What are the real benefits of air treatment in nursing homes?
Financial benefits
Purifying the air in a nursing home helps reduce cross-contamination risks for healthcare staff and consequently leads to a significant decrease in sick leave. The reduction in costs related to absenteeism caused by poor indoor air quality is estimated at around €450 per year per employee*.
* Source: REHVA study
Health protection
Air purification in nursing homes helps protect both staff and residents from the risks of localized cross-infections. But that’s not all.
Another key benefit is the reduction of risks linked to exposure to chemical products for both staff and residents, which represents a major public health issue.
Indeed, the GERIE study, conducted in around fifty nursing homes across seven European countries*, shows that indoor air quality in nursing homes directly affects the already fragile pulmonary health of elderly people. Even when European standards for atmospheric pollutant concentrations are met, the impact remains significant. This makes air purification essential to ensure high-quality care and a healthy environment within your facility.
* France, Sweden, Greece, Denmark, Belgium, Poland, Italy. Study funded by the European Union.
Improved comfort
Another major benefit of air treatment is that clean, neutral air promotes social interaction by making visits more pleasant for elderly residents. Reducing odors from urine, waste, and other unpleasant sources helps eliminate stuffy atmospheres, restoring comfort in indoor spaces and improving the overall image of the facility.
This benefit is also felt more indirectly: indoor air, often overheated in nursing homes, becomes less stifling and fresher. Air treatment also reduces the need for frequent window opening to renew air—often recommended but problematic in winter due to cold temperatures and safety concerns.
Compliance with regulations
PNSE 4
Air treatment also supports compliance with PNSE 4* by providing healthier indoor environments for residents and visitors. From January 1st, 2023, indoor air quality monitoring has become mandatory in Sensitive Public Buildings (ERP). Nursing homes are therefore directly impacted by this regulation.
* National Environmental Health Plan 4
Decree 2015-1000
High-risk moments in nursing homes typically occur during visits or when vulnerable residents gather in shared spaces. As such, it is essential to assess indoor air quality and comply with Decree 2015-1000, as nursing homes continuously host elderly people and occasionally children under the age of six.
What pollutants are found in nursing home air?
1. Contaminants
The most critical pollutants in nursing homes are biological contaminants. The spread of seasonal viruses (such as influenza) and viruses like COVID-19 represents a major challenge, especially for residents with weakened immune systems.
2. Odors
Daily activities in nursing homes generate numerous unpleasant odors, which can negatively impact comfort. Exposure to odors from bodily waste or deceased residents is a major issue affecting staff working conditions, not to mention the well-being of residents and visitors.
In addition, medical care activities such as pressure sore treatment, resident hygiene, and changing procedures release many odor-causing pollutants into the air.
3. Chemical pollutants
Less visible but equally harmful, cleaning and care products contain VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) that are toxic and potentially carcinogenic. Long-term exposure to these substances can severely damage the respiratory system, as highlighted by the GERIE study.
In urban environments, pollutants such as PM10 and PM2.5 must also be considered, as they pose serious health risks over the medium and long term. In rural areas, agricultural pollutants (airborne pesticides and fertilizers) can also endanger the health of both residents and healthcare staff.
4. Allergens
Depending on the design and location of the facility, allergens such as pollen (especially if a park or garden is present) or dust mites may also affect the health of sensitive and allergic residents and staff.
Benefits of the Shield range and key areas in nursing homes
• Effective odor treatment in patient rooms and common areas
• Discreet operation
• High performance even over short periods (< 20 minutes)
• Easy and safe maintenance
• Eco-friendly
• Plug & Play
• Maintenance-free: no consumables and non-hazardous
JVD Shield air purifiers can be installed in patient rooms as well as in collective areas such as treatment rooms, physiotherapy rooms, shared spaces, TV rooms, and corridors. They help create a healthier and more pleasant atmosphere throughout the entire facility.
