The Coronavirus is dramatically affecting personal care services in Mississippi. Hundreds of residents who are disabled or elderly receive personal care in their homes through the Medicaid Waiver program. MPB's Desare Frazier reports.
Loving Healthcare Services in Jackson employs nearly 300 personal care givers. Compliance Officer E.J. Russell says during this coronavirus pandemic there’s a heightened sense of responsibility to protect workers and clients. She says employees are directed to leave a client’s home and contact a manager, if the person is experiencing symptoms like coughing or chest pain.
“Now we are providing our workers with masks and they have gloves and they are to notify us immediately even if someone in the household has been exposed indirectly to someone who may have tested positive,” said Russell.
Russell says of the more than 400 clients they serve, one has tested positive for the virus. In those cases, workers cannot return to the home. There are more than 90 personal care providers in Central Mississippi. Sherry Johnson of Clinton has a 43-year old son with Multiple Sclerosis who has difficulty with mobility. His two caregivers are still taking care of him which Johnson says makes her a tiny bit anxious about possible infection. But she calls them lifesavers.
“Precautions are being taken, still following wearing masks, washing hands, using gloves, and they’re helping with keeping things clean and sanitized here,” said Johnson.
Sixty-year old retired certified nursing assistant Lula Green of Jackson has worked as a personal caregiver for two years. She continues to work taking care of a 68-year old man bedridden with Dementia.
“No it’s not fear there, because before they launched Covid 19, the Coronavirus, I was going into the home,” said Green.
Green says she uses gloves, wears masks and takes all the precautions necessary. Some personal care facilities have closed their adult care centers to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus.