Session 2: WHO, WHEN
Host:
Having understood the reason to perform hand hygiene, you may then ask: Who need to perform hand hygiene in an elderly home? Actually, everyone needs to.
They include staff members, residents and visitors.
Staff members frequently get in and out the institution . They may carry pathogens from outside into the elderly home and infect the residents. At the same time, they may also be infected by the pathogens spreading in the elderly home and then spreading them throughout the community
Since the long-stay residents confine themselves in the institution for all activities, pathogens are not avoidable if they are spreading in the elderly home. Those with poor health may get infected easily.
Visitors from different environments may carry pathogens into the elderly home or be infected and spread the pathogens outside.
So these three types of people should always perform proper hand hygiene to protect themselves and others.
Staff:
Now I see the importance of hand hygiene, but when should I clean my hands?
Host:
Good question! First of all, every staff member should remember five important moments for hand hygiene.
Firstly, before touching the residents. You should clean your hands prior to any contact.
The second moment is before the clean or aseptic procedure.
The third moment is after handling excreta, such as urine, faeces, blood, body fluid and secretions, as well as after touching mucous membranes, damaged skin or wound dressing materials, you should clean your hands.
The fourth moment is after touching the residents.
The fifth moment is after touching the surroundings of the residents, such as the bedside rail, light switch and medical equipment.
Resident:
When should we perform hand hygiene?
Host:
Residents should always keep their hands clean, especially under three situations.
You must clean your hands before taking medicines.
Then you should do the same before eating.
Finally, you must wash your hands after going to the toilet.
Host:
There is another thing you must know…ah choo!
Excuse me. What I mean is you need to practise good cough and sneeze etiquette.
You should cover your nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing.
Then wrap the respiratory secretions with a tissue paper and dispose it into a lidded rubbish bin.
You should perform hand hygiene properly after sneezing or coughing.
And remember to wear a surgical mask if you have respiratory infection!