Infection control in aged care
Putting the principles into practice across personal care, shared equipment and outbreaks in residential and home care.
Personal care and continence
Wear gloves and an apron for toileting, continence care and showering, and change them between residents and between dirty and clean tasks for the same resident — for example after toileting and before helping with meals.
Clean your hands every time you remove gloves, and before you touch the resident's surroundings, your phone or the next resident.
Shared equipment
Hoist slings, commodes, shower chairs, blood pressure cuffs and thermometers move between residents. Clean them between uses according to your facility's procedure, and report damaged equipment that can't be cleaned properly.
Recognising and reporting
Report new coughs, fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, confusion or changes in a resident's skin straight away. Early reporting lets your Infection Prevention and Control Lead act before an outbreak spreads.
During an outbreak, expect cohorting, extra PPE, changed cleaning schedules and visitor restrictions — follow signage and instructions exactly.
Home care
In clients' homes, carry your own hand rub, gloves, aprons and bags, ask before each visit whether anyone is unwell, and keep your bag and phone off beds and benches.
Key points
Change gloves between residents and between dirty and clean tasks.
Clean shared equipment between residents.
Report symptoms early — it keeps outbreaks small.
Clean hands and prepare PPE
Care, then clean equipment
Observe, record and report
On the job
Follow your workplace procedures, product instructions and supervisor guidance. If you are unsure, stop and ask before continuing the task.
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