National Collaborative Creates Recommendations for Infection Control and Prevention Standards in Assisted Living

The Quality in Assisted Living Collaborative (QALC) – a coalition comprised of Argentum, the American Seniors Housing Association (ASHA), LeadingAge, the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL), and the National Association for Regulatory Administration (NARA) – is developing Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines for Assisted Living Communities. As part of the development process, Argentum State Partners and their members are invited to review the proposed IPC Guidelines and submit written comments supporting the Guidelines as proposed, and/or recommending revisions.

• You can download a copy of the proposed Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines for Assisted Living Communities (PDF format) at this site.
• You can access the comment form here. For more extensive comments, you can also use this Excel Spreadsheet to submit your comments.
• Comments are due by January 9, 2024.

Background

Infection prevention and control has become an area of heightened attention coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the public health emergency has ended, COVID-19, influenza, RSV, and other infectious diseases continue to pose risks – particularly among older adults, who often have multiple co-morbidities, weaker immune systems, and greater chances of experiencing severe disease.

QALC convened a diverse workgroup of subject matter experts and others to identify and define essential elements of IPC that are appropriate for assisted living communities. As part of the development process, the workgroup was asked to focus on elements of IPC that are largely in place across the assisted living sector. A huge thank you to Debbie S. Walker, BSN, RN, LNCC of Cascade Living Group for her active participation in this incredible work.

Once finalized, the IPC Guidelines will be made available for use by assisted living providers who want to validate current practices and adjust as needed. The Guidelines will also be available to regulators and other government officials who are considering updates to state IPC regulations.

Requested Action

Please take this opportunity to review and comment on QALC’s proposed IPC Guidelines for Assisted Living Communities by January 9, 2024. All substantive comments will receive a written response as part of the consensus-building process.

Thank you in advance for your assistance. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to Vicki McNealley if you have questions about the proposed IPC Guidelines.