There is never a crime in focusing first and foremost on person-centered resident care when developing group living programs. It would be a mistake, however, not to tie the home’s sanitation program to the success of person-centered care.
Such a program or plan must take everyday and divide it into four, (4) or six, (6) hour intervals and assign specific tasks aimed at keeping the home pathogen free. This Plan will include cleaning bedrooms and bedding after a resident is up for the day, baseboard cleaning, specific bathroom cleaning protocol and cleaning of vehicles.
It will detail chemicals to be used and not used. It will provide a certain amount of time after a resident is up for the day in which an employee has to sanitize the bedroom. It will specify penalties for ignoring required and assigned tasks and provide a basis for measuring the quality associated with how things are done.
There will be a schedule of when you will call in a company to vacuum the ducts of the heating and cooling system and how often ceiling fans are to be cleaned. Specific wipes will be designated for cleaning counters and a schedule for when that should be done.
Think of a quality hotel and how well their sanitation program has to click. The pool has to be tested for chemicals, treated and cleaned, the lawn manicured, the lobby (especially if breakfast is served) cleaned and disinfected, hallway carpeting cleaned, wall sconces dusted and kitchens sanitized daily and exterminated regularly to control pests. A group home deserves the same level of attention.
Even if the home is only a 6-bed facility, the sanitation program cannot be ignored and might be complemented by the work of an outside professional. However, most of the work should be handled by the home’s staff.
Care along the continuum is important, but next to meaningless without an effective, consistent Sanitation Plan for the home. Do you agree?
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Need a Guide for Group Home Managers in the Development of a Sanitation Plan and other group home management critiques? Here it is…
Another Blog Post from the minds of Direct Care Training & Resource Center, Inc. and its Chief Executive, Bruce W. McCollum. Join us for a monthly podcast, next edition on ITunes called, “All that Care Can Be” – August 15, 2017.
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