For residential care homes to be prepared for any unwanted emergency it is important for the staff to be trained in multiple areas of safety i.e. fire, water, earthquake, infection control etc.
Infection prevention and control is an important area of safety whose relevance was evident during COVID-19.
Infection prevention and control is not a one off activity which should be conducted once a year, it needs to be monitored on a daily basis with equal focus on prevention as well as control.
Senior Citizen Care Homes in India may have handled the recent pandemic in a professional manner however that does not mean that there is no need for policies and guidelines.
Resource document “National Guidelines for Infection Prevention and Control in Healthcare Facilities”, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, January 2020, covers the important areas for healthcare facilities however there is still a need for specific training and information for the benefit of care homes.
Attached document “Infection Prevention and Control for Long-Term Care Homes
Summary of Key Principles and Best Practices”, Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion (Public Health Ontario) 2020, is meant to be a quick reference for those delegated with infection prevention and control (IPAC) responsibilities.
Routine Practices is the term used to describe the standards one must use in the care of all residents all of the time regardless of their clinical or infectious status. Adherence to Routine Practices protects not only the health care provider but also staff and residents who may subsequently be in contact with the health care provider.
The importance of strict adherence to Routine Practices is higher in LTCH than in many other health care settings due to the infection risks associated with congregate living, rapid staff turnover, substantial involvement of caregivers beyond regulated health professionals, immunocompromised status amongst many residents, and frequent use of invasive devices.
It is important and critical that India should develop country specific standards, policies and guidelines for elderly care homes.
The document can be accessed here https://www.publichealthontario.ca/ or downloaded here (Infection Prevention and Control in Elderly Care Homes) or can be viewed below