Retirement facilities, Nursing homes, and assisted-living facilities are based on the superior services provided to their senior residents.
Families always search for the best when it comes to their elderly loved ones, and a commitment to cleanliness shows dedication and respect for their health and well-being.
Here’s how your facility can be a top performer and offer comfort to your clients and their loved ones.
Tips To Help Facilities Reduce The Risk Of Infection
The aging process can reduce one’s immune system, leading to a decline in overall vitality and the body’s ability to fight viruses and infections.
Unsanitary conditions can cause disability, and injuries, sometimes even death, and will quickly spread to the entire facility if left untreated.
Amongst senior citizens, common infections include Bacterial Pneumonia, Influenza, Urinary Tract Infections, and Gastrointestinal Infections.
The following tips should be on the top of your Janitorial to-do list:
1. Develop a Comprehensive Plan
Determine, in conjunction with healthcare experts, a Janitorial plan for the entire facility.
It should encompass budgetary parameters, desired goals and outcomes, staffing and implementation timelines.
The Plan should provide the basis for the hygiene and cleanliness functions within both the Common Areas and resident living quarters throughout your property; it can also be utilized as a marketing tool to attract new residents.
Consider that establishing a cleaning schedule should be made based on the senior living community’s needs, and it includes the following concepts:
- Personal choice: some residents might want their room to be cleaned daily, others 4 times a week. It is about adapting to their wishes, while also maintaining proper living standards;
- Privacy: seniors should not feel like their personal space is invaded during a regular cleaning procedure, they should be informed and, if in their own room, the staff should knock before entering;
- A safe and home-like environment: residents need to be respected, to feel safe and cared for, and the policies and procedures have to be established so that they address the overall needs of the community.
2. Special Cleaning Equipment And Techniques
Maintaining your retirement, nursing, or assisted living home in a professionally cleaned manner keeps a happy and safe resident and staff community.
Offering the best cleanliness starts with utilizing industry-leading equipment, supplies and the newest methods.
Such equipment and supplies, for example, include floor machines, electrostatic sprayers and microfiber cloths and mop heads.
Proper disinfectants and hospital-grade floor cleaning supplies are also essential.
3. Make The Environment Visually Appealing
A nursing home not only addresses the seniors but their families as well.
When they first walk into the facility, they search for an appealing, home-like appearance, in short, an environment where they would love to spend their time.
Hygiene and cleanliness are the top factors leading to a pleasant experience, transforming a simple area to look like the resident’s own home.
This will show how much the managers and staff care for their elderly, attitude which is on the top of the list when searching for a long-term nursing home.
Hygiene also consolidates the feeling of safety, knowing that no microbes, viruses, or germs endanger the life and well-being of the seniors.
It is the business card that will always attract new clients and create a positive image, shared both online and through word-of-mouth recommendations.
Routine Cleaning Services Increasing Livability Levels
Caregivers have many responsibilities, ranging from clinical care to area upkeeping. Without an effective cleaning schedule, it’s easy for them to become more preoccupied with other tasks, and not properly disinfect the equipment and the facility.
Keep in mind that schedules are dynamic and can change, especially in a senior living facility, therefore openness and adaptability while respecting the standards are crucial.
Surfaces and spaces should be cleaned regularly based on traffic, frequency of use, daily cleaning routine, and premise size.
High-frequency use areas have extensive and frequent contact with the people and include toilets, commodes, doorknobs, and medical equipment.
These should be cleaned at least once per day, to maximize infection prevention.
Medium-frequency use areas serve the seniors and staff often but have limited physical contact.
They include chairs, curtains, and furniture.
These areas should be cleaned weekly or a couple of times per week, to maximize the disinfection effect.
Low-frequency use areas have little or no direct contact and include mirrors or fridges.
To provide top services, you need to create a routine based on the residents’ needs.
For example, mopping and disinfecting the common area should be done during lunch and dinner, when the rooms will be free.
On a daily basis, the focus is floor care and high-touch areas, such as door handles, railings, beds, etc.
These spaces are the main source of the infestation and bacterial transmission.
By reducing high-risk factors, the seniors’ health and overall wellbeing are protected.
Importance of Deep Cleaning Periodic Services
Deep cleaning is the type of service that almost goes unnoticed when used, but the lack of it will cause havoc in long-term care facilities, because of the high risks to which the seniors are exposed.
Due to the difficulty and top-notch equipment and products needed for deep cleaning procedures, the best option is to choose the services of a professional facility maintenance company.
Deep cleaning periodic tasks are complementary to a regular cleaning process. The daily cleaners are responsible for regular surface maintenance and overall cleanliness and presentability of the spaces.
Deep cleaning focuses on hard to reach areas, being responsible for infection control.
It also prevents the growth of bacteria which causes odor and cross infection that can lead to diarrhea, common cold, and urinary tract infection, just to mention a few.
Long term care facilities are particularly exposed to any bacteria due to the weaker immune system of older adults.
Deep cleaning and sanitizing the areas promote the well-being of your employees, clients, and visitors, leaving a strong and positive impact as soon as they walk through the door.
Not every portion of the residence needs deep cleaning every week, but there are areas with concentrated activity, such as hallways, restrooms, and common spaces that collect germs and need often maintenance.
A deep cleaning process can include:
- Hard floor machine-scrubbing to get all the grime out, with a focus on dining areas, kitchens, lobby, and restrooms;
- Dusting and disinfecting furniture, windowsills, restrooms, living areas, and every corner with proper disinfectants specifically designed to kill germs, bacteria, and viruses
As deep cleaning directly targets these harder to reach areas, it neutralizes and kills any living organism in just a few seconds.
It is a thorough cleaning process designed specifically for preventing such bacterial growth.
Key Role of Housekeeping Functions
Regular cleaning supplies maintenance is a must, as tools and equipment require daily cleaning and drying between uses.
Mopheads should be laundered every day to prevent colonies from forming in the fibers.
A thorough trash management system needs to be in place, to properly throw away waste in trash-collection areas.
For example, soiled tissues in contact with a surface will spread illnesses, therefore the trash used for collecting them must be often disposed of.
Laundry services and linen change performed regularly prevent skin irritation and help with bacterial spread management.
Bed linens frequently washed, dried, and changed lead to healthy and satisfied clients.
Electrostatic Disinfection
Electrostatic spraying or disinfection is a process that can benefit nursing, assisted living, and retirement homes by spraying an electrostatically charged mist onto surfaces and objects, designed to kill germs, bacteria, and viruses.
It is a safe, time-saving, effective and touch less application, which means zero cross-contamination.
Utilizing this technology in conjunction with a disinfectant on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Registered Antimicrobial Products for Use Against Novel Coronavirus SARS-coV-2, the cause of COVID-19, typically referred to as List N, will provide an additional level of comprehensive cleaning and peace of mind.
Our Environment Affects Our Health
Dust, allergens, and viruses naturally occur in closed spaces.
They enter the human body, either through fluids, touch, or through the airways, and cause allergies and health issues.
Our environment directly affects not only our physical wellbeing but also has an impact on our emotions.
A clean, decluttered space brings comfort and safety, while a lack of hygiene and cleanliness can cause associated physical conditions and uneasiness.
Why Should Seniors Have Cleaning Services?
As the human body ages, it becomes more vulnerable to airborne microbes, infections, and viruses.
The simple flu can cause a lot of damage, and the spreadability risk is high.
One sick person will spread the disease to all the inhabitants, the facility becoming a multiplying ground for sickness.
This will not only endanger the lives of the clients and staff but will also lead to a temporary or permanent close down.
Servi-Tek Facility Solutions is the most-qualified Janitorial services provider with specific experience in senior services and facilities.
We utilize superior equipment and products, combined with well-trained staff to comprehensively care for the elderly and their families, your facility, and your staff.
Schedule a call with us today to find out how we can share our expertise and partner you.
