Shropshire care homes raise awareness for Hand Hygiene Day
Staff and residents at care homes across Shropshire are lending a hand to help raise awareness about the risk of infection with a series of events this week.
Coverage Care homes across the county are supporting Hand Hygiene Awareness Day on Thursday 21 November with residents taking part in activities to highlight the importance of hand washing to reduce the risk of spreading infection.
Residents and staff at Westlands care home in Wem will be spending the afternoon creating print art using their hands while some of the other homes will be taking part in bell ringing sessions.
Coverage Care chief executive, David Coull said: “Most of our care homes will be holding a coffee morning on the day, and a couple have arranged a little something extra, like hand painting and bell ringing. It's a great way for our service users to enjoy activities and have a social afternoon as well as raising awareness. Targeting disinfection at critical sites, such as bathrooms and kitchens by washing our hands dramatically reduces the spread of infection, and this is essential especially at this time of year when germs are so easily contracted.”
The awareness day has been set up by the Infection Prevention and Control Team at Shropshire Partners in Care, who last month hosted the Shropshire Care Awards.
Coverage Care celebrated winning five awards this year, including a win for Barleyfield House care home in Shrewsbury which scooped the Infection Prevention and Control Care Home Award.
Staff at the not-for-profit company's head office at Allison House in Shrewsbury are also taking part, laying on a traditional finger buffet at lunchtime.
Coverage Care Services Ltd provides a range of domiciliary care services, largely in support of older people, those with dementia and people with learning disabilities in Shropshire.
