SAFER choice resource toolkit for environmental services & frontline teams

Long-term care providers face a constant balancing act, maintaining rigorous infection prevention while protecting the health of residents and frontline staff from unnecessary chemical exposures. Cleaning and disinfection products are essential tools in healthcare environments, but their overuse, or misuse, can negatively affect indoor air quality, worker safety, and the overall wellbeing of vulnerable populations.

Live Together, Inc., CleanHealth Environmental, LLC, and the Maryland Department of the Environment have completed technical assistance funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Safer Choice Program and Pollution Prevention (P2) program to advance safer cleaning in long-term care and congregate living settings. The work has resulted in the creation of a Safer Choice Resource Toolkit and Case Study that is available for use by nursing homes, assisted living settings, congregate living communities, and additional settings that serve vulnerable populations. The toolkit includes new resources to assist environmental services and front-line care staff reduce chemical exposure while strengthening infection prevention.

Intergenerational Living – Solutions for the Future

Join Sharon Rose, Social Gerontologist with Wisdom Associates – Smart Solutions for Aging Well; Phoebe Stein, President of OLIVE Presents / Ageless Living Collaborative; and Jane Rohde, Founder and President of Live Together, Inc., as they share inspiring case studies and innovative strategies shaping the future of intergenerational living. From thoughtful design principles to advances in gerontology, these leaders explore how we can create communities that promote aging in place, equity, connection, and wellness across generations. Together, they ask a vital question: How can intergenerational collaboration build healthier, more inclusive communities?

A Collaborative Discussion on Intergenerational Living

This recent workshop brought together various disciplines related to healthcare and aging services, attendees with a wide range of ages, and diverse backgrounds – all living in the Cumberland area. The goal of the workshop was to better understand the gaps that may be filled using an intergenerational community model to support access to care, services, housing, and amenities for residents of all ages. An introduction to the Live Together® community model was provided to the group. The following diagram demonstrates the combination of workforce, older adults – life long learners, families, and the overlay of engagement center activities as the nexus for bringing all residents together.