The elderly population of Australia is growing and it is important to provide better living conditions to them. This is why all senior care facilities should maintain high standards of cleanliness. It will eventually help the seniors with safeguarding their health and well-being. With that in mind, let’s learn more about the link between cleanliness and senior health.
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Understanding the risks of poor hygiene in senior care
Senior residents in aged care facilities often live in close quarters. They share common areas and engage in numerous group activities. This can create an environment for the fast spread of illnesses and infections. This is why it is essential to maintain proper hygiene practices for infection control at all times.
Healthcare Associated Infections or HAIs are a significant concern in all these facilities. Immunocompromised individuals such as seniors are at the highest risk of getting infections. The aftermath of the spread of communicable diseases in an aged care facility can be devastating.
Imagine what would happen if an infectious disease outbreak happened in your aged care facility. It can compromise the well-being of the entire elderly population. Some common examples of outbreaks that can quickly spread within your facility include:
- Influenza
- Gastroenteritis
- Respiratory illnesses and many more
That’s why you need to strictly adhere to the sanitation standards at all times. It will help the seniors to ensure their quality of life as well.
The best infection control strategies for a senior care facility
Now you have a basic idea about the link between cleanliness and senior health. With that in mind, let’s learn more about how to ensure proper infection control in your facility. These efforts should include both personal care and environmental cleanliness.
Personal care hygiene
Personal care hygiene is quite important for ageing individuals. But you should pay special attention to the seniors who require assistance with their daily activities. The nursing homes should have proper staff to maintain hand hygiene practices. They should also use appropriate personal protective equipment. Moreover, they need to take appropriate measures when handling bodily fluids and waste.
To minimise the spread of infections, make sure to practice proper grooming routines. This will minimise the risk of skin infections, respiratory issues, and other health complications.
Environmental cleanliness
For proper infection prevention, it is also important to maintain environmental cleanliness. This is why the staff should clean and disinfect all high-touch surfaces and shared spaces. They must also attend to cleaning the resident rooms used by ageing Australians.
The cleaning protocols they follow should be customised according to the facility. Then it can provide maximum protection to the vulnerable populations. Moreover, it is essential to ensure proper waste management and laundry procedures at all times as well. It will further minimise the spread of pathogens.
Infection prevention and control programs
To ensure maximum protection to public health, you need to have proper infection prevention and control programs. This is where regular staff training is required. During the staff training sessions, make sure that you pay extra attention to the following:
- Hand hygiene
- Infection control protocols
- Proper cleaning protocols to ensure geriatric health
- How to use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Microbial contamination
It is also important to promote collaboration between facility staff and healthcare professionals. Then you can make sure that your staff is adhering to the best practices at all times.
Fostering a Culture of Cleanliness
Aged care facilities should ensure open communication with residents and their families. It will encourage them to report any concerns or observations related to cleanliness. This collaborative approach fosters a culture of transparency and accountability. It would ultimately contribute to improved health outcomes for vulnerable populations.
Beyond Physical Cleanliness
You should not just ensure physical cleanliness at your facility. Instead, you will also need to consider the psychological and emotional well-being of residents. A well-maintained environment can foster a sense of dignity and respect for ageing individuals. This can enhance their overall quality of life. However, unsanitary conditions can lead to feelings of neglect and anxiety, which is never good.
Final Words
Any aged care facility out there in Australia should focus more on ensuring strict cleanliness standards. It will help them to protect the seniors who are at risk of getting infections fast. This is where you need to implement strong infection prevention strategies.
If you are finding it difficult to implement these strategies on your own, you can always count on expert support. This is where we at Holy Cross Cleaning can help you. Our team has expertise in offering comprehensive cleaning services to senior care facilities. By understanding the unique needs of your facility, we are more than happy to offer comprehensive aged care cleaning services to you. We will also provide training for your staff so that they can ensure infection control in the long run. Contact us today to get started.