Covid-19 Response

We believe that home remains the safest place for your clients and patients, as indications show that the virus is spread more quickly in facilities and larger group or public settings. Possible exposure will remain the lowest for those who are able to stay in their homes with limited outside contact. For this reason, we feel fortunate to be able to provide care that can keep people at home or limited exposure in group settings through personalized care and support.

Catalina In-Home Services is updating our response to the COVID-19 threat on a daily basis. These are some of the changes we have made to support our clients and caregivers:

• As a standard practice, we have an emergency preparedness plan in place. We will continue to follow it as this situation evolves and update it accordingly.
• Daily we are reviewing CDC and Arizona Department of Health Service guidance along with updates from the Home Care Association of America and other health organizations. Catalina has been in direct communication with the Pima County Health Department and is adjusting our policies to reflect up to minute best practice.
• All Catalina In-Home Service employees have been required to complete a COVID-19 safety training.
• All caregivers follow established protocol regarding staying home when sick. This practice is not new to our staff.
• We are in regular communication with caregivers to assess any known risk factors, such as travel outside of Tucson.
• Beginning the week of March 2 we began notification to our clients and workforce of the pandemic threat and actions to take. Between then and now we have provided additional directives on preparation and social distancing. We have continued communication with our full caregiver team and providing them with detailed information sheets on best practices. Our nursing department and human resources have called all caregivers to review protocol. We continue to send multiple weekly communications to our caregivers with the most current and relevant information related to the threat. We have called every client to talk with them about the situation and support them to obtain 30 days of medication and food.
• In an effort to promote social distancing we have instituted an emergency policy that caregivers will not take clients on non-essential outings or appointments without physician or office approval.
• Catalina has issued emergency Personal Protective Equipment kits including additional handouts and CDC graphics to post at both caregiver and client homes. Included in the PPE kits are N95 masks to be worn at all times while with clients.
• Our care plans have been updated to include COVID-19 protocols. Caregivers are reminded at every shift through our telephonic clock-in system of hand washing protocol. They are also cleaning all surfaces with antibacterial cleaning products.
• We have instituted a screening protocol and are monitoring the health of all clients, caregivers and the members of the caregiver’s household.
• We have implemented new protocols for all clients returning home from a hospital, rehabilitation center or other facility. This protocol includes 2 week minimum of service, protective shift gowns, safety glasses and rapid identification and management if symptoms occur.
• We are continuing to monitor the situation and are developing new practices to limit exposure while continuing to provide the needed personal care and support services to our clients. With all of the above information, rest assured that Catalina In-Home is up and running and available to take care of your loved ones / clients.
• Catalina is issuing additional Personal Protective Equipment kits to all employees which will include safety glasses, disinfecting spray, hand sanitizer and digital thermometers and gloves. Employees will begin monitoring their temperature at the start and end of day and before each shift, reporting any rise to our nurses.

For clients we serve who reside in facilities or other group-type living situations, we are working closely with the facility on any protocols, exchange of information, or other guidelines as necessary.

We are vigilant about our need to help protect these individuals from illness be it the flu, COVID-19, or any other communicable disease. These measures are not new to us as we seek to minimize risk regularly for our clients, regardless of an outbreak such as this new coronavirus.

Catalina In-Home has a great deal of experience in conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, arthritis, Parkinson’s any many more. It’s important to know that we understand how difficult aging can be, and that we also know how important it is to find care that is not only competent, but compassionate.

If you are interested in hearing more about our home care services, please call 520-214-3434.