The Quality in Assisted Living Collaborative (QALC) today released its Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Guidelines for Assisted Living Communities.

The guidelines were developed to ensure assisted living providers and other stakeholders have access to a vetted resource that can be used to develop and maintain IPC plans that are appropriate for assisted living communities. One goal of these Guidelines is to avoid any perceived need by the federal government to potentially consider a “one-size-fits-all” approach.

The guidelines focus on essential measures that have been updated and widely implemented by assisted living communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The guidelines recommend establishing an IPC leader and an IPC Plan that addresses staff training, standard precautions, transmission-based precautions, and other important elements.

The Guidelines outline a comprehensive approach to IPC planning for assisted living communities and are intended to be customized to meet the unique needs of the various populations being served throughout the sector as well as serve as a resource for on-site self-assessment and continual improvement.

The QALC is a collaborative effort involving Argentum, the American Seniors Housing Association (ASHA), LeadingAge, the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL), and the National Association for Regulatory Administration (NARA). Since its launch in 2023, the Collaborative has prioritized developing IPC guidelines for assisted living providers.

Click Here for QALC Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Guidelines