Corona Companion

Nowadays, there are frequently seen advertisements online for Covid companions. The increase in the number of patients who need to be treated and cared for at home or in the hospital due to the corona virus is causing healthcare personnel to be overwhelmed. Therefore, for certain patients (those over 70 years old, dependent patients, individuals with special needs, dementia patients, children, etc.), hiring a corona companion on an hourly wage is becoming a common practice. Companions found through human resources firms perform this job for varying daily rates. Companion candidates also post advertisements on social media. Looking at these ads, it is seen that the daily wage ranges from 3000-5000 TL.

Among those who claim they can be corona companions are referenced caregivers. These individuals meet the needs of the patients they care for, such as food and medication, and attend to their personal care. Additionally, they communicate with the patient's doctor when necessary and report this to the patient's relatives. After the patient they care for recovers, they enter quarantine at their own home for 14 days, and if they feel any symptoms of illness, they get tested for coronavirus. Once their personal quarantine is over, if they have not contracted the disease, they start caring for a new patient.

Human resources firms are making adjustments for candidates working as companions according to the new conditions created by the pandemic. Those serving as corona companions are not directed to other patients. Caregivers for normal patients are also not sent to corona patients.

Nurses, caregivers, and health personnel working in hospitals are working selflessly, providing medical care for covid patients. However, it may be necessary for a relative to be present for the patient's personal needs. Some relatives do not want to take the risk, while others are in the risk group. Private companions are preferred in such situations. Companions take precautions such as wearing special clothing, masks, and face shields to protect themselves.

Previously, permission for private companions was not granted due to the risk of contracting the disease, except for child patients. However, as the number of cases and seriously ill patients increases, the burden on hospitals, healthcare personnel, and intensive care units has increased, leading the Ministry of Health to grant companion permission specifically for patients over a certain age and in need of care.

In these times, companies like Damla Human Resources are receiving numerous calls from relatives of patients looking for corona companions. While companions are also being sought for other patients, it is observed that there is a higher demand for corona patients.