Many people are understandably anxious about the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). News of outbreaks in long-term care settings has heightened those concerns, so I want to clarify how the senior living industry — including continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs), also called life plan communities — prepares for and responds to contagious illnesses like COVID-19.
CCRCs are well-prepared for this
Seniors with respiratory conditions are a high-risk group, so retirement communities already treat respiratory illness prevention as a priority each year during flu season. Because of that focus, many senior living and long-term care providers have established infection control practices that make them better prepared for a pandemic than many other industries.
Responding to COVID-19 uses much of the same toolkit communities apply for influenza and norovirus: rigorous hygiene measures, visitor screening, staff vaccination and sick-leave policies, enhanced cleaning routines, and rapid coordination with public health experts. These steps emphasize prevention and containment rather than starting from scratch when a new pathogen appears.
Typical prevention and control measures in senior living include caregiver vaccination requirements, outbreak checklists, regular illness reporting, and scheduled consultations with infectious disease specialists. Those systems are designed to reduce transmission and to guide immediate action when a case is suspected.
>> Related: How to Know If a CCRC’s Healthcare Center Will Meet Expectations
CCRCs help seniors stay healthier year-round
CCRCs promote overall health through programming, exercise classes, nutritional oversight, medication management, and safety protocols. These supports reduce residents’ vulnerability to illness and can lessen the severity of infections when they occur.
When someone who does not live in a CCRC becomes seriously ill, care often means a trip to the emergency room or hospital — places where sick people congregate and where exposure risk can rise during an outbreak. In contrast, residents of many CCRCs have on-site access to a continuum of care that can address many acute and chronic needs without leaving campus. Avoiding unnecessary hospital visits can be particularly valuable when a contagious virus is circulating.
>> Related: CCRCs Help Seniors Stay Active for a Healthier Life
How one retirement community prevents illness
To illustrate practical measures, staff at an Oregon retirement community shared specific protocols they use to protect residents. Infection prevention begins with basic but essential education: frequent, thorough handwashing remains the most effective way to interrupt transmission. Staff training reinforces this message across all departments.
Environmental services teams — housekeeping and laundry — have become a frontline defense. Their responsibilities now include targeted cleaning and disinfection practices during outbreaks, increased cleaning frequency for high-touch surfaces, and using appropriate disinfectants in vulnerable areas such as health centers. Monitoring public health sources helps these teams anticipate local activity and scale up prevention measures when necessary.
>> Related: CDC flu map | CDC COVID-19 map | CDC norovirus map
High-tech disinfecting
Some communities supplement manual cleaning with electrostatic sprayers. These devices apply a charged mist that helps disinfectant wrap around surfaces and reach crevices that wipes may miss. When used alongside routine cleaning, staff training, and public health monitoring, these tools can reduce the likelihood of widespread transmission on a campus.
Advice for current CCRC residents
If you live in a CCRC or another senior living community, it is reasonable to be concerned. COVID-19 can be highly contagious, may spread before symptoms appear, and can be serious for older adults and people with chronic conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, cancer, or diabetes.
Public health agencies recommend common-sense precautions for everyone:
- Get your seasonal flu shot if you haven’t already to reduce the risk of influenza.
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the restroom, before eating, and after coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands.
- Stay away from people who are sick and remain at home if you feel ill.
- Disinfect frequently touched items and surfaces regularly, including phones, tablets, and keyboards.
As an added precaution, consider keeping a three-month supply of necessary prescription medications and a small stock of non-perishable food items in your residence, especially if you typically dine in the community dining room.
>> Related: 4 Ways to Know You’re Ready to Consider a CCRC Move
Taking the offensive to stop spread
CCRCs nationwide treat COVID-19 much like a significant influenza outbreak because transmission routes are similar. Key defensive actions include rigorous hand hygiene, cough etiquette, enhanced cleaning of high-touch surfaces, monitoring public health guidance, and policies that require sick staff to stay home.
Preparation can vary by community, so when researching CCRCs, ask about their infection-control protocols, how they monitor public health alerts, whether staff vaccinations are required, and what steps they take during an outbreak to protect residents and staff.
> For the latest information on COVID-19, consult your public health authorities.
Photo credit: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Alissa Eckert, MS; Dan Higgins, MAMS