Message from STEPS Home Care - Updated November 20

We want to update everyone on STEPS’ efforts to monitor and respond to the rapidly changing coronavirus situation. We are aware of the increase in COVID cases in the NYC Metro Area.  Be assured that we have been actively following coronavirus developments with the goal of protecting the health and safety of all our Patient and Caregivers. STEPS is following the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). We encourage you to stay up-to-date as well. The CDC website is an excellent source of information. Here is a link to their site: Click Here.  We are also providing all of our Caregivers will all the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that they require, which includes gloves, thermometers, masks, gowns, sanitizer, face shields, etc. 

With so much uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 as we enter the winter and flu season, we are following the latest developments and doing everything possible to protect our Patients and Caregivers. We have had an Infection Disease Control Policy & Procedure, since our inception, and our Caregivers have been following our Influenza protocol.  We have mandatory annual infectious disease control training, and we are maintaining as much contact with our Caregivers via email, text and the phone as possible regarding the situation.  

It is mandatory for our Caregivers to wear a mask when within 6 feet of our Patients.  In addition, we are encouraging our Patients and Caregivers to wear masks at all times when in the home together.  Furthermore, we are instructing our Caregivers to minimize their exposure outside of the workplace, and highly encourage for them to wear a mask for their entire commute to and from work. 

No Caregiver can clock-in via our telephony system without verifying they, and their patient, are symptom free. If they can’t clock in for whatever reason, they will need to call the office, or we will be notified to call the office. Therefore, we are verifying both the Patient and Caregiver are symptom free for EVERY shift. If either are demonstrating symptoms, we have a procedure in place to handle the situation.

In closing, please know that we consider our Patients and Caregivers to be part of the STEPS family, and that’s how we are approaching this issue. If you have ANY questions please call us at (914) 618-4200.

Our STEPS Caregivers Are Ready

We advise ALL our Caregivers to monitor our clients with more frequent temperature checks than usual, advising them not to come into work if they have fevers, coughs or colds, stocking up on supplies such as masks, gowns, gloves and alcohol hand sanitizer gels and closely screening their own family members and visitors to find out if  they may have been exposed to the virus in our community. 

What You Need To Know

According to Barbara Moran, Director of Patient Services, the best way to avoid viruses including the Coronavirus is:

• Avoid exposure – Obviously avoid close contact with other people who may be sick, but remember, don’t spread YOUR germs to others. Stay home when YOU are ill to avoid exposing others.
• Wash hands frequently with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. Sing happy birthday twice to time yourself. If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
• Keep tissues with you at all times to 1) Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue away and wash your hands and to 2) Hold surfaces like handrails. 
• If someone in your home is sick, clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces such as door knobs and faucet handles with a bleach solution.”