VISITING ANGELS TOMS RIVER, NJ 732-240-1050
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Good Hand Hygiene Reduces Health Risks for Seniors

Good Hand Hygiene Reduces Health Risks for Seniors

Have you noticed that your aging mother or father gets colds more often? As we age, our immunity system slows, increasing the risk of colds and flu. Vaccines become less effective and the healing or recovery process takes longer. And while the Centers for Disease Control recommends adults get an annual flu shot, no vaccine exists for the common cold.  Finding ways to reduce cold risk becomes important for aging adults. Families and caregivers of seniors should understand the importance of hand hygiene as one of the most important preventative actions to guard against germs that contribute to colds and other diseases.

Colds Can be Serious for Seniors

Adult children should not overlook the effects of cold and influenza on their elderly parents.  According to the Centers for Disease Control, adults over the age of 65 years, especially those with chronic conditions such as diabetes, are at greater risk of serious complications from the flu as immune defenses become weaker with age. The flu can lead to infections such as pneumonia or complicate existing conditions, including asthma and heart disease.

Seniors can take steps to increase their immune system with regular exercise and healthy foods. However, germs play a major impact on who may get a cold. Viruses are a type of germ that can enter a body and cause a person to become sick. Infections can result when germs grow inside the body. Over 200 different viruses cause the common cold.

How Germs Spread on Hands

While only a small portion of germs cause disease, four out of five germs do cause illness and are commonly spread by our hands. In fact, 80% of infectious disease is caused by touch. Invisible to detect, even clean hands can contain microscopic dirt that gets into the mouth, nose, eyes and, eventually, into the body. Germs can spread on hands in different ways:

  • Handling food.
  • Emptying trash.
  • Using the toilet.
  • Tending a wound.
  • Caring for a sick person.
  • Handling pets or their waste.
  • Coughing or sneezing into hands.

Handwashing is an excellent prevention technique to decrease the spread of germs. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control reports that hand hygiene is one of the most important ways to prevent the spread of germs, including those resistant to antibiotics.

Hand Hygiene Facts

It only takes just 20 seconds to wash hands properly. Most of us accomplish that task unsuccessfully in 5 seconds, not enough time to rid hands of germs. Using clean, running water and regular soap is sufficient to remove germs. Soap is important to handwashing as it contains surfactants that help remove germs from the skin. Plain soap works faster than antibacterial soap in removing germs.

The Mayo Clinic offers these simple steps for hand washing:

  • Wet hands with clean, running water, then turn off the tap and apply soap.
  • Lather hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of hands, between fingers, and under nails.
  • Scrub hands for at least 15 - 20 seconds – the time approximately equal to humming the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
  • Rinse all side of the hands well under clean, running water. Rinsing removes dirt and microbes loosened when scrubbing. 
  • Turn off the tap with a tissue or towel.
  • Dry hands using a paper towel.

Wash hands often to fend off germs, especially when entering or leaving your aging loved one’s home. When covering the nose and mouth while sneezing, use an elbow or tissue so as not to contaminate hands. If using tissues, properly dispose of them in the trash, and wash hands immediately.

Use Sanitizer in a Pinch

If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that can eliminate 99% of germs. Use one with at least 60% alcohol. The Centers for Disease Control recommends these tips when cleaning hands with sanitizer:

  • Apply sanitizer to palms
  • Rub into palms and over hands and fingers for 20 – 30 sec.
  • Cover entire hand area
  • Rub hands until dry 

Hand sanitizer might be a good option for seniors challenged with mobility. While hand sanitizers do a good job, they may not remove certain germs such as a stomach bug called norovirus, some parasites and Clostridium difficile that causes diarrhea. Hand sanitizer should not serve as a permanent substitute for hand washing with soap and water - that is the best way to eliminate germs.

Visiting Angels Caregivers Are Trained in Good Hand Hygiene

Visiting Angels provides hand hygiene education to its caregivers to reduce the chance of spreading germs among clients. Our employees understand when and how to wash hands to eliminate germs when caring for your loved one. They also know the importance of cleaning surfaces throughout the home to protect everyone who enters or lives in the home against germs.

Touching unclean surfaces can re-contaminate even just-washed hands. Cleaning surfaces helps reduce the spread of germs onto the hands. If outlined as a task under the care plan, caregivers will disinfect surfaces and wipe down high traffic spots such as phones, doorknobs, bedrails, and remotes. We also direct caregivers to wear gloves only once as they, too, can carry germs.

Working together with our clients and their families, Visiting Angels caregivers use safeguards such as handwashing to prevent the spread of germs and infection so that your loved one maintains good health and a high standard of living for years to come.


Read: Exercise Benefits for Seniors Range from Chronic Disease Prevention to Boosting Immune System


Serving The Greater Toms River- Brick area and communities throughout Ocean County

Visiting Angels TOMS RIVER, NJ
74 Brick Blvd #109A
Brick, NJ 08723
Phone: 732-240-1050
Fax: 732-240-0702

Serving The Greater Toms River- Brick area and communities throughout Ocean County

Visiting Angels TOMS RIVER, NJ
74 Brick Blvd #109A
Brick, NJ 08723
Phone: 732-240-1050
Fax: 732-240-0702

01-28-2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                   

Visiting Angels of Toms River Receives 2022 Best of Home Care® – Provider and Employer of Choice Awards

Brick – Visiting Angels of Toms River announced today that it has received both the 2022 Best of Home Care® – Provider of Choice and Employer of Choice Awards from Home Care Pulse. These awards are granted only to the top-ranking home care providers, based on clien tand caregiver satisfaction scores gathered by Home Care Pulse. Visiting Angels of Toms River is now ranked among a small handful of home care providers across the country who have proven their ability to provide an exceptional working experience to employees and the highest quality care to clients.

“We want to congratulate Visiting Angels of Toms River on receiving both the Best of Home Care – Provider of Choice Award and the Best of Home Care – Employer of Choice Award, ”says Todd Austin, President of Home Care Pulse. “Since these awards are based on real, unfiltered feedback from clients and caregivers, Visiting Angels of Toms River has proven their dedication to providing a great work environment and solid training to employees, while maintaining their focus on client and caregiver satisfaction. We are pleased to recognize their dedication to quality, professionalism, and expertise in home care.”

Best of Home Care providers have contracted with Home Care Pulse to gather feedback from their clients and caregivers via live phone interviews each month. Because Home Care Pulse is an independent company, it can collect honest and unbiased feedback.

“By winning both awards, we are part of a select few home care agencies in the nation.  This shows our dedication to the industry and striving to make it better every day,” says Dave Frost, Executive Director Visiting Angels of Toms River.

“At Home Care Pulse, our mission is to help home care businesses create an experience that goes beyond client and caregiver expectations,” says Todd Austin, President of Home Care Pulse. “We’re thrilled to recognize Visiting Angels of Toms River as a Best of Home Care award-winning provider and celebrate their accomplishments in building a team of happy, qualified caregivers who provide outstanding care for their clients.”

To find out more about Visiting Angels of Toms River’s commitment to excellence, please visit www.visitingangels.com/ocnj or call 732-240-1050.

About Visiting Angels- Visiting Angels is the nation's leading network of non-medical, private duty home care agencies. Licensed, bonded, and insured, we specialize in both hourly and live-in home care services for adults and seniors. From as little as 1 hour a day up to full 24-hour service, Visiting Angels provide both short, and long- term home care throughout Ocean County New Jersey. Staying Home is still the # 1 preferred choice by seniors. Simply call us to learn more about our service and how we can accommodate your individual needs. Our professionally trained staff at Visiting Angels is always available to answer your questions.732-240-1050

About Home Care Pulse

Home Care Pulse leads the home care industry in experience management, online training, and review management. Through its Care Intelligence Platform, HCP empowers home care providers to attract and retain caregivers even during a historic caregiver shortage. HCP also conducts the annual Home Care Benchmarking Study, the most comprehensive survey of home care providers in North America and administers the annual Best of Home Care awards to agencies that achieve best-in-class client and caregiver satisfaction scores. For more information, visit https://www.homecarepulse.com/.