1. Easing lockdowns usher in a perfect time to revisit some fundamentals.
“The most important consideration is ensuring you are following the latest cleaning and infection control practices,” says Lee Penner, owner of Penner Manufacturing.
Experts stress following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 guidelines and using only EPA-registered disinfectants recommended for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
Completely disinfecting common areas aside, Pat Vanderheiden, vice president of Vancare, recommends a secondary disinfection process using an electrostatic sprayer system.
It’s also a good time to check for areas rife with potential for falls and slips. Because of the risks of wet areas commonly found in bathing suites,Vanderheiden strongly advises against using manual transfers there.
“There are non-powered transfer aids to complete total lifts like ceiling lifts and powered mobile lifts that should be used in the bathing area,” he adds.
Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP, clinical consultant-LTC/Senior Living for Briggs Healthcare, says to be mindful where lift equipment is planned to further limit falls and slips. Textured flooring and good lighting also are essential, she notes.
2. Pay attention to the plumbing in baths and bath systems that may have been dormant during lockdowns.
“Spa bathing and the bathing area was replaced with in-room services or used as a storage area for the much-needed PPE that was coming in,” explains Todd Binsfeld, chief growth officer for Apollo Corporation.
If your system has a fast fill reservoir, it should be maintained and cleaned according to manufacturer standards, Binsfeld adds.
Disinfect any water left in the holding tank. Run one or two bathing cycles and cleaning cycles without a resident. Check for minor plumbing leaks. Replace dried out seals in long unused or underused systems. Inspect door gaskets and test for leaks. Doors left tightly sealed for extended periods tend to result in leaky gaskets, Binsfeld added.
3. If renovation budgets are generous enough to allow it, consider “nice to have,” high-tech improvements.
Vanderheiden recommends a ceiling lift with a sophisticated XY-gantry system that allows full coverage of the bathing area and room. For the more budget conscious, non-powered transfer aids typically carry minimal investment.
Penner says his company recently switched its bathing systems to a high-tech antimicrobial technology to deliver a second line of defense by reducing a broad spectrum of microbes by up to 99.9%.
“Bathing and personal hygiene are an underutilized marketing tool that fosters a return on facility investments and rapidly grows census,” says Binsfeld, who suggests whirlpool spas that incorporate germicidal water purification, luxury-level equipment such as smart spas with touch screens and feature-rich safety systems including rapid fill and drain.
“Be aggressive with your planning and go for it,” says Madison. “When touring a facility, prospective residents and families will appreciate a well-designed bath area if there is not a bath area within the resident room.”
The ultimate luxury would incorporate baths inside every resident room “and would mesh nicely with infection prevention.”
4. Prepare for COVID variants to continue evolving. Future outbreaks could build a case for more bathtubs.
“Since the skin is the largest organ on the body, there is no real substitute for a full-immersion bath to maintain skin integrity,” notes Jon Winer, CEO of Inovi Healthcare.
By now, providers have become accustomed to changing things on the fly. But the threat of new COVID strains and and the return of isolation requirements should instill a more proactive approach to equipment and procedures.
“With cases rising and LTC staff not moving much in terms of getting vaccinated, I believe we’ll be back into restrictions and lockdowns this fall,” Madison says. Fundamentally, she believes more bathing areas will be needed throughout buildings to service fewer residents.
“When quarantine or isolation is called for, residents will need to bathe within their own rooms or nearby, with fewer residents per bath area. Wings will be separated from other areas of buildings, not unlike the old Wild West tradition of circling wagons,” she says.
“Transporting residents to the other end of their unit as well as having 20-some folks using the same bathroom isn’t feasible when trying to keep folks safe as the need arises. It’s time to get rid of the old standard (of) Hoyer-type lifts and invest in modern equipment to facilitate transfer in and out of tubs.”
From the September 2021 Issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News
