Working in the health care industry, amidst a pandemic.
COVID-19 has pushed several industries to adapt and survive through some very challenging and difficult times. The healthcare sector is compelled to be resilient and meet unparalleled demands to bring new innovation into the market faster. Similarly, the Home Nursing Industry has commanded its professionals to be dynamic, persevere and fulfil its duty of responsible care to the elderly.
Ivanka Fonseka, General Manager of English Nursing Care Sri Lanka, is on the field everyday working towards delivering the best care for its clients. She says, “The global home healthcare industry is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.9% from 2020 to 2027. This is the result of the rising aging population, preference for customised value-based healthcare and COVID-19 which has specifically increased the challenges that arise in day to day operations.”
COVID-19 & the challenges it brought
Home care includes any professional support services, long term or short term, that allow a person who is aging and needs assistance to live independently; managing chronic health issues; that maybe recovering from a medical setback; or has special needs or a disability. Professional services such as English Nursing Care have had to combat the increase in restrictions and still maintain quality and personalisation.
Ivanka discusses the challenges involving PPE, staff rotation and organising transport, successful anti-gen or PCR tests when transferring staff to their duty point. These have increased daily overheads by 75% on average while profits have remained stagnant. As General Manager, Ivanka has had to work vigorously to balance profits and losses and mentions this is a problem the faced by the industry.
Moreover, staff are on duty almost 24 hours for months when taking care of an elderly patient. Wearing PPE throughout results in; discomfort, exhaustion and communication barriers as patients find it difficult to hear when masks and shields are worn by nurses. However protection of the client and the staff is paramount, this increases pressure and anxiety of all stakeholders.
“If a situation arises and a discussion is required we have a thorough communication process set in place. It is tough when we cannot gather and discuss, we are pushed to think out of the box and ensure our clients are comfortable. They are deeply concerned about their parents’ wellbeing as they cannot visit. Unavailability of medication, emergency appointments or even anxiety attacks of patients are a common occurrence. I constantly liaise with our UK management team to find resolutions since they have faced impacts of COVID-19 before us, their experience drives us to re-strategize and mitigate the risk before it arrives”.
There have been many instances where patients’ medication is no longer available in the market due to decline in imports. Ivanka is in constant communication with guardians often living aboard, the doctor and the nurse at the duty point getting the right substitute, delivered at the right time to the client, all while making sure safety is maintained at all times.
Vaccinations
“Getting our staff vaccinated is pivotal to protect them and our clients, however without government support it was with much trial that we were able to get 90% of our staff at English Nursing Care vaccinated. Additionally, our elderly clients were hesitant to receive vaccinations due to uncertainty of side effects and low confidence in regulations. However, convincing those with compromised immune systems that it is critical to do so for their own safety whilst being sensitive to their views was a far bigger challenge. I am surrounded by a whirlpool of obstacles every day at work, but it is my responsibility to face them as the care of many is in my hands. ”
Elderly & staff in isolation
Our elderly loved ones were and are in isolation for far longer, than us. They were unaware of the empty streets, closed shops, the fear and the anxiety of our future in the air. They question the purpose of our precautions and restrictions. This makes it even harder for Nurses to take care of them. An English Nursing Care home nurse is a companion, a confidante to our clients. While performing physical care, they are present for mental support, especially for those elders whose children are stuck abroad. Ivanka explains, that Nurses have to be compassionate to their different views and constantly explain the gravity of the situation.
Ivanka added, “Our Nurses have not seen their family either, they have been working very hard for a very long time as they too have been with the patient with movement restricted. Keeping staff morale up has taken a lot of effort, as it directly affects the care they provide. To my team, I am their companion, their confidante. I have to make sure they are happy, they are comfortable and safe as they are my responsibility too. COVID-19 is sneaky, it tests us in many ways, but we need to keep winning this battle and we have to keep working hard to achieve it”
English Nursing Sri Lanka, specialises in caring for elderly. Keep your mind at ease, ensure your loved ones are in good hands. Contact English Nursing Sri Lanka – an expert and reliable home nursing service which pledges to take care of your loved ones in the comfort of their home. Visit their website www.englishnursing.com or call +94 11 4500117.
