ARHTURDALE — Due to the coronavirus pandemic, WV Caring, a nonprofit, began taking preventive and precautionary measures to protect patients, families, staff and volunteers.
Hospice patients are particularly vulnerable, due to their compromised immune systems and infections such as the flu, pneumonia and other novel viruses.
Recently, WV Caring’s clinical staff increased preventive education to its patients, families and caregivers on infection control and staying healthy during this time.
With the COVID-19 creating massive shortages of personal protective equipment supplies, WV Caring’s staff sought new ways to be responsible and protect their patients, community, volunteers and staff. So, WV Caring mobilized its staff and volunteers to meet its health-care needs.
Staff decided to make handmade masks Thursday. Within a few hours, staff and volunteers were deployed to begin production of masks made in its nonprofit colors.
Mask kits were made for the volunteers to make at home — 150 kits have already been sent out to volunteers. The masks are being sewn for patients, families, volunteers and staff throughout the service area, and as far away as Maryland. By Sunday, the first batch of 300 masks were ready for delivery by staff to its patients and families throughout the 12 counties they serve.
If you would like to assist in any way, call WV Caring at 1-866-656-9790.
Since 1983, West Virginia Caring has been dedicated to improving care for those facing life-limiting illness through direct support of patients and their families while providing advocacy, outreach, education and expertise in grief support to the entire community.
WV Caring serves these counties: Barbour, Braxton, Calhoun, Gilmer, Marion, Monongalia, Preston, Pocahontas, Randolph, Taylor, Tucker and Wetzel.
