Consistency, empathy, quality time with loved ones and specialist skills are essential parts of caring for people living with dementia. But the best care can only happen in a safe, supportive environment, where – among other safety measures – the right steps have been taken to stop the spread of harmful germs and allergens. This is particularly important in homes whose residents are likely to have weaker immune systems, and where isolation just isn’t an option.
Three layers of powerful infection control for your care home
All of JLA’s infection control systems have been designed to protect and enable social connections, and slot quickly into your day-to-day. With our help, you’ll reduce the need for PPE and isolation, mitigate the risk of confusion, and ensure your all-important care routines are able to continue without disruption.
1. Proactively protect residents and staff with JLA’s air filtration unit
Thanks to a cleanroom-standard HEPA 14 filter, JLA’s compact floor-standing unit continuously cleans your home’s air, using high-efficiency particulate and molecular filtration to capture the smallest, most harmful contaminants, including germs brought in by visitors.
In turn, the unit stops the spread of bacteria and viruses, and protects residents’ social interaction without the need for PPE. This is vital for patients with agnosia or impaired emotional recognition, who could otherwise be confused by staff wearing face masks.
As well as improving the air quality in your home, our air filtration unit also enhances staff confidence, efficiency, and your home’s standards of care continuity. Not only are you likely to see a reduction in sickness, but you’ll be able to avoid hiring costly bank staff whose unfamiliar faces might cause further confusion to your residents.
Plus, the unit contains a molecular gaseous contaminated carbon filter, which removes odours without the need for asthma or allergy-causing aerosols and air fresheners, and makes your communal areas all the more welcoming.
As the air filtration unit improves air quality and reduces odours, you’ll be able to keep your windows closed, too. Add this to the fact that JLA’s unit uses up to 50% less energy than comparable products from competitors, and you’ll save even more energy and money.
2. Reactively disinfect with JLA’s portable room sanitiser
JLA’s OTEX ozone-powered room sanitiser will quickly and safely destroy 99.9% of bacteria and viruses in a space. And with cycle times of less than an hour, it also minimises disruption to residents and their daily routine.
Even better, the sanitiser does all of this without using harsh chemicals, which means the only thing left over is the fresh-air scent of ozone, with no sticky or dangerous residues near vulnerable residents.
As the machine is compact and highly portable, it’s also easy moved from room-to-room – and discreet enough to be hidden away from residents and visitors.
3. Maintain compliance while saving energy and money with OTEX ozone laundry disinfection
People living with dementia often have challenges with double incontinence, so your laundry room is likely to be busy at all hours – and will need a guaranteed disinfection solution.
JLA’s OTEX laundry system validates disinfection in accordance with HTM 01-04, and uses the natural power of ozone to kill 99.9% of bacteria and viruses, including coronavirus, even on a cool wash.
By working at cooler temperatures, OTEX reduces utility costs and your carbon footprint – using less hot water and electricity compared to traditional thermal laundry systems, which usually need to heat water to 73°C to achieve disinfection.
Washing with cool temperatures eliminates the need for separate delicates cycles, extending the life of all your clothes. Plus, lower heat prevents damage from frequent hot washes, further enhancing garment longevity.
Washing with cool temperatures eliminates the need for separate delicates cycles, extending the life of all your clothes. Plus, lower heat prevents damage from frequent hot washes, further enhancing garment longevity.
OTEX is also noticeably more efficient than comparable thermal systems, powering through red-bag foul cycles up to seven minutes faster, on average. For example, an average OTEX cycle takes 62 minutes vs. thermal disinfection at 69 minutes, which over a single day alone will improve the throughput of your laundry room.
For more on the ways JLA can support best practice infection control in your care home, contact our experts today.