The devastation of the COVID-19 virus has been particularly brutal for those living and working in nursing homes. By the middle of April, 2020, 7,000 had died who had ties to this environment across the U.S., by one count. And half of Canada’s total COVID-19 deaths by that point, 1,193, also were tied to nursing homes.

The COVID-19 outbreak in the U.S. and Canada has not yet peaked and it’s possible that another wave will occur as soon as this fall. Nursing homes must be diligent in maintaining prevention and mitigation controls and training in place now to contain the virus – short- and long-term. That’s the only way to guard against the introduction of pathogens into your nursing home, prevent their spread within your facility, and between facilities.

Family and community members, for example, must be required to follow basic health and safety practices when visiting residents, like washing their hands or using alcohol-based hand sanitizers, practicing good cough etiquette, and wearing a mask. Discourage visitors from coming at all, but especially when ill, but instead, telephone or make video calls.

Staff must be trained on infection prevention and control commensurate with their responsibilities and potential exposure. Two free online training programs might be considered:

  • Infection Preventionist Training. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) offers 22 modules that can be taken in their entirety (to be certified as an Infection Preventionist) or individually. This training is specific to nursing homes.
  • Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Training. The World Health Organization (WHO) offers four programs, each with multiple modules, for COVID-19-related training needs in healthcare facilities. Topics include infection prevention and control and an introduction to emerging respiratory viruses.

In-service training should involve any staff with an occupational exposure to COVID-19 or in a position to transmit the virus within the facility. It will help your people recognize the hazards and understand how to minimize the risk of COVID-19 within the nursing home. Here’s an overview.

  • Recognize how COVID-19 spreads. In addition to the origins of the Coronavirus, explain how people in close contact can spread contagion through coughs and sneezes. Direct and indirect contact transmission should also be explained.
  • Strategies to minimize workplace exposure. The CDC lists recommended mitigation strategies, like stringent policies against people working when they are sick, sanitary work practices like frequent soap-and-water hand-washing and use of alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and routine and enhanced cleaning routines for high-touch surfaces.
  • Controls are key to protection. Employees at different levels should be trained in three categories of control – engineering, administrative and work practice. Engineering controls are physical protective measures like physical barriers in triage areas, or rooms set aside for isolation of suspected or confirmed cases. Administrative controls are critical procedures, like restrictions on how many personnel can be in a room with a resident. Work practice controls are those staff must follow to prevent both spreading and contracting the virus.
  • Personal protective equipment (PPE) is mandatory. Employees must wear and know how to use PPE when working with residents who might have the virus. Both the CDC and the CCOHS have specific recommendations for required protection.

The impact of COVID-19 on nursing homes has been devastating. Comprehensive planning and education to guard everyone’s health as we move forward will be critical as the industry works to come back from the pandemic.

HUB International’s team of long-term care specialists will work with your organization to deliver tailored insurance and risk management solutions.

Get the latest information, guidance and resources on Coronavirus (COVID-19) to help you protect what matters most on our Coronavirus Resource Centre.