Cleaning in Nursing Homes: The Essentials | Faith Environmental Crime Scene Cleanup

"Cleaning in Nursing Homes: The Essentials" with wheelchair and bed

When it comes to nursing home cleanliness, there’s a lot to consider. Properly caring for our elderly is a big enough job itself, and when you add cleaning, sanitation standards, rules and regulations, available staff, and costs, it can quickly be overwhelming. So, let’s talk today about the essentials: what really needs to be done, what things are commonly overlooked, why a rigorous cleaning schedule is vital, and how Faith Environmental Crime Scene Cleanup can help you conquer that mountain of work.

Essential Cleaning Protocols and Standards

We all have our own cleaning routine at our home – and it’s probably unique to you and your family’s needs. But did you know that nursing homes are held to strict health and safety standards, and they outline what should be cleaned, and how often it’s cleaned?

Because of these standards, it’s important to know exactly what needs to be done, and when. Regulations vary by state and the State of Ohio has outlined those regulations. Some nursing homes may even have their own accrediting agency with quality standards beyond state regulations. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have published their best practices for cleaning healthcare facilities like nursing homes, which provides a very in-depth guide for considerations and techniques.

But if you’re looking at a nursing home, a resident of one, or someone who owns or runs one, what should the home’s cleaning checklist look like? They should cover the following areas:

Daily Cleaning

Resident Rooms: Dust surfaces, disinfect high-touch areas (e.g., doorknobs, light switches, etc.), clean bathrooms, and empty trash.
Common Areas: Vacuum carpets, mop floors, wipe down furniture, disinfect handrails, and clean windows.
Dining Areas: Clean tables and chairs, mop floors, sanitize food preparation surfaces, and maintain kitchen hygiene.
Restrooms: Clean and disinfect toilets, sinks, mirrors, and restock supplies.
Hallways and Corridors: Sweep and mop floors, dust and disinfect surfaces.

Weekly Cleaning

Deep Cleaning of Resident Rooms: Shampoo carpets, wash windows, and deep-clean bathrooms.
Thorough Cleaning of Common Areas: Wash walls, polish floors, and clean furniture.
Special Areas: Clean laundry rooms, staff areas, and storage rooms.

Monthly Cleaning

Maintenance Tasks: Check and clean air vents, replace filters, and inspect plumbing for leaks.
Pest Control: Schedule pest control services and inspect for any signs of potential infestations. Faith Environmental offers pest control services!

As Needed

Spill Response: Promptly clean up any spills to prevent accidents and stains.
Emergency Cleaning: Address unexpected cleaning needs, such as after an illness outbreak or special events.

Other Considerations

There’s more to it than just what needs to be done, and Faith Environmental Crime Scene Cleanup is aware and ready to take care of these tasks, even if they’re unusual or difficult.

Differences between cleaning, sanitation, and disinfection: Did you know that there’s a difference? We recently discussed those differences and how we can help.
Specialized Cleaning Procedures: Sometimes deep cleaning techniques are needed for areas like kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms. These often require specific products and equipment to ensure thorough sanitation.
Infection Control Areas: Infection control areas include isolation rooms and treatment areas, which require strict protocols to prevent the spread of infections. These protocols include regular disinfection, use of barriers, and sometimes other protective measures.
Handling Biohazardous Waste: This type of waste requires proper disposal methods according to regulatory guidelines for materials contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious substances.
Avoiding Cross-Contamination: To prevent the transfer of germs between spaces, specific measures are taken, including making sure staff is fully trained on procedures, having color-coded cleaning tools, maintaining separate supplies, frequently refreshing PPE, and focusing on often-overlooked, commonly used items and spaces.
Use of Proper Cleaning Supplies: There is often a need to use EPA-approved disinfectants and appropriate cleaning agents for various surfaces and materials. Making sure the right cleaning agents are used in the right spaces also helps residents and staff feel more comfortable, as cleaning agents can often leave behind strong or harsh smells.
Personal Protective Equipment for Cleaning Staff: It’s important that staff members wear the right gloves, masks, gowns, and eye protection while cleaning to protect them from exposure to harmful substances and pathogens.
Documentation: Logs of cleaning activities and inspections should be kept and updated regularly.

Making sure that all areas within nursing homes are deeply clean is crucial for the wellbeing of residents, staff, and visitors – and offers many benefits.

Quality of Life: A clean environment contributes to the overall comfort, health, and mental well-being of both residents and staff.
Health and Safety: Clean environments reduce the risk of infections and the spread of diseases. This is particularly important in nursing homes where residents often have weakened or compromised immune systems and are more vulnerable to infections.
Regulatory Compliance: Nursing homes are subject to strict health and safety regulations. Adhering to cleanliness standards helps facilities follow these regulations, avoid fines, and keep in good standing with health authorities.
Enhanced Reputation: A clean and well-maintained facility is more attractive to prospective residents and their families. A clean facility can lead to increased trust, a higher occupancy rate, better competitiveness within the market, and even reduced maintenance costs.
Reduced Costs: For residents, a clean environment can reduce medical costs by preventing infections and illnesses which are associated with treating infections. For business owners, a clean environment reduces costs associated with overdue maintenance, management of infection outbreaks, and lawsuits or legal issues related to inadequate care.
Staff Morale: Employees are more likely to take pride in their workplace, perform their duties more effectively, and find greater job satisfaction in a well-maintained and clean work environment.

We recently discussed other benefits of keeping a residential cleaning program specifically for business owners, so if you’re involved in the business side of nursing homes, check it out for more information.

Let Us Ease the Burden of Thorough Cleaning

At Faith Environmental Crime Scene Cleanup, our team of professionals has extensive experience in handling a wide range of cleaning tasks. We will make sure that your nursing home has a proper cleaning schedule and that nothing is overlooked.

With our team and advanced cleaning techniques, we offer comprehensive solutions to efficiently clean your nursing home. If you manage or own a nursing home, check out our blog about how personalized cleaning services can benefit you.

We take pride in our commitment to safety and professionalism. We adhere to strict protocols and safety guidelines to ensure that all potential biohazards are eliminated, creating a safe and healthy environment for everyone on your premises.

With Faith Environmental Crime Scene Cleanup, you can trust that your nursing home will be cleaned to the highest standards.

Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you keep a clean and healthy nursing home.