I'll go the (Social) Distance for You...
Update - March 2021
I am still maintaining a very tight bubble,
consistently mindful to come to my next position with a Covid-free standard of Best Practice.
consistently mindful to come to my next position with a Covid-free standard of Best Practice.
Because our current bubble is 9 people, 3 of whom are 60+, and because we have 4 Fraser Health Caregivers to the house everyday, our Covid Care is very rigourous.
Caring in the Time of Covid
Because I knew I would be seeking a Senior Care position,
I have taken extreme care since the initial lock down.
I am fully able, prepared and
well-practised to step forward
into a live-in care position with
rigorous safety in mind.
I have taken extreme care since the initial lock down.
I am fully able, prepared and
well-practised to step forward
into a live-in care position with
rigorous safety in mind.
To this end,
during phase 1 to 3 of the shut-in I have been extremely vigilant in
ensuring that I practice the highest level of protection & disinfecting regimes.
during phase 1 to 3 of the shut-in I have been extremely vigilant in
ensuring that I practice the highest level of protection & disinfecting regimes.
Even now, as the vaccination program is picking up speed,
I am maintaining the same level of vigilance
ensuring that I am able to come
into a new household
with a negative test,
and with the highest standards of
Covid-prevention care.
I am maintaining the same level of vigilance
ensuring that I am able to come
into a new household
with a negative test,
and with the highest standards of
Covid-prevention care.
Masks & Gloves
I practice minimal combined errands (once-a-week shopping), and do maximum wash down after every outing.
Luckily,
I have a cache of gloves and masks that
I am able to wear whenever I enter into any kind of public space.
I have a cache of gloves and masks that
I am able to wear whenever I enter into any kind of public space.
I am the Sith Lord of Covid-Shopping
Go Digital
All my interactions,
apart from those I live with, are in the digital realm.
apart from those I live with, are in the digital realm.
How fortunate that my previous work was already in an international habit of Zoom meetings,
so the lock-down has not been a huge stretch for me.
so the lock-down has not been a huge stretch for me.
I chose to 'double my bubble' with
once-a-week visits with my 83 year old mother,
knowing I have been careful enough to
comfortably share space with her.
once-a-week visits with my 83 year old mother,
knowing I have been careful enough to
comfortably share space with her.
The Grocery Wash-Down
NB: this was written during the first lock down, but I chose to keep it here, updated, to help you see that I will indeed give all appropriate care and attention as required.
I will not lie.
It was tedious.
It was tedious.
Every time that
I came in from the grocery store,
I'd bleach down every item.
I'd wash down every item of produce.
I came in from the grocery store,
I'd bleach down every item.
I'd wash down every item of produce.
The grocery bags were put into the garage to de-covid-ify,
and the floor where the bags lay would get washed down with bleach.
and the floor where the bags lay would get washed down with bleach.
I'd wash down the car,
the household door handles,
anywhere that had been in connection to my foray into the outside world.
the household door handles,
anywhere that had been in connection to my foray into the outside world.
Excessive?
Hell yes.
But worth it.
In those early days, when we knew so little, I felt it necessary to always adhere to best practice, in anticipation of being ready to step into an Elder's home ready and able to bring that best practice to my new job.
Everything I practice, and continue to hold as standard, is in preparation to care for Elders as if they are my own.
Hell yes.
But worth it.
In those early days, when we knew so little, I felt it necessary to always adhere to best practice, in anticipation of being ready to step into an Elder's home ready and able to bring that best practice to my new job.
Everything I practice, and continue to hold as standard, is in preparation to care for Elders as if they are my own.
And, of course, I will adapt
up or down
according to the needs/vulnerability
of whomever I care for.
up or down
according to the needs/vulnerability
of whomever I care for.
Now that we have entered into this early part of the vaccination phase
I have stopped doing the excessive levels of wash down and bleaching.
But...
I continue to be very vigilant about adhering to all the standards that help protect us all from accelerating transmission.
I have stopped doing the excessive levels of wash down and bleaching.
But...
I continue to be very vigilant about adhering to all the standards that help protect us all from accelerating transmission.
Batch Cooking
I am an accomplished cook,
able to plan extended menus,
batch cooking so that every dish also becomes a meal in the freezer.
able to plan extended menus,
batch cooking so that every dish also becomes a meal in the freezer.
I am able to very effectively plan a single weekly shop,
to keep the fridge stocked, and to lay high quality, nutritional meals on the table 3 times daily.
to keep the fridge stocked, and to lay high quality, nutritional meals on the table 3 times daily.
I have always described myself as a mother-who-works,
not as a working mother.
Providing nutritious delicious meals for my family has instilled
a life-long habit of
cooking once, eating twice,
and one for the freezer.
not as a working mother.
Providing nutritious delicious meals for my family has instilled
a life-long habit of
cooking once, eating twice,
and one for the freezer.
As my family say -
'Jani is pathologically incapable of cooking for any less than 6 people'.
'Jani is pathologically incapable of cooking for any less than 6 people'.
6 feet = 2 meters
It's not rocket science!
Am I the only one to notice
that since the let-up
people seem to have really laxed in keeping their distance?
Am I the only one to notice
that since the let-up
people seem to have really laxed in keeping their distance?
As ever, in this covid-world, I am doing my very best to maintain the strictures
that mean our social distancing
WILL inhibit the spread.
that mean our social distancing
WILL inhibit the spread.
And within my serious intent to be a good covid citizen,
it is also important to enjoy the ridiculousness...
it is also important to enjoy the ridiculousness...
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