I work in a nursing home and will be expected to return to work in August. I have been out once or twice and worn a mask....but have only been out for short periods. I can manage in a mask for those times however I will have to wear a mask for a 12 hour shift which is very different than half hour. I know as asthmatic we can not wear a mask 😷, but to be honest I wouldn’t want to work in a nursing home without one. I’m angsting so much about going back to work in a nursing home anyway after shielding. I have brittle asthma but other multiple health problems too....a rare autoimmune disease which has caused chronic pancreatitis...which has caused me since lockdown to become an insulin dependent diabetic, and also it’s caused chronic kidney failure. I function ok enough at the moment but only work 2 days...2 12 hour shifts.
Sorry, waffled more than I meant to.
Dee
Written by
madonbrew
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Employers are required by law to make reasonable adaptations for people with disabilities (which includes chronic health conditions). Reasonable is a loose definition & means different things depending on the size & resources of the employer. So a home that is part of a large chain would be expected to behave differently to a small, independent operation.
This creates both opportunities and a risk for both parties, assuming that the principle that you are unable to wear a mask for 12 hours continuously is accepted by all concerned. As far as the employer is concerned, if you raise the risk with them & they don't respond, you start to acquire legal rights that can prove expensive, & should the worst happen, would be highly destructive to them as a business. So it's in their interest to deal properly with it.
I'd suggest that the starting point for you would be to say how long you CAN wear one comfortably, & then move to a position of establishing a safe strategy for you when you have to take it off. There are numerous possibilities of how to move forward with this, & a good employer would be open to all but be likely to put the onus on you to make suggestions.
Options might include working at (or in) an administrative office, remaining at home, undertaking shorter resident-facing sessions than normal interspersed with recovery breaks...you know the environment, so whatever might work. I'd suggest that, assuming your employers are broadly decent people, that a pro-active, solution-focussed approach will get you to something workable. The risk is that if you are seen to be refusing to take a reasonable approach yourself then the 'rights' balance starts to shift in their favour.
Thank you, there are some good suggestions. It’s not that I mind having to wear a mask...in fact I’d prefer to, it’s more if I can last out so long with one. I guess I will need to have a good chat with my boss& risk assess the situation etc. Social distancing is also impossible in a nursing home. I have a telephone appointment with my consultant as it happens on the 15th July anyway so I can chat with him and see what he thinks.
If you can manage short periods I'd maybe see if you can build it up, or experiment with different types (or, if there's only a certain type you're allowed at work, then with that type). It may well be that you'll be ok with regular mask breaks (which I'd hope work would be able to facilitate as a reasonable adjustment - ie times when not in contact with residents for example).
Being asthmatic definitely doesn't mean one can't or shouldn't wear masks - it's just that some people find it difficult or makes their respiratory issues worse. But others are absolutely fine. Like you've found, there's a middle ground of finding your personal level within that - and I suspect that's where most of us will be.
Good luck though and hope work are supportive especially as you're so positive/keen to find the best way round it for you.
I have got the same problem for work I can only wear my for about one hour ish and I would not want to go to work with out a mask on I am under Dr not a consultant I do 12 hours shifts to it is worry🙁hope we can get some safe answer
I honestly take my hat off to you for even considering going to work at all considering your health issues. You could catch anything with your immune system to start with without pain from panceatitis plus a newly diagnosed diabetic and brittle asthma!!! Whether it's 2 shifts or 5 you need to consider a career change and certainly apply for pip I personally think a nursing home is not good for you. Speak to your employer I think they will agree. Take care you sound very unwell at present.
Thank you for your concern! I have applied for pip twice and they don’t even give me one point!!!! I add in consultants letters and everything but because when I have to go for my assessment I look ok o n the outside they say I can walk however far... cos I managed to get from the car park to the centre in one piece etc My kidney function is 38% but I’m a way from needing dialysis l. Considering I’m under 3 different hospital consultants I don’t know what else I have to do .
Re: work, I am considering changing my job. I just don’t know what to! Unfortunately I first got ill when I was 19 (now 41) and therefore never qualified in anything....did my first year as a student nurse, then I got ill. My confidence isn’t overly great.
Apply again your health has deteriorated greatly of late. You can train for other professions if that's what you want never too old. Lots of financial support for training especially in the health sector or teaching or 111 telephone service even call centres. The list is endless. Please put your health first. Best wishes.😊
When was last time you had a pip assessment. I had one done and I was a few points off they said at end will reassess in 18months as my situation is classed as progressive.
I suggest contacting DWP and advising them of the worsening of situation and reapply. There are good agencies that can help you apply
I work as a social and domestic carer going into clients houses, returned to work last week personally couldn't take another month of shielding.
Got severe asthma linked to a occupational asthma diagnosis, struggle to wear masks as a work round I am allowed to wear a cloth mask with a face shield we are meant to wear 1 surgical mask for the entire shift the employer has decided to purchase a battery air fed mask not cheap at 398 quid but not as restrictive on your airway.
On a note against masks have been found hypoxic after a abg at 95% 02 in hospital as some masks dont filter efficiently for asthmatic patients
If your employer doesn't have access to occupational health services to carry out a specific assessment for your safe return to work, then you can avail of the government scheme Access to Work. gov.uk/access-to-work
They can advise on reasonable adjustments in the workplace that will protect you.
We were told about this mask by a consultant in America called envirobest, which is an FFP2 standard (N95). He wears them during his entire shift, and finds them pretty effective and not too restrictive in terms of breathing. We decided to give them a try and they are much better than the surgical face masks as they are domed shaped and therefore sits away from your mouth and nose but follows the contours of your face. It will definitely be trial and error finding the ones that are best for you, but it’s important to keep you safe. Good luck
I have severe asthma and have no trouble at all wearing a mask. As an asthmatic you are more vulnerable to the terrible ravages of this disease. In the US it is most common in nursing homes for a variety of reasons.
I have severe persistent asthma. It is currently stable. I work in health care. 12 hour shifts.
We have been wearing masks from the time we get out of the car to go into work until we go back to the car at end of shift since March. We are allowed to take them off for meal breaks, with limited people together in the break room.
Wearing face shields is being discussed. If would be over the mask. I wonder if that would be easier for you.
I have gotten used to the mask. Some days are easier than others. Drinking a cool liquid cools off the mask for a short time and decreases the humidity for me.
I also suggest wearing the mask at home to increase your endurance. First wear while sitting, then while doing dishes or meal preparation, and then while walking. I find that going back to work after any illness is easier if I can walk a specific route without coughing or other asthma symptoms. Do the same with wearing the mask.
I have severe asthma and have been working in a local hospital since March. I wear the hospital masks sometimes 16-20 hours a day (I have my regular shift, but then am asked to do another shifts in other departments if they are in need of help). It has been hard getting used to the masks, but I do take breaks (you are allowed, and everyone, including people who don’t have lung problems, do). You can take a break for a breath of fresh air when you are two meters away from others, on a break, in the bathroom...we take them off on our breaks. But keep a safe distance from each other.
I think part of wearing masks is mental stress. I found that for me. I don’t know if it is subconscious or what, but if I have anything over my mouth and nose, I notice I start to breathe differently. But there have been co workers, who have no lung or breathing issues that feel the same way. It is also very warm to wear. What you need to do is try it out, take breaks (very important), and at the end of the day, maybe you can’t wear them. Maybe you will need to stay home longer? I totally 100% understand how difficult it can be. First thing though, is to take care of you. You seem to be going through a lot right now, and the most important thing is to make sure you are ok.
Thank you everyone for your kind replies and good advice!
And for your concern re: my health. It’s all chronic...so have now had it all for a long time... other than the being insulin dependent. Thankfully I don’t really get pancreatic pain anymore... my consultant said that now my pancreas is basically a dead organ I won’t get pain from it...which is true. The rest... well, it’s how it is and I can still function at the moment...ish 😂😂😂
Sadly with these DWP forms it is the way you write things down. These people are brilliant and do have a free helpline, email and messenger service. I would contact them.
In my opinion, you can't work anywhere without a mask and everyone is obliged to wear it when surrounded by people. It is very sad to hear that you have asthma and it will be difficult for you, but maybe you can solve your problem, for example, maybe you can change your position slightly during quarantine so that you do something in a room where there will not be many people. Or You may want to experiment with masks and try different types of masks. Personally, I order a 50pk disposable face mask from databazaar.com/products/dis... because there are a lot of masks, they are of very high quality and it is easier to breathe through them. Maybe you should just change your mask or just take breaks while working.
As it happens, I have since not returned to that work place. My consultant...not asthma one, said he didn’t want me to go back to work as a carer as I have too many high risk health issues & my work place didn’t have an alternative job for me so I have given up work for the time being .
Like I said, I wouldn’t want to work without one, it’s just difficult breathing with one!
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