Recommendations for Care Homes

The Covid-19 pandemic is an extremely difficult time for everyone but the elderly population has been particularly affected. ‘This can be seen in the statistic that 79% of all deaths from Covid-19 were in the over 75 age group in Ireland’. Minister Mary Butler who has responsibility for older people issued a report on how to implement measures in nursing homes. This report was created with an expert panel in order to limit the spread of COVID-19 as the Country continues to ease restrictions.
Due to the nature of nursing homes and the close proximity of the healthcare staff to the residents it has proven to be a high transmission environment. This fact has informed the need for this report, to give clear guidelines on how to keep patients safe in nursing homes.
Some of the key recommendations include:
– Mandatory training of an infection prevention control lead member of staff.
– Increased HIQA Audits.
– Continue the enhanced public health measures for COVID-19 including PPE being supplied to staff, additional staff accommodation, contingency staffing teams and preparedness planning.
– The standardisation of COVID-19 response teams in each premises.
– Develop a mandatory integrated infection prevention and control system in each nursing home.
– Admissions should only be allowed to nursing homes that have proven their ability to control infection and follow protocols.
– New residents must also be isolated in line with HPSC protocols.
– All healthcare assistants must have a QQI Level 5 qualification or being working towards achieving it.
You can view the full report here: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/3af5a-covid-19-nursing-homes-expert-panel-final-report/. With these recommendations in mind the Food Safety Company now offer an in house half day cleaning and decontamination course as well as online infection control training. This ensures compliance for the health care sector with all infection control training requirements. https://www.thefoodsafetycompany.ie/training-courses-online-training/
For more information on this course or other courses available online and virtually please call: 021 4355917 or email info@thefoodsafetycompany.ie