Aged Care Cleaning Support: 9 Essential Strategies for a Safe Home
Your home is more than just a roof over your head. For many seniors the family home is their sanctuary, a place where many happy memories have been made over the years. But as we age, the demands of household cleaning and organizing can become a source of stress and anxiety as the physical demands of cleaning take their toll.
In the early stages of aging it is common for people to say that they are okay, but in reality simple tasks such as cleaning the shower, reaching the top shelf in the kitchen or moving heavy furniture to vacuum can become tasks that are no longer possible to complete. And before long the house and garden can start to fall into disarray, becoming a cluttered and dusty home that poses serious risks to health and safety.
Neglecting a home when a person is elderly can lead to a whole host of problems. For example, the usual amount of clutter and disorganisation that is found in a typical household can become hazardous to a senior’s health as they can easily cause falls which are one of the main causes of hospitalisation for the elderly.
Cluttered homes that are not well cleaned and lack good ventilation can cause respiratory problems, aggravate asthma and even allow the spread of bacteria that can cause serious illness. A senior’s home is their castle and it’s only natural that they want to stay there as long as possible. But a house that has become unsafe, unhygienic and is causing discomfort can be a real challenge for elderly people to live in safely and with dignity.
While we often think of aged care cleaning in terms of luxury services provided to seniors who have entered into residential care, for older Australians living in their own homes, this type of domestic assistance is crucial to ensuring they are able to live independently and safely in their own homes. In fact, aged care cleaning support allows older Australians to continue to ‘age in place’ (to live in their own homes) in as much comfort, safety and dignity as possible.
In this comprehensive guide, we cover the ins and outs of the aged care cleaning services available to assist your loved one, we also explain the many funding options available through Australian Government initiatives My Aged Care, and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
We outline important safety considerations that must be put into place and offer up a guide to help you make an informed decision when selecting an aged care cleaner provider. By reading this we hope to equip you with the essential knowledge to turn your loved one’s dilapidated home into a safe and wonderful place for them to live.
Phase 2: What is Specialized Aged Care Cleaning Support?
The big difference between aged care cleaning support and residential housekeeping is the standard of cleaning that is required, health and safety of the older person and their environment and the use of cleaning products that will not irritate the skin or cause respiratory problems. Unlike residential housekeeping where products may be highly toxic to kill bacteria and viruses, specialized aged care cleaning uses hospital grade products that are eco-friendly and non-toxic.
In addition to the standard of cleaning and products used, the cleaner must have specific training to cross-contaminate and to take all necessary steps to prevent the spread of infection between high risk areas and other areas of the home such as between the bathroom and the kitchen and between soiled areas and other clean areas of the home. The biggest difference of all is the attitude and respect of the specialized cleaner for the older person’s space, routines, time and personal belongings.
The Scope of Services: Most dedicated aged care cleaning services provide a structured approach that can be customized to suit the client’s mobility and needs. They are generally funded through programs and funding provided by Australian Government departments and organizations such as My Aged Care and the NDIS. Services generally provided include:
Deep Cleaning and Sanitation: Occasionally aged care homes need a deep clean to remove mold and mildew in the bathrooms as well as scrubbing ovens and other kitchen equipment. Sanitizing of all High contact points within clients homes, i.e. door handles, TV remotes, light switches etc.
Deep Cleaning and Sanitation: Deep clean homes and offices on an as needed basis to include elimination of mold in wet areas of homes, cleaning of ovens and sanitizing of high touch points such as doorknobs, remotes, light switches to prevent illness.
Decluttering and Organization for Mobility: Remove obstacles to mobility and improve mobility for clients who use walkers, canes or are in wheelchairs in their home environment.. Decluttering services include removing and organizing clutter to clear pathways and remove fall hazards. Rug fixation and retrieval of clutter from under beds are also services that we offer.
Laundry and Linen Services: Removing and washing soiled laundry, including linen and towels, and replacing with clean products ensuring seniors have the cleanest and freshest clothing and towels to wear and use.
The Role of the Cleaner: Another crucial dimension of work with elderly people is the complex nature of their work. Aged care cleaners do not work alone. Unlike most domestic cleaners, the cleaners that work in residential aged care are rarely treated as unskilled manual laborers.
In addition to completing a very grueling and arduous set of tasks that, for the majority of domestic households, are either never done or done only on special occasions, (see especially work with bathrooms and laundry), the specialized cleaners are frequently tasked with monitoring their client’s physical and mental health for early signs of deterioration.
They have a dual role that of the housekeeper or other domestic worker, and of companion, in order to provide a trusting presence in the lives of seniors in a variety of settings, which is often to inform other staff, and indeed family of any notable fall or decline in the older person’s health.
Often they notice an often seemingly trivial yet telling fall from earlier standards of domestic hygiene- such as an unacceptable rise in un washed up dishes and left-over uneaten food, or other fall in personal hygiene that would be picked up on and report back to, by way of example, care managers, and the senior’s family members in the end. A person can, in this respect, never be alone when they have aged care cleaners contracted for their specialized residential domestic work.
Phase 3: The Multi-Dimensional Benefits of a Clean Environment for Seniors
This support enhances the physical health of older people, by helping to keep them healthy through good infection control, good indoor air quality and through the removal and management of hazards that could lead to falls. In addition to the physical health benefits, the support provided by cleaning also enhances the mental health of the person and helps to maintain their dignity.
Physical Health and Infection Control
As we age our immune system is also decreasing in strength. For this reason, it is even more important for the senior to have cleaning done regularly to prevent the risk of infection from germs, viruses and bacteria that can be found all around us. Dust, pet dander and even mold can become a problem in our homes. However, for people with respiratory problems such as asthma or COPD it can become serious when the air that they breathe is full of dust, dander and even mold.
In order to avoid any problems or discomfort, it is best to have a professional cleaner come to their home on a regular basis to ensure that the senior is living in a clean environment that will not bring about any health issues. This type of cleaning will remove heavy amounts of dust from furniture and floors. It will also ensure that all wet areas are treated for mold and that all high touch point areas are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected to help keep the senior in order to keep the senior in good physical health.
Fall Prevention and Hazard Reduction
A common statistic cited by health authorities is that falls affect many older Australians causing injury, hospitalization and loss of independence. Home environments contribute to falls with most happening in the home. A major part of aged care cleaning is to remove fall hazards from homes of seniors. This involves more than just putting things away in the home, it involves a detailed approach of clearing and cleaning all surfaces and floor areas to remove any possibility of a fall.
This includes clearing and cleaning of all wet and soiled surfaces and removal of residue from surfaces to prevent slips. The way that things are laid out in the home can also contribute to falls with things such as clutter, trailers, rugs and cables all being able to cause falls. Specialized cleaning of homes of seniors can set up all walkways in the home to be wide enough, clear enough and safe enough to prevent any type of fall. This gives seniors and their families a great piece of mind.
Mental Health and Dignity
In addition to helping a senior with dementia with their daily living activities, a clean home brings them dignity. They are less anxious and less stressed when their home is clean and organized. A senior with dementia may not be able to have friends and family to visit due to the mess of their home. In many cases, they may not even allow their health care workers to enter their home. As their home is cleaned and organized, the seniors with dementia will have more opportunities for social interaction, which is an important part of a healthy aging process.
Cognitive Support for Dementia and Alzheimer’s
Even individuals with dementia or Alzheimer’s can greatly benefit from specialized cleaning services. In many situations, individuals suffering from cognitive decline are significantly disoriented by an untidy environment. This can cause individuals to become withdrawn, agitated and often panic in environments where there is excessive clutter, disorganization or visual confusion.
This is where a dementia care trained Aged Care cleaning professional can add significant value. By working specifically within the Senior’s parameters and systems of organization, Aged Care cleaning professionals can organize and clean within a Senior’s home environment to create an environment of familiarity, calm and visual organization, which will ensure that the Senior feels securely supported in their own environment.
Phase 4: Navigating Australian Funding: My Aged Care & NDIS
Australia’s government funding for aged care can be tricky to understand at first but it is worth learning about in order to access funding to provide a clean home for your loved ones while they receive care. There are a number of ways that the Australian government funds to subsidize or pay completely for domestic assistance in aged care.
Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP)
The Australian government’s Australian Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) is intended as an entry level program to assist older Australians. Aged 65 and over (50 and over if First Nations) who need some support to remain safe and well in their own homes.
Under Domestic Assistance the CHSP subsidies the cost of basic general house cleaning such as vacuum, mopping and general bathroom cleaning. Clients only need to pay a small co-contribution to access support under this program and most people use the service to maintain independence in a safe home environment where physical tasks of cleaning heavily (heavy cleaning) present a risk of injury or be too exhausting.
Home Care Packages (HCP)
For individuals requiring more assistance or increasing care needs, there are four levels of Home Care Packages available to individuals requiring varying levels of assistance with daily living activities. Funding levels are assigned by an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) after an assessment of the individual’s needs and requirements for care. These four levels of Home Care Packages are funded as follows and can be used for a wide variety of in-home care services including routine cleaning and housework.
Level 1: Basic care needs.
Level 2: Low-level care needs.
Level 3: Intermediate care needs.
Level 4: High-level care needs.
The biggest advantage to Home Care Packages is their flexibility. Irrespective of what level of care support the senior requires (Level 1 to 4), as long as some of the funds are allocated for domestic assistance then families can arrange for the type and frequency of cleaning required. That could mean that someone with basic needs (Level 1) has their homes cleaned on a weekly basis and that a senior with high-level needs (Level 4) has deep cleaning and severe hazard reduction on a regular basis.
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
People over 65 receive funding through My Aged Care. People under 65 with a permanent and significant disability are funded through the NDIS. In most cases the funding for cleaning is allocated under Core Supports – Assistance with Daily Life. The assistance with Daily Life funding is meant to assist individuals with disabilities to live as independently as possible in their own homes. Gifted Hands can assist people with disabilities to live safely and work independently by completing cleaning tasks around the home that they are unable to complete safely themselves.
How to Claim with Gifted Hands Cleaning
We understand how stressful dealing with care budgets can be for families. At Gifted Hands Cleaning we make it our mission to provide easy invoicing and claiming for our clients. We are set up to deal with the three main types of government funding:
HCP & Agency-Managed: We can send invoices to your Care Manager and/or the HCP Provider (s) and you will not be out of pocket.
NDIS Plan-Managed: We invoice you for our cleaning services as per your approved NDIS plan. We then forward a clear and concise, line-itemized invoice to your Plan Manager for prompt payment, in accordance with the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements.
We accommodate Self-Managed clients by providing Tax Invoices with full details after every clean. These can be immediately uploaded to NDIS my place portal to enable swift payment of related costs. Experience peace of mind knowing that we are working within the framework of your funds to ensure that you are receiving maximum government support for your domestic cleaning whilst avoiding the stress of administering an invoice.
Phase 5: 10 Essential Strategies for Effective Aged Care Cleaning
By taking housekeeping to a new level of specialized care and implementing these evidence-based strategies for infection control for the homes of older people, we can provide truly healthy environments for their aging health and ability to live independently to be protected.
1. Eco-Friendly and Non-Toxic Products
Many older people will have thin skin that will bruise and bleed very easily. In addition, many older people will have weakened respiratory systems. For this reason, very strong chemical cleaners such as bleach or ammonia can burn and irritate their skin.Professional Aged Care Cleaning uses only the highest quality hospital grade cleaning products for all cleaning tasks. These are eco-friendly, non-toxic cleaning solutions that kill all germs and bugs thoroughly without leaving any toxic residues or fumes that can trigger asthmatic episodes, worsen cases of COPD and cause severe cases of contact dermatitis.
2. High-Touch Point Sanitization
The spread of viruses and bacteria occurs mainly through physical contact. Viruses can survive for long periods of time on surfaces and continue to cause illness. Thus, constant cleaning of all high-touch points in the home is critical to reduce the chance of transmission of cold, flu and gastrointestinal viruses. This means that all surfaces are to be frequently disinfected including remote controls, door handles, light switches, bathroom fixtures, sinks, fridge handles, etc. As a rule of thumb, anything that you touch regularly needs to be constantly cleaned.
3. Advanced Floor Care for Mobility Aids
When mopping floor coverings, particular care must be taken not to make them slippery. Moreover, it is equally important that no sticky floor coating is used. To achieve optimal traction on all floor coverings, special fast drying cleaning agents can be used. In addition, particular care must be taken with the cleaning of ramp sections and all areas where mobility aids are in constant use. The cleaning of such areas must be done with the utmost of care to prevent any areas becoming slippery. Loosely laid rugs must be securely fixed to the floor to prevent severe trip hazards.
4. Bathroom Safety Protocols
The Bathroom: Fall and Bacterial Risk Zone
The bathroom poses the greatest risk for falls as well as bacterial growth due to the high moisture content. High moisture will bring toxic black mold into the grout lines of the tiles and must be remedied immediately. As well as implementing fall prevention measures, all bathroom equipment i.e. shower chairs, grab bars, raised toilet seats and non-slip mats etc must be sterilized with the strictest of disinfectant cleaning products. All items must be left in the very cleanest state possible at all times to aid senior’s safe mobility.
5. Kitchen Hygiene and Food Safety
A quality cleaning program for the kitchen will include a deep clean of the refrigerator and other areas where food is stored and prepared. All expired and spoiled food must be disposed of safely (with the client’s permission first). Cleaning of all surfaces where food is prepared will also be done thoroughly and with the elimination of risk of serious illness from bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli from surfaces such as countertops and cutting boards.
6. Allergen Reduction in Bedrooms
For a senior with an aging immune system, it is essential that they receive quality sleep to aid in healing and repair. Bedrooms are notoriously dusty places where, in particular, dust mites and other allergens like to reside. It is not enough to dust surfaces from time to time. The mattress should be vacuumed thoroughly, the blinds wiped down and all of the bed linen washed in hot water of a suitable hot temperature to kill any mites that may have fallen off into bedding.
7. Compassionate Decluttering
After decades living in a home, it tends to collect a great deal of items. And since many of the seniors we serve have lived in these homes for decades, there’s also a lot of attachment to these items. But as much as the attachment exists, too much “stuff” in the home can present a serious problem in terms of walking paths through the home in both cases of a fire and a fall.
Aged care cleaners tackle decluttering with great amounts of compassion and patience in each of these cases. And while working with seniors who wish to do their very best to keep items from their past, the aged care cleaners help reorganize the home items, giving the home large paths for walking, and a safe environment as well in cases of fire or a fall.
8. Cross-Contamination Prevention
Preventing cross-contamination of germs is one of the biggest challenges in clinical cleaning and in care cleaning. So we work to the highest standard of using a strict universal color coded system for all of our cleaning jobs. So for example we use red cloths and mops for the highest risk areas such as the toilet, green for the kitchen and blue for general cleaning of the living areas. This way we avoid the risk of bacteria from the bathroom floor transferring to the kitchen counter for example.
9. Customized Routine Scheduling
It is also very important to maintain a home cleaning on an ongoing basis, therefore we have developed a routine of maintenance that is delicate to the senior’s everyday needs in order to provide the best possible cleaning service on a regular basis. A non-intrusive weekly schedule of vacuuming, dish washing and laundry, in addition to deeper quarterly cleaning of interior windows, the oven, windows and carpets to name a few, in order to keep the home in its best form all year around.
10. Clear Communication and Consent
Trust is the foundation of specialized domestic specialist cleaning. People can feel intrusive at times. Have you ever had someone come into your home and seen all your things? Most people wouldn’t want that. That’s why our cleaners clearly explain all what they’re going to do and work around clients. Our cleaners work in clients’ homes as visitors would. This way they work respectfully in clients’ space and don’t overstep boundaries. A trusted carer is different to a trusted cleaner.
Phase 6: How to Choose the Right Cleaning Provider in Australia
Finding the right people to entrust with the keys to your older loved one’s home can be a daunting task. Many domestic cleaning companies are not adequately equipped to deal with the complexities involved in cleaning the homes of seniors. While we recommend reading reviews left by previous customers to get a better understanding of a company’s quality of service, it is also very important to look beyond the surface when searching for an aged care cleaning provider. What do you need to look for in a cleaning company for aged care homes?
Stringent Vetting and Clearances
Safety and security. Your home and your cleaner must have a rigorous background check. Most states demand that cleaners have a current National Police Check. As well as this, depending on your state or territory your cleaner/s must have a Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) registration. As well, NDIS Workers are required to have an NDIS Worker Screening Check. All cleaners must have public liability insurance that covers them for work in your home should an accident occur.
Empathy and Specialized Training
Specialized training and, indeed, great aged care cleaning skills are paramount. A great domestic cleaner will know his or her way around a home, be able to put back items in their correct place and leave everything clean and organized and ready for use by the home’s owner. But, a great aged care cleaner is much more.
They have been taught how to work safely around mobility aids, how to manage and support someone with severe arthritis and other conditions that cause physical limitations and how to interact with people who are experiencing dementia. But, the biggest difference is their ability to treat people with the utmost respect and patience and understanding – it is a big job and not one for the faint of heart.
Consistency of Staff
A vital aspect of choosing a domestic cleaning company for the aged care needs of a senior is understanding their rostering policy. No matter how good the cleaning may be, being left to deal with an unfamiliar person entering their home each week can cause huge anxiety for a senior – particularly for those with moderate to severe dementia. In these circumstances, it is essential that their domestic cleaning is provided by someone that they trust and feel at ease with.
Ask potential cleaning companies what their rostering policy is. Opt for a provider that can send the same cleaner every time – ideally with their own set of keys or alternatively, a small team of dedicated cleaners. In this way, not only will your senior’s home be left sparkling, but also they will have formed a positive bond with someone that can offer the vital care and attention that they deserve.
Transparent Pricing and Invoicing
Even when using a Home Care Package (HCP) or NDIS funding to pay for domestic cleaning for the elderly, the way in which a cleaner is paid is a very important consideration. The aged care cleaner provider you choose should have a good grasp of current Australian domestic cleaning prices and be able to give you a clear and straightforward price for their domestic cleaning services. At domestic cleaning for the elderly we always endeavor to give our customers the best possible domestic cleaning service at a fair price.
We are also happy to give you a detailed breakdown of the individual costs of the home cleaning service that we provide and then we can send you a detailed line-itemed invoice for the domestic cleaning for the elderly that we provide, which can then be sent to your Plan Manager or Care Provider for payment from your NDIS or Home Care Package funding.
Phase 7: Why Choose Gifted Hands Cleaning for Your Loved Ones?
There is nothing more personal than deciding the best way to support your aging parent or loved one. When searching for a cleaning company for the aged care homes of your loved ones, you need more than just a good cleaning service.. You need a partner who understands the intricacies of the area of Aged Care and be able to provide quality care, safety and peace of mind for families all over Adelaide and the surrounding suburbs.
Our Core Values in Action
At Gifted Hands Cleaning we understand that as well as finding cleaning services for the home of an aging parent or other senior, families need to find care and support. Our staff are highly trained and bring respect and empathy to every home that we service. We understand the physical needs of seniors as well as their emotional needs, and work closely with seniors, families, other care providers, and Care Managers and Plan Managers to provide consistent and sustainable solutions. We are specialists in aged care cleaning and work with families who have a senior living at home, whether they require full time or occasional support.
Seamless Booking and Local Expertise
At Gifted Hands Cleaning we can offer administrative ease when it comes to your home care booking. Our home care cleaning is offered throughout the Adelaide Metropolitan Area and Surrounds. Our simple process allows you to get on with what matters most, and that is to be able to spend quality time with your senior loved ones. Our Home Care Package Cleaning and other home care booking options can be arranged easily online, or by contacting us today for a FREE No Obligation Quote or Consultation.
Take the Next Step Today
For the majority of families, they don’t have to deal with the challenges of caring for their senior relatives. Our family is here to help support your family.For more information about the special help we can give you with regards to Aged Care Homes cleaning and to experience the special differences Gifted Hands Cleaning can bring to your elderly parents and their home in this respect, contact us today for your No Charge FREE Consultation and written personalized quote for the specialized Aged Care Home Cleaning services provided by our Gifted Hands dedicated cleaning team.
Phase 8: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is aged care cleaning support covered by the government? In Australia, aged care cleaning support is covered by the government through various grants and subsidies that enable individuals to receive domestic assistance funds through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP), Home Care Packages (HCP) or the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Can the supplies be provided by the Senior’s Home, or does the Cleaner supply all equipment and products needed? Yes. All specialized cleaning equipment and High Quality Eco Friendly Cleaning products are supplied by Gifted Hands Cleaning and Seniors Homes do not need to supply any Cleaning products or supplies. We use a wide variety of cleaning products that are designed for Seniors Homes, with many of our cleaning products designed to not irritate or irritate Sensitive Skin and Respiratory Systems, and all Cleaning Staff are instructed on all Infection Control Practices in order to keep all residents, staff, and visitors safe at all times.
How do cleaners get into the home when the senior has limited mobility and is hard of hearing? At Gifted Hands Cleaning we prioritize the safe and secure access to your loved one’s home. We discuss access with family members and come up with a plan that suits. We have key safe lockboxes securely installed on doors, or set up a specific entry procedure that works for your loved one. We also work with seniors who are deaf, so we can write down specific procedures and follow them.
Can help with laundry & change bed sheets etc? Yes we can. Heavy tasks like this are physically so demanding for the seniors & can put them at risk of injury. These types of tasks are typical for the standard aged care domestic assistance. Gifted Hands Cleaning assists with tasks like changing of bed linens, doing the heavy tasks of washing, hanging out the washing and folding & putting it away too.
Phase 9: Conclusion
Investing in specialized aged care cleaning support is more than keeping a house clean. It is an investment in your loved ones’ health, safety and independence. Our aged care cleaning services reduce fall hazards, ensure rigorous infection control, and create a clean, predictable environment that supports seniors to live safely and happily in their own homes for longer. Every older Australian deserves a safe, beautiful and dignified home in their Golden Years. Whether you need help every now and then or on an ongoing basis, we recommend specializing in a high quality cleaning service to take the pressure off and return your home to its former glory.