My wife is a speech therapist that does home health. She was advised in a conference call today that the company is now accepting COVID-19 cases, meaning that she (and all the other home health providers at the company, e.g., physical therapists, occupational therapists, etc.) will be expected to go into COVID-19 positive homes.
My wife's text to me earlier today said the manager on the conference call advised that it was a "personal decision as to what each therapist was comfortable with." I'm not really sure what that means.
Like all other healthcare providers, my wife's company is short on PPE. She has had to basically find N95 masks through other channels. I'm not sure what her situation is regarding gloves and everything else (I'll talk to her more when I get home).
Our finances are strong. We have $55k cash and could get by for quite a long time without her working at all (my guess is 2-3 years before dipping into other accounts).
But, my wife absolutely loves her job and her company. She has never been professionally happier. Before all this started, she worked three days a week, set her own schedule, etc. The company was always great to her. She loves her boss and everyone she works with. She loves home health.
I guess this is the reality of being a healthcare worker right now. Eventually my wife would be on the "front lines" treating people like this, and that time is now.
We are talking later, and I just want to know how I should proceed? I want to be supportive but I'm worried at striking the right balance.
What questions do I ask?
What would you do?
Any other home health/nurses/etc. out there?