There are many important tasks that need to be handled in a nursing home to ensure that residents are safe, healthy, and comfortable. Even the seemingly small, day-to-day tasks require good systems to keep up with the seemingly never-ending chores that need to be completed.
One example is having a good laundry service in place to take care of the bedding, towels, and resident’s clothing. A proper laundry management system keeps everything organized and also has a big impact on resident’s health, comfort, and dignity. Pillow cases should be changed and washed regularly. Most health experts suggest pillowcases to be washed once weakly at a minimum. Tenants that experience high levels of sweat at night time, or who may have predispositions to oily skin, should consider having pillow cases washed twice per week, or as needed.
Laundry is Important for Hygiene and Infection Control
Nursing homes need to be proactive about minimizing the risk of infection, especially because there are so many people living in the facility. Laundry is one important step to prevent the spread of viruses and bacteria.
Not only do clothes and linens need to be laundered regularly, but it’s critical to ensure that all of the fabrics are being sanitized properly with high-temperature washing and the best quality detergents. Choosing the right laundry detergent is important to keep everything sanitary, but you also need to select products that will be gentle on the resident’s skin.
Additionally, the laundry equipment needs to be cleaned and disinfected regularly. The nursing home or assisted living facility must have a schedule in place to keep up with these sanitation practices.
Laundry Services for Residents
Each resident needs individualized laundry care to ensure there aren’t any mix-ups with the clothing. At the same time, staff members need to be aware if residents have any special needs for laundry services, such as specific fabric care instructions or allergies that need to be accommodated.
In a nursing home, there is usually a specific system in place to keep track of each resident’s laundry. For example, each resident has a personal laundry basket in their room. This basket should be labeled with the person’s name and room number. When the clothing is washed, it’s essential to complete each load individually so the items aren’t combined with another resident’s load.
Family members can be involved by providing the right detergents and/or personalized laundry care instructions.
Organization and Efficiency Matters for Laundry Services
Various systems need to be in place to manage, sort, and wash the facility’s laundry. The bedding, towel, and linen laundry can be handled on-site, with a schedule for when the bedding and towels need to be changed. If you are washing everything on-site, then make sure to invest in the best technologies and machines that will optimize the process.
Or, another option is to have a laundry service with scheduled pickups and deliveries. Often, this off-site service is one of the most efficient and simple solutions for nursing home staff.
