A Home Instead caregiver assists an elderly man with a cardigan sweater in a well-lit bathroom, emphasizing compassionate support for daily activities.

Taking Precautions to Protect Your Loved One

Home Instead of Northern Rhode Island is taking precautions to protect you, your loved one and our Caregivers during this COVID-19 pandemic.

Home Instead's COVID-19 Safety Protocols

Before Leaving for Shift:

1. Mandatory Illness Reports

Home Instead Caregivers report any illness related symptoms to our office, or after hours to our on-call line that we answer 24/7, including holidays and weekends.

2. Mandatory Temperature Checks

Home Instead Caregivers take their temperatures before leaving their home and reporting to shift to make sure that they have no fever.

Before Arriving on Shift:

1. Mandatory Mask During Shifts

All of our Home Instead Caregivers are required to always wear a mask while on shift.

Arriving on Shift:

1. Pre-shift Message for Telephony and the Mobile App

At the beginning of a telephony shift clock-in, this message will play: “If you or your clients are experiencing any fever, cough or flu-like symptoms, please contact your office immediately. Please also be extra careful by washing your hands for 30 seconds with soap at arrival and frequently throughout your shifts."

2. Illness Questionnaire

Home Instead Caregivers must answer before finishing clocking into a client’s home. This questionnaire is to make sure that all Caregivers and Clients are safe guarded from the spread of COVID-19.

The Caregiver Screening Questions include:

1. Have you or a member of your household been experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, including fever, cough, or shortness of breath

2. Have you or a member of your household been out of the country within the last 14-18 days?

3. Have you or a member of your household been in close contact with anyone who has been tested, diagnosed or told by a medical professional they may have COVID-19?

4. Have you or a member of your household been in close contact with anyone who has traveled overseas or to a high-risk area within the last 14-18 days?

If the caregiver has completed a questionnaire within the last twenty-three hours, they will not be asked the questions again. If it has been longer than twenty-three hours since the caregiver completed a questionnaire, the screening questions will populate for the caregiver to reply. If the caregiver replies yes to any of the questions, they will receive a prompt "Please contact your agency office immediately before you proceed with your shift."