CLEANING & HYGIENE
Finding the Perfect Balance
Michael Kupneski, R&D Section Head for Procter & Gamble Professional, discusses the importance of creating a harmonious care environment that is both clean and comforting.
Moving to a care home facility is never an easy decision for individuals or their families. So, it’s no surprise that people are looking for facilities with both the comforts of home and exemplary cleaning standards.
There is a fine line between a clean environment and a sterile environment, which provides a unique challenge for care homes. How do you ensure health and safety regulations are followed, whilst working to deliver a home-away-from- home environment?
Failing to maintain a clean and sterile environment can have implications for residents, their families and care home staff. If residents acquire an infection due to poor hygiene, there is the potential for hospitalisation, impacting their loved ones with worry and stress due to their family member’s conditions. This could make them question and complain about the care home’s practices. Resident illness increases care needed, adding to staff workload and stresses.
Striking the balance to maintain exemplary hygiene standards and a homely feel is key to having happy, healthy residents. The following tips and best practices will help create an environment that meets or exceeds expectations of residents and their families;
• Educate and Train Staff – Provide routine formal training to educate staff on the difference between cleaning and disinfecting. Cleaning is the process of removing soil from a surface which can breed germs, while the disinfection process kills the germs. Staff should be educated on the best products to maintain a sterile environment and the dangers for residents of not following hygiene protocols.
• Multipurpose Products – While using different products to clean each area and surface is oſten recommended, it can make the process complicated and time consuming. Simplify the job and save money by using multipurpose products, like Flash Professional Multisurface and Glass Spray Cleaner, which has been designed to clean a broad range of areas and disinfect in one step.
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• Homely Touches – Bright wall colours, eye-catching pictures, ornaments and even music are great ways to bring the feeling of home to an establishment, without compromising on health/hygiene. Keeping odours out of the air is another important element of creating a homelike environment. Products like Febreze not only eliminate odours instead of masking them, but leave a fresh scent behind.
• High-Touch Areas – Germs are pervasive in care homes and easily spread through surfaces and contact between individuals. Cleaning and disinfection of resident rooms, bathrooms, dining rooms and common areas must be done daily. Added attention should be given to high-touch surfaces including taps, food trays, countertops, chairs, tables, switches, handles and buttons, as they are common sources of germ cross-contamination. Create a cleaning timetable – for staff to fill in throughout the day as they complete tasks – to help ensure high touch areas are consistently
cleaned and disinfected throughout the day to remove germs. • Handwashing – Handwashing is one of the
most important steps that staff can take to help fight the spread of germs, bacteria and disease. Create and enforce proper handwashing protocol to reduce germs and keep staff accountable. Post handwashing reminders next to the sinks for staff, residents, and visitors to follow, and ensure there are adequate amounts of soap, hand sanitiser and paper towels at all wash points.
Consistent dedication to cleaning and disinfection practices is paramount to resident safety and general wellbeing. Choosing products that clean and disinfect while creating a fresh, inviting atmosphere can make the difference in delivering a positive impression and that ‘home away from home’ environment that so many are searching for.
www.pgpro.co.uk www.tomorrowscare.co.uk
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