Coronavirus Updates
How Open Arms Solutions Is Supporting Our Clients And Caregivers And Keeping Them Safe
We take the health and safety of every client seriously, and we are committed to making the home the safest place for you and your family.
During this time of uncertainty, we are taking extra precautions to safeguard your health. We’re focused on keeping our dependable caregivers healthy, so they can provide you the best possible care. We continue to train all Caregivers in advanced infectious disease training. You can be assured that they know not to report to work if they’re sick and are equipped with the necessary Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
OAS & The COVID-19 Vaccine
On August 31, 2021, our Leadership Team came to a unanimous decision to issue a COVID-19 vaccine requirement for all Open Arms Solutions team members, including caregivers and our office employees. As of November 1, all employees have been vaccinated.
We understand that the choice of whether or not to be vaccinated is one each individual must make for themselves, after doing their own research and assessing the risks and benefits of each option for them. Our decision to require the COVID-19 vaccine was not easy, but doing the right thing isn’t always an easy choice to make. We have a responsibility to those who have trusted us with their loved one’s care to ensure we are providing care in the safest way for them. We feel it is our duty to protect the elderly who are at the highest risk of contracting this deadly disease.
We believe in the safety and efficacy of the vaccines currently approved for use and strongly recommend members of our community to get the vaccine and booster as soon as they are able, to protect yourself, your family, our clients, each other, and our community.
How We Are Helping Clients
Our Operations Team is dedicating their time and resources to further prevention of COVID-19. They are encouraging this with our Caregiving Team by reinforcing proper handwashing, cleaning objects and surfaces, and proper ways to cough and sneeze.
Our Care Coordination Team is also making sure our Caregivers are equipped with the necessary Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to ensure a safe environment. Caregivers are trained to identify & report symptoms of COVID -19 early. We believe that this is the best next step to continue to minimize the spread of COVID-19 and keep our clients as safe as possible.
As an organization, we remain fully operational and our staff is available via email, text messaging, or over the phone to discuss any concerns or questions we may have regarding these circumstances.
How We Are Supporting Our Caregivers
We are reinforcing our caregivers’ Infection Control training and supplied them with accessible guidelines. Caregivers are also receiving any additional health & safety supplies when needed to better support their clients.
We are still hiring and continue to on-board and train new caregivers. However, we have modified our hiring processes to eliminate or minimize in person contact wherever possible. This includes conducting virtual interviews and using technology to complete as much of the on-boarding and orientation processes as possible.
How We Are Working With Our Healthcare Partners
Our Senior Care Advisors traditionally spend more than half their time “in the field,” meeting in person with prospective clients and families. To protect all parties, we have minimized these in-person meetings, unless proven necessary by management, to virtual, utilizing video calls wherever possible. When in-person visits happen, we are following safety precautions including monitoring the health of the individual conducting the visit and practicing proper hygiene and distancing rules during the visit.
As an organization, we are fully operational and ready to assist new patients and their families should they need us. Our healthcare partners are continuing to reach out to our Senior Care Advisors when they have a family that could benefit from our support. Our Community Relations Liaisons are also continuing to provide regular health updates on our current shared clients.
What are some of the benefits of working with the Open Arms team?
- Each client family is assigned their own care coordinator to supervise all care and manage scheduling
- Reassurance of financial protection with a bonded and insured company
- Clients receive bi-monthly care check-ins
- Always speak with a REAL person when you call no matter the hour!
- We can accommodate last minute schedule changes
- Enjoy more personal relationships with a local Chicagoland business
- Your caregiver always gets the latest training and personal care techniques
- Our care team is led and supervised by a registered nurse
