FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 29, 2009

Illinois Nursing Homes Prepare for Swine Flu Pandemic

(CHICAGO) – The Health Care Council of Illinois (HCCI), a statewide association representing 65,000 long term care professionals, is preparing its members for the possibility of a swine flu pandemic. Nursing homes serve very high risk and susceptible populations, and HCCI wants to make sure that the state’s 100,000 nursing home residents are protected.

Members of HCCI have attended flu pandemic conferences sponsored by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).  In addition, HCCI is publishing several clinical newsletters on the swine flu pandemic.

“Although initial symptoms are similar to regular influenza, swine flu is likely to be far more serious and deadly, because we are still waiting for a vaccine to be developed,” said Susan Duda-Gardiner, clinical services director speaking on behalf of HCCI.  “Experts predict that swine flu has the potential to cause much greater social disruption and health problems than regular flu.”

Symptoms of swine flu can range from typical human influenza-like symptoms to eye infections, pneumonia and severe respiratory disease. Unlike seasonal flu, healthy people also will be at increased risk for serious complications because no one has developed immunity to this virus.

When a pandemic starts, everyone in Illinois and the nation could be at risk. The time to start planning for a pandemic is now.  Here are some examples of recommendations from HCCI for nursing home professionals providing care during a swine flu epidemic

• Have all visitors use hand sanitizer before they go into any resident room;
• Stop visitors at the door and check for flu-like symptoms. Do not allow anyone with flu-like symptoms into the building, as it puts residents at extreme risk. Post signs outside the front doors indicating that anyone with flu-like symptoms should not come in;
• Have items available throughout the building for appropriate cough etiquette, including multiple boxes of facial tissue, wastebaskets with covers, hand gel sanitizers, etc. Teach residents, staff and visitors about proper cough techniques;
• Keep all residents with flu-like symptoms together in one section of the building, away from the healthier residents. Have one designated team of staff members work in this section only;
• Have staff members providing care to residents with flu-like symptoms follow strict isolation procedures, wearing gloves, facial masks and gowns as needed;
• Vigilantly monitor outbreaks of infection in your local area to quickly launch into pandemic mode when needed;
• Be prepared to provide acute care in your nursing facility in case the local hospitals become overloaded; and

• Plan for the stockpiling of at least a week’s supply of consumable resources, including medical supplies.

To keep yourself and your loved ones living in nursing homes healthy, limiting the spread of germs, HCCI recommends the following:

• Clean your hands frequently and after coughing or sneezing with soap and water or an alcohol-based cleaner;
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze;
• Put a used tissue in a covered, hands-free wastebasket;
• Cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve if you don’t have a tissue;
• Continue to get a flu shot to help protect yourself from seasonal flu and stay healthy (this shot will not protect you against pandemic influenza). Persons over the age of 65 and those with chronic conditions such as diabetes or asthma should also get a pneumonia shot every five years to prevent secondary infection; and
• If you become infected with the swine flu virus, stay home from work and school for seven days after your symptoms have cleared, as you still remain infectious during this time. Children 12 years old and younger shed the virus much longer and can remain infectious for up to 21 days. Do not visit nursing homes during this period, as these residents are very much at risk.

To stay informed about pandemic flu, visit the official federal government Web site at www.pandemicflu.gov or the IDPH Web site at www.idph.state.il.us, which contains the latest information about outbreaks, safety guidelines and travel advisories. Another source for information on pandemic influenza is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) hot line at 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636).

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The Health Care Council of Illinois is a professional association of more than 600 nursing facilities committed to quality residential health care in Illinois through a productive and responsible partnership between the private and public sectors. HCCI represents more than 65,000 nursing home professionals serving more than 52,000 residents. HCCI serves as the joint government affairs and communication arm for the Illinois Health Care Association and the Illinois Council on Long Term Care.