Clorox’s tips for assisted living cleaning

OAKLAND, CA — In connection with National Assisted Living Week^®, Clorox Healthcare compiled tips for infection prevention and control within assisted living facilities, according to a press relase.

When residents, families, guests and staff all gather together for events, it’s important for facility managers to put proper infection control protocols in place since many residents are at a greater risk of infections due to factors such as weakened immune systems and preexisting medical conditions.

In addition to encouraging residents, staff and guests to practice good hand hygiene, the following are infection control tips assisted living facilities should keep in mind as they execute activities for National Assisted Living Week to help protect each resident’s quality of life:

• Clean & Disinfect Frequently Touched Hard Surfaces — Regular contact with people, objects and surfaces in a facility is a risk factor for acquiring and spreading pathogens. However, it’s also a part of resident daily life, so keeping surfaces clean and disinfected will help ensure that residents and their families have fun together and remain infection-free. Wipe down touched hard surfaces such as doorknobs, light switches, railings and tables frequently throughout the day.

• Don’t Neglect Soft Surfaces — Soft surfaces such as cushions, curtains and upholstered furniture can also harbor illnesses and odor-causing bacteria. These soft surfaces are found throughout common resident areas, but they often prove difficult to launder. Assisted living facilities can use an EPA-registered product, such as a disinfectant/ sanitizing spray, to kill bacteria on soft surfaces between laundering and on soft surfaces that cannot be laundered.

• Choose the Right Products– When concerned about C. difficile or norovirus, using bleach or EPA-registered bleach-based products are the best options; no alcohol or quaternary-ammonium compound products are registered to kill C. difficile spores. Ready-to-use, EPA-registered disinfecting wipes are an easy option for staff, as they do not need to be diluted before use. Ready-to-use products with no dilution or premixing required help to reduce the risk of staff error.