Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has become synonymous with the safety and protection of both residents and care workers in healthcare environments and care homes.
Elderly residents, often with underlying health conditions, are particularly vulnerable to infections, so preventing the spread of germs and viruses, including the covid 19 virus, must be a daily priority in nursing homes and care homes.
The place of PPE in Care Homes
The term PPE covers a wide range of protective and disposable gear, but in the care home setting the most common PPE includes disposable masks, gloves, aprons, gowns, and face shields.
These items, if used correctly, perform a critical role in preventing the spread of infections including respiratory illnesses and viruses like covid-19.
Caring for a Patient with Covid-19
There are currently UK Government guidelines for caring for someone with Covid-19 (or suspected) in a care home setting. These recommend that if you’re providing personal care or performing general cleaning duties in the same room as the patient, you should wear the following PPE:
- mask (single-use fluid-repellent surgical mask type IIR)
- eye protection
- apron (disposable plastic)
- gloves (disposable)
For other tasks when within 2m of the care recipient, you should wear a mask (single-use fluid repellent surgical mask type IIR) and eye protection. If a risk assessment identifies you’re likely to come into contact with blood and/or body fluids, you should wear disposable gloves and an apron.
Using PPE Safely
- you should remove and discard all items of PPE when leaving someone’s home (domiciliary care)
- when providing direct personal care, moving from one individual to the next in the same setting, you must change your apron and gloves
- gloves and aprons also need to be changed between different tasks on the same person - for example, helping a person to use the toilet and helping the same person to have a drink
- clean your hands before putting on and after removing your PPE
- you should not touch your face mask or eye protection unless it is to put it on or remove it
- masks and eye protection used while providing care for people with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 should be removed on leaving the room or cohort area
- make sure that your face mask always covers your mouth, nose and chin
- do not dangle your face mask from your ear, and do not keep your eye protection around your neck or on top of your head
Re-Using PPE Safely
- gloves, surgical face masks and aprons should always be single use and must be disposed of and replaced after use
- do not re-use PPE items unless they are clearly marked as re-usable
- re-usable items such as eye protection must be cleaned according to manufacturer’s instructions or according to local infection prevention and control protocol
PPE in care homes is most effective when used alongside a commitment of safeguarding the most vulnerable members of our community. By fostering a culture of safety, and proper use of PPE, care homes in the UK can navigate the challenges of healthcare with confidence and compassion.