Infection prevention and control


will help your accreditation consultant identify protocols that can remain the same as well as areas of your plan that require change.


l Assign roles to key staff members. Accreditation is a team effort. Identify a few trusted members within your organisation who will help gather and provide essential information to apply for accreditation and take on the role of communicating between staff and your assigned accreditation consultant.


l Communicate with residents. Before Covid-19, most facilities cleaned during quieter hours to avoid disturbances. Today, cleaning needs to be more visible and occur more frequently, especially in facilities that are experiencing cases of Covid-19. Care homes should notify residents and families of when to expect any new practices to take place and any other changes that may arise as part of the accreditation process.


l Work with a trusted partner. With several different options for accreditations and certifications on the market, it is important to do your homework and select a trusted partner that will help your organisation meet new standards and address any questions along the way.


Once your facility has applied for accreditation and your team is ready to take the next steps, work with your consultant and infection prevention experts to create an accreditation plan, outlining responsibilities, milestones, expectations, training, and more. Establish a project schedule to


ensure your team stays on track and completes the accreditation in a timely


manner. While you do not want to rush the process, you want to earn accreditation as soon as possible to start taking advantage of this new designation.


A cleaner home and workplace According to Age UK, a leading charity for older adults, there are close to 12m people aged 65 and above living in the UK as of May 2019. The Covid-19 pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on the health and wellbeing of the elderly. Those living in care homes have been especially vulnerable to outbreaks of the virus and new variants have put additional stress on facilities that have been battling Covid-19 for more than year. High rates of infection and death


among residents are not limited to care homes in the UK. Nursing homes in many areas of the world have struggled to contain the spread of Covid-19. The Wall Street Journal reported in December that in some countries, over a third of total recorded deaths have occurred in care home environments. However, in some countries, like South


Korea, long-term care facilities have had success at drastically limiting the frequency and size of Covid-19 outbreaks. This proves that it is possible with the proper precautions and processes in place. It is impossible to predict whether


a new infectious disease outbreak is around the corner. Covid-19 caught the world by surprise and many facilities have been playing catchup ever since March 2020 as they try to source PPE, keep the virus from spreading, and stay up to date with the latest information. However, with the right approach, care homes can be better prepared if and when a virus emerges or re-emerges.


Formal facility accreditation offers


care homes a clear roadmap for cleaning, disinfection, and infection prevention. Each of these three components is important for preventing, responding to, and recovering from outbreaks. Accreditation is well-suited for care homes of all sizes and provides a comprehensive plan for keeping residents and employees safe. Best of all, it is not a one-size-fits- all approach. Accreditation considers local and regional requirements and helps organisations create practices, procedures, and systems that will work for their specific needs. With life expectancies on the rise,


care homes are likely to continue to be a vital resource for many people in their older age. Care homes that work towards accreditation can set themselves up for success by creating cleaner and safer environments for residents, staff, and visitors.


TCHE


Patty Olinger


Patty Olinger is the executive director for the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a division of ISSA – the global trade association for the cleaning industry based in Illinois, USA. GBAC’s services include biorisk management programme assessment and training, Forensic Restoration® response and remediation, the GBAC STAR™ facility and service accreditation programmes, training and certification of individuals and consulting for building owners and facility managers. Prior to joining GBAC, Olinger was an assistant vice-president in the Office of Research Administration and executive director of the Environmental, Health and Safety Office (EHSO) at Emory University.


August 2021 • www.thecarehomeenvironment.com 45


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