The Home and all furnishings and equipment must be kept clean and sanitary and maintained in safe working condition and in a good state of repair. Residents’ linen and clothing must be collected, sorted, cleaned and delivered
Housekeeping
Regular housekeeping duties are carried out in accordance with applicable legislation and to the satisfaction of the Administration. The purpose is to ensure that the Resident’s environment is clean, sanitized, fresh smelling, tidy and safe at all times.
Housekeeping is a required service involving comprehensive infection control practices to reduce risk of cross-contamination and transmission of viruses or bacteria. Our cleaning products and practices are environmentally conscientious. Housekeeping services are provided seven days a week and each unit has a dedicated housekeeper. All staff receive specific infection prevention and control training through Ontario Public Health. Housekeeping is responsible for:
- Cleaning the Home, including Resident bedrooms (including floors, carpets, furnishings, privacy curtains, contact surfaces and wall surfaces) and common areas and staff areas (including floors, carpets, furnishings, contact surfaces and wall surfaces)
- Cleaning and disinfecting in accordance with manufacturer’s specifications (at a minimum, a low level disinfectant), Resident care equipment (such as whirlpools, tubs, shower chairs and lift chairs), supplies and devices (such as personal assistance services devices and assistive aids and positioning aids), and contact surfaces
- Removal and safe disposal of dry and wet garbage
- Addressing incidents of offensive lingering odours
- Ensuring a sufficient supply of housekeeping equipment and cleaning supplies are readily available to all staff
When thinking of the benefits out housekeeping it’s easy to focus on our Residents, however the employees of our Home benefit just as much. A well-kept Home is not only safer, but feels more professional. A clean Home is also more organized which increases efficiency and a clean workspace is also able be used more effectively.
Laundry
The Home must ensure that there are laundry services that meet the linen and clothing needs of the Residents. Procedures are developed and implemented to ensure that:
- Residents’ linens are changed at least once a week and more often as needed
- Residents’ personal items and clothing are labelled in a dignified manner within 48 hours of admission or acquisition of new clothing
- Residents’ soiled clothes are collected, sorted, cleaned and delivered to the Resident
- There is a process to report and locate Residents’ lost clothing and personal items
- There is a sufficient supply of clean linen, face cloths and bath towels at all times in the Home for use by Residents
- Industrial washers and dryers are used to wash and dry all laundry
Maintenance
Maintenance services are available in the Home seven days per week to ensure that the interior and exterior of the building and its operational systems are maintained in good repair. Schedules and procedures are in place for routine, preventive and remedial maintenance. Procedures are developed and implemented to ensure that all of the following are met:
- Electrical and non-electrical equipment, including mechanical lifts, are kept in good repair, and maintained and cleaned at a level that at least meets manufacturer specifications
- Equipment, devices, assistive aids and positioning aids are kept in good repair, excluding the Residents’ personal aids or equipment
- Heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems are cleaned and in good state of repair and inspected at least every six months by a certified individual
- All plumbing fixtures, toilets, sinks, grab bars and washroom fixtures and accessories are maintained and kept free of corrosion and cracks
- Gas or electric fireplaces and heat generating equipment (other than the heating system mentioned above) are inspected by a qualified person at least annually
- Hot water boilers and hot water holding tanks are serviced at least annually
- The temperature of the water serving all bathtubs, showers and hand basins used by Residents does not exceed 49 degrees Celsius, and is controlled by a device, inaccessible to Residents, that regulates the temperature
- Immediate action is taken to reduce the water temperature in the event that it exceeds 49 degrees Celsius
- The temperature of the hot water serving all bathtubs and showers used by Residents is maintained at a temperature of at least 40 degrees Celsius;
- The water temperature is monitored once per shift in random locations where Residents have access to hot water
- Documentation of the inspections and servicing referred to above are stored
- The Home’s mechanical ventilation systems must be functioning at all times, except when the Home is operating on power from an emergency generator