There are many aspects involved when it comes to caring for our aging loved ones. They should be in a facility that is well maintained. That includes the entire building inside and out, even the paint on the walls.
Painting in these types of facilities requires patience and skill. That’s why an experienced painting contractor is needed to navigate the painting project to ensure a safe environment for all occupants.
Keeping Residents Safe during the Painting Process
Residents of nursing facilities deserve to have their daily routines uninterrupted. When it’s time to revamp their space and living areas, an experienced painting contractor must be accommodating to their health, time, and daily activities. The painting project must be completed without any risk to the safety and well-being of the residents and employees.
1. Minimal Disruptions
When an elderly-care facility is being painted, the work environment should be orderly with as few disruptions to the residents and staff as possible. You don’t need a messy workplace and unprofessional contractors on-site. Professional painters will always keep a tidy work environment in a nursing home to ensure the safety and comfort of all occupants.
If tools or other items are lying around, they can create health and safety hazards that can be devastating to elderly patients in the facility. Keeping everything beyond their reach and out of the way is part of the job when painting a nursing home or assisted living facility. Paint crews must also be attentive to all the policies of the facility regarding patient safety.
For many residents of nursing care facilities, a change in routine can be very upsetting. Loud noises and chaotic situations can be startling to elderly patients. It’s important for painting contractors to maintain a calm environment that limits disruptions for employees, residents, and guests.
2. Safe Products
Many paints contain volatile organic compounds or VOCs, which are photo-chemicals that become activated in room temperature conditions. The VOCs are where you find the harmful fumes and odors most associated with paint. In medical settings, the recommendation is to use low-to-no VOC paints. These are specifically designed to have little to no fumes or odors that could be hazardous, or at the very least, unpleasant to the patients and staff.
In an assisted living facility, many of the residents have compromised or sensitive respiratory systems, which can be aggravated by strong odors. Zero-VOC paint products contribute to better interior air quality. Work areas can also be sectioned off to prevent smells from reaching the residents during the painting project.
Some paint manufacturers have specialized their paints to include antimicrobial and microbicidal varieties. Antimicrobial paints help to make it resistant to microbes. Microbicidal paints are resistant to infection-causing bacteria.
3. Flexible Scheduling
For the residents in nursing facilities, the building is their home. All of them are assigned to a specific room where they sleep, get dressed, and have family and friends visit. There are no off-hours when it would be convenient to schedule painting services. That's why paint contractors have to be flexible with their scheduling.
The residents' health in the facility is the priority. Thus, it may be necessary to paint one room at a time or during hours where lower foot traffic occurs. Some facilities will block off sections that are not being used during specific times to allow for them to be painted. This action helps keep fumes and other odors away from the inhabitants of the facility and the staff members.
One strategy for reducing disturbances for patients could involve painting at night. Lobbies, cafeterias, and other daytime-use areas can be painted at night when the patients are not using them. Projects should be scheduled at the time that works best for the needs of the employees and residents of the facility.
4. Color Selection
Choosing the paint scheme for a nursing home can be complicated. Paint colors are just as important as the type of paint used in a nursing facility. Colors can generate different emotions in people. In general, soft colors are a good choice to create a more comfortable and calm environment.
Reasons Your Nursing Facility May Need a New Coat of Paint
Painting a commercial building has many benefits. It not only refreshes the appearance, but also protects the surface from water and sun damage. If your building or commercial property has been around for a while or has suffered some damage, it may be time for an update. Here are a few problems that may arise if paint is allowed to crack, chip, and peel.
Break Down of Exterior Surfaces. If peeling or cracking paint is left untreated it could lead to water infiltration, mold growth, or pest infestations. Fading or uneven coloring on exterior walls is another reason to repaint your building. Call a professional to inspect any underlying issues to prevent costly damage later.
Water Stains. Condensation and moisture buildup on the inside can lead to water damage. Paint failure can be a result of water damage. An experienced nursing home painting contractor will check for leaks or drips before applying paint to any surface. All issues identified must be fixed before the area is prepped for painting.
Corrosion. Signs of corrosion or rust can occur on painted metal surfaces, but do not have to remain if properly prepped and repainted by a reputable painting professional.
Corporate changes usually involve using different colors, logos, or a name change. Repainting is usually required to conform with the change.
Increase Property’s Lifespan. A well-maintained nursing facility can last for many years. Painting it can help increase its lifespan by protecting it from the elements. A coat of paint ensures that water doesn’t leak into the walls.
Questions to Ask a Painting Contractor
Deciding to hire a professional painting company can be a big decision. Whether you’re looking for interior painting or exterior painting help, or both, asking a few questions before you hire a professional can make your project go a lot smoother.
Do I need to do anything before you arrive?
Some companies don’t require you to do anything, while others may ask you to move furniture. It’s good to know what’s expected so you can prepare if needed.
What sort of prep work will you do?
Prep work is the most important step to any good paint job. Knowing what will be done by the crew is important. You want to make sure the company you hire isn’t cutting its costs by skipping over important steps. If you have rotten wood or damage to the walls, it’s important to know that the company will fix that for you before painting. If their answer is that they’ll just paint over it, don’t hire them.
How many people will be assigned to my project?
You should know how many people may be coming into your facility. Will there be a project manager or foreman overseeing the project?
Knowing if the people working on your project are employees or subcontractors is also important. Being an employee means that they have an established relationship with the company and are dedicated to your project and satisfaction. A subcontractor could be a friend of a friend of the owner who just needed some work. They might not care as much about completing your project correctly or making sure they leave a good impression.
When will you start every day?
Knowing the painters’ schedule helps you organize the staff’s and patients’ activities. You can better plan around the work if you know when and where they’ll be working each day.
How will you keep my nursing facility clean?
Accidents happen. You need to make sure all messes are going to be taken care of by the painting contractor, not your building manager. Follow through from start to finish is the sign of a professional paint company.
Explain the warranty you provide.
Not every company offers warranties. Asking what kind, if any, will help give you some peace of mind. One thing to understand with the warranty is what is and what is not covered.
Are You Licensed and Insured?
It’s important to hire a company who will cover the cost of any accidents, injuries and damages that occur during the painting project. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck with the bill.
Who do I contact if I have a question or problem?
Making sure you have a point of contact for your project is important in case an issue arises. Having the office number, as well as the name of a person is essential. Some painting contractors will even give you a direct cell phone number to someone as well.
A Professional Painting Contractor You Can Trust
At The Painting Pros, we believe in caring for the elderly with dignity and attentiveness. For us, that means providing elder care facilities with painting services that promote the overall wellbeing of their occupants.
From the way we set up our equipment, to the paints we use, to the project cleanup, every aspect of the job is designed to maintain a healthy, safe, pleasant, tranquil environment.
We always strive to maintain a safe work environment in any facility, no matter the type, and we never settle for less than excellence when it comes to the quality of our painting and customer service.
Our experienced paint crew offers a wide range of residential and commercial painting services. If you are a facilities manager at a nursing home, contact us today to discuss your painting needs.