Webinar: Legionella in Senior Living: A Positive Case or Test, Now What?

Legionella continues to be a major source of concern within Senior Living facilities, and with good reason. Low census, unoccupied rooms, and staffing shortages substantially increase the risk of Legionella Pneumonia outbreaks within Senior Living facilities. In fact, more and more people are being sickened by Legionella through exposure to contaminated and improperly treated building water systems. 

This webinar can help you protect your facility by arming you with the information you need to navigate a positive case of Legionella in your facility and how to properly work through a case investigation. Featuring Legionella specialists from IWC, Bill Pearson and Jack Murphy, as well as Direct Supply’s own Amber Hegemann, this webinar will explain how your communities can be prepared for a possible case investigation and how to take proactive measures in your community to prevent exposure to Legionella bacteria.

What is Legionella?

Legionella is a common environmental bacteria found both in nature and in residential and commercial potable and non-potable water systems. Contracting Legionella causes a specific type of pneumonia that can be fatal. This is especially true in the case of seniors. They are the most susceptible to Legionella infection, which is why it is imperative that Senior Living administrators and maintenance directors do all they can to prevent this harmful bacteria from entering their facility.

Learn more below as Bill explains how Legionella is contracted, where outbreaks happen, and where it is most commonly found in Senior Living facilities.

What Happens if Your Facility Tests Positive for Legionella?

Bill shares 3 important tips to help you navigate a Legionella outbreak in your facility, including how to properly analyze and assess a Legionella test result and how to develop and implement a better water management plan. In addition, Jack and Bill discuss common questions some may have after receiving a positive test result.

The CDC’s Legionella Control Toolkit

Bill gives an overview of the CDC’s Legionella Control Toolkit. The Toolkit clearly outlines the difference between well-controlled and poorly-controlled levels of Legionella in a facility. He emphasizes that this document should be an essential part of a Water Management Plan.

What Happens if You Have a Confirmed or Probable Case of Legionella?

When a resident is reported to have Legionella Pneumonia, you are required to act. Bill discusses what happens when a positive case, or multiple cases are reported in a Senior Living facility. One certainty is that there will be an investigation by the Department of Health to ensure that the facility is still safe for residents. These investigations can be time-consuming and stressful. Bill describes what you can to aid the process without interference or unnecessary stress or pain as well as next steps once the investigation concludes. 

Questions?

Still have more questions? The webinar team, including Bill, Amber, Jack, and host Megan Klein take a series of questions on such topics as:

• The #1 mistake made with Legionella and water management
• How to use TELS Platform to aid your water management plan
• What signs to look for to differentiate Legionella infection from COVID-19 infection
• How to properly take and submit a sample to receive an accurate determination of Legionella levels in your facility
• And more!

TELS Water Management and TELS Platform

Amber Hegemann details a number of options TELS Water Management offers to help you improve your water management plan, including Legionella prevention, confirmation, and removal. Legionella remains a serious concern in Senior Living facilities, but with TELS Water Management you can mitigate risk in your buildings now and in the future.  

In addition, Amber discusses TELS Platform, an innovative technology built to improve the health and wellness of your residents, staff, and your bottom line through streamlined organization and task management. TELS Platform is not required to participate in TELS Water Management, but can act as a powerful daily tool to organize, execute, and track compliance and maintenance efforts.