How aged care providers can elevate resident health and safety with air purifying technology

There are many studies that indicate that poor air quality can increase the risk of ill health in the elderly and other vulnerable people, and that the risk of infection is lower in areas with good air quality.1 The 2022 flu season is considered the worst Australia has seen in five years2 and, like other respiratory infections, it's increasingly important that aged care facilities take steps to reduce the potential risk of infection for residents.

To help better protect residents and staff in aged care facilities from airborne pathogens, providers are increasingly turning to technology solutions including air purification and ventilation systems, to deliver an added layer of protection onsite.

Air purifiers can be used to augment and complement other methods such as natural ventilation and mechanical air conditioning. Natural ventilation is essential to encourage the flow of clean air through closed spaces; however, this may not always be possible, depending on the facility. Air purifiers can (and should) be used when windows and doors either can’t be opened or are opened intermittently. This makes them an essential support tool for aged care facilities where windows and doors may be kept closed more frequently for resident security or health reasons, particularly in cooler months as a way to help keep residents warm.

It’s important for aged care providers to invest in appropriate solutions to ensure their air purification system delivers the best possible level of protection and support for staff and residents.

Key features to look for include the ease of assembly and disassembly to facilitate cleaning and inclusion of high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters to optimise air purity.

The Pitney Bowes solution

Pitney Bowes provides superior-grade air purifying technology solutions, which deliver cleaner air for educational and work environments. The Air Purifier Series features:

  • pre-filters: easy to disassemble and clean, pre-filters catch and trap larger airborne particles
  • HEPA filter: with a PM2.5 removal rate greater than 99.97 per cent, the AirTek Pro 300 features HEPA filters that help catch and trap bacteria, viruses, and smaller airborne particles and pollutants
  • activated carbon filters: the AirTek Pro Series include specific filters to efficiently and lastingly absorb harmful gases such as formaldehyde, toluene, odour, and more.

The high-performance AirTek Pro air purifiers are highly customisable so aged care providers can tailor the solution to their exact environments.

Air purification for the future

Influenza and other respiratory infections can be especially damaging, particularly to vulnerable persons and our elderly population, and air purifiers can help to defend against airborne pathogens to help keep people safe from risk.

Air quality can be affected by dust, mould spores, smoke and combustion products, and various other pollutants. And, at high enough levels, this can cause and/or exacerbate various health problems, especially for those that experience asthma or other conditions that affect their breathing.

As such, it’s essential for aged care providers to take steps now to reduce the risk of poor air quality in facilities for both the immediate and the far future.

For more information on how Pitney Bowes can help you deliver cleaner air to keep staff and residents safe onsite, contact the team today on 13 23 63 (AU) or via email.

1Australian guidelines for the prevention and control of infection in health

2https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/influenza-surveillance-program