Potential residents of senior living facilities are often concerned with how to avoid getting sick. When older people move from their own homes, where they may only be in contact with close friends and family members, to a home where many people are living, there are more chances to pick up a bug. This happens even in the most clean and well-maintained assisted living homes!

Fortunately, there are ways to avoid getting sick, even around lots of new people. Norovirus, the cause of gastroenteritis, affects as many as 21 million people every year in the U.S., and the elderly are more at risk of complications than the average adult. In fact, nearly 60 percent of cases are in group living facilities. Here's how to minimize your risk:

Find out how your facility manages outbreaks.

Quality senior living facilities have procedures in place for minimizing outbreaks of diseases like norovirus, which is often called the "stomach flu" and can lead to uncomfortable, though thankfully short-lived, bouts of diarrhea and vomiting.

There are several proven steps facilities can take to limit the spread of an infection. A study published in the Journal of American Medical Directors Association found that facilities that do the following have the best success:

  • Have licensed health-care professionals on site (60 percent of facilities do this)
  • Train staff on infection control (54 percent do this)
  • Report disease outbreaks to the health department (50 percent do this)
  • Offer or require vaccinations to residents (30 percent do this)

Ask about cleaning procedures.

Talk to staff about what policies they have in place for confining residents who show signs of illness, and how they clean community areas and laundry. If you're especially concerned, ask about:

  • Staff precautions. Most facilities keep a couple of staff members who deal only with sick community members during a given day. These staff members often wear gowns, masks and gloves to keep from spreading the illness.
  • Food preparation safety. Norovirus is easily spread during food preparation, so make sure that kitchen workers are trained in safe food handling procedures, including frequent hand washing. Some facilities also use disposable tableware during any outbreaks of disease.
  • Cleaning. A diluted bleach preparation will kill most noroviruses and related viruses. During an outbreak, doorknobs, counters and common areas should be wiped down frequently with a cleaning solution.

Wash your hands and practice smart hygiene.

There's really not a better solution: Keep your hands clean with soap and warm water. Make a point of washing after using the bathroom, before eating, after handling pets and after spending time with others in the community.

Other things you can do to avoid transmitting viruses include keeping surfaces in your living area clean and avoiding touching your face, even after you've washed up.

Stay up to date with vaccinations.

Norovirus and influenza are not related, but a resident of a senior living facility should have updated immunizations, including an annual flu shot. Coming down with one virus can weaken your immune system so that you're more susceptible to others. So if you are ill with the flu, it can take a couple of weeks or more to recover -- time during which you may be less able to fight off noroviruses and other diseases.

Following all these steps doesn't guarantee that you'll stay virus-free all year, but it minimizes your chances of getting a passing virus. Talk to your doctor or assisted living facility staff if you have more questions about avoiding illnesses like the norovirus.

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