The shockwaves continue daily as South Africans grapple with the reality that we are not going to escape the worldwide pandemic caused by COVID-19, a virus that we all know by now is deadly for our elderly frail parents with compromised immune systems and other age-related illnesses.

Last night, 23 March 2020, President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered South Africans to stay home, which means that 55 million citizens now become responsible for trying to limit the terrible spread of this virus, and, in this, our elderly frail loved ones are most at risk if exposed.

Your family will also by now be in the process of planning the lockdown as laid out by the president, and, if you’re caring for your elderly frail or disabled parent, the pressure will be even greater than it’s ever been as a family in the role of caregiver.

No doubt, you aren’t going to allow anyone strange into your home who could compromise the health of your parent at this stage, but the need for  live-in caregivers and caregivers who are able to self-quarantine along with your loved one will be even more essential now.

There’s a scenario no family wants to contemplate, and that’s if the family is infected and has to self-quarantine while caring for an elderly frail parent who is not yet infected.

Who will care for him or her and keep them safe from what is a deadly virus for our elderly if the family can’t, especially if parents are still able to live in their own home?

As the top Home-Based Caregiver and Nursing Services Agency in South Africa, CareChamp has always maintained a reputation that puts the health and safety of their patients first and foremost as they care for the elderly frail and disabled in their own homes.

The standard practice at CareChamp has always been to ensure that the health certificates of all their caregivers are kept fully up to date, but now, with the reality of the COVID-19 virus setting in, CareChamp management and staff are able to assure clients that the preventative measures they have put in place will be of the highest standard possible to protect the elderly frail and disabled.

This is why the management team at CareChamp has looked very seriously at how they can continue to provide quality care to their clients in the safest way possible during this challenging and fearful time.

As a home-care agency, CareChamp has instituted the absolutely necessary everyday preventative measures in an effort to protect their caregivers, and through this dedication to prevention, to protect others.

As a result of this crisis, CareChamp would like to express the need to rethink any care plans you have for your elderly frail parent living at home, with contact from the outside world limited to as near as zero as can be, given specific home-care requirements for individuals.

It is suggested that hiring a live-in caregiver would protect your loved one from outside exposure to the virus, and if possible, to consider hiring a caregiver who can self-quarantine with your parent to keep them safe and isolated from the virus.

Hand sanitisers and face masks are essential tools that CareChamp caregivers will be equipped with as healthcare workers, however, despite the very best in preventative measures, it must also be noted that even sticking to the South African government’s official guidelines, CareChamp has no less control over outcomes that are beyond their power to control than anyone else.

Should you wish to know more about how CareChamp is able to assist and keep safe elderly frail and disabled people living at home, please contact the team as soon as possible, 24/7.

CareChamp provides home-based care services in all major centres in South Africa and you can contact them telephonically, via email or the online contact form on their website.

Keep our elderly safe, healthy and cherished while they are still able to live at home.