Protecting seniors from COVID – and other viruses – is still vitally important, healthcare officials emphasize. And nursing homes and other long-term care communities still represent an environment where the risk of an outbreak is greater.
One promising new solution for sterilizing environments could come from UV lights. A research team is studying whether UV lights mounted on the ceilings of LTC facilities could kill airborne diseases like COVID.
Nearly one-third of COVID-related deaths occurred among seniors in nursing homes, the New York Times reported during the pandemic. That rate was more than twice as high – 81% – among similar facilities in Canada, where the UV light study is taking place.
Part one of the study involved installing lights at two nursing homes in Halifax and Falmouth, Nova Scotia. The researchers have now added lights at a facility in Sydney, Nova Scotia, as well.
The lights are programmed to emit safe levels of light, although residents in the study sites will still have their bodies checked to make sure their health isn’t being hurt.
The goal is to collect data through early 2025, the researchers state.
Despite moving away from an emergency scenario, this summer has seen an uptick in COVID cases.
Even the common flu remains a threat; seniors account for 90% of deaths, and 70% of hospitalizations from the flu, studies have shown.
Although it won’t kill the virus, a new device can quickly identify COVID cases using a quick breath test. The device is still being tested to improve accuracy, but could prove to be a valuable tool for LTC facilities or other community spaces where there is a risk for rapid spread of illness, the developers say.
