helps homebound clients refute loneliness and stay in touch with the world.”

Now, more than ever, home health care, healthcare support workers, and caregivers are a critical component in the prevention and spread of this virus, and in protecting those with compromised immune systems, as well as those over the age of 60, from contracting it. However, the industry experiences its own hurdles. As reported by National Public Radio recently, lower wages and limited access to affordable health care can put workers and their own families at risk right now.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, women in the U.S. hold 76 percent of home health-care jobs and are out caring for the home-bound, while their children are also home from closed schools. Being deemed essential, these workers are out in the field trying to avoid coronavirus exposure, juggle child-care and meals for their own family, while also trying to maintain 40 hours to keep their families finances consistent.

“They do it, however, because they care,” Vanlandingham said. “Ask any home health care worker or caregiver, and they have an impactful story about one of their clients, about the connection they have with them, and about how much they enjoy the work of enriching and sustaining lives. How can we thank them?”

Now, the Area Agency on Aging is offering several ideas of ways local residents can show their appreciation. Agency representatives are also asking people to share this information with the hashtag #HomeCareHeroes in addition to encouraging people in the industry to post their picture in the comments so they can be thanked and to put a face to the people hard at work:

• Feed a local healthcare or home-care professionals — Arrange for food delivery if allowed or send them gift cards to local restaurants so they can grab a bite when they get a break from the hospital, care facility or in between home visits. 

• Help a healthcare worker with groceries — Reach out to the people the community with these jobs and see what they need for groceries and do a grocery run for them. Many individuals in this industry work long hours and may not have the time or energy to pick up food or groceries when they have limited time off to rest, according to the Area Agency on Aging.

• Offer to help with childcare or their pets — With 69,000 schools across the U.S. being closed or scheduled to close due to the coronavirus, figuring out how to do their job and take care of their children or pets can be overwhelming. Offer to watch their children for a few hours or to walk their pet. That way, they can work knowing their family is taken care of, Vanlandingham said.

• Keep donating blood — Recently, the American Red Cross announced it is experiencing a “severe blood shortage” due to many blood donation drives being canceled or postponed due to the coronavirus. Besides needing many medical supplies to prepare for and keep up with the pandemic, there is always a need blood to be donated.

• Give home healthcare providers, caregivers or anyone in the medical industry, a social media shutout — Sometimes, just being appreciated can go a long way in helping boost someone’s spirits.

• Self-quarantine – Flattening the curve is key to slowing the spread of the coronavirus and giving healthcare professionals a chance to take care of the people who need it. Even if someone does not feel sick, staying home will be a great help.  It is time to get creative with FaceTime, Google Hangouts and more, in order to give the healthcare industry workers more time and resources, Vanlandingham said.