Strategies for Senior Housing Communities during COVID-19 from Coursera

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, poses a high risk for senior housing communities and the people who live and work there. The COVID-19 response has largely focused on nursing homes, leaving independent living communities serving older adults in the United States with fragmented guidance on how to respond to COVID-19 challenges. This course provides comprehensive instruction and resources for property owners and managers, senior housing staff, service coordinators and providers, community housing leaders, and other senior housing stakeholders to build upon their emergency preparedness and response strategies related to COVID-19. The course lectures, interviews, and assignments are largely geared toward federally-subsidized, multifamily senior housing providers, but the material is relevant for all senior housing providers.

Learners will hear from experts about best practices to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks and promote well-being. Topics discussed include unique challenges for senior housing communities, development of emergency preparedness plans, outbreak prevention, and coronavirus-adapted housing operations. The course also covers strategies for communicating with stakeholders, promoting pandemic-safe behavior on site, and leveraging health departments and other agency resources, including a collection of resources for COVID-19 vaccination guidance. Learners are encouraged to concurrently develop and enhance their own community’s policies, procedures, and practices.

This course was developed in partnership with the Baltimore City Health Department.

What's inside

Syllabus

COVID-19 Background and Senior Housing Challenges

This module provides a foundational understanding of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), challenges specific to Senior Housing communities, and how to structure your pandemic emergency preparedness response strategies.

Infection Prevention

This module covers several infection prevention topics to help you develop and implement practices to reduce COVID-19 transmission. First, it distinguishes how policies, procedures and practices each play a role in preventing and responding to COVID-19. Then it describes factors that contribute to COVID-19 outbreaks and how to prevent them, mask usage, cleaning and disinfection, staffing considerations, and communication strategies for different stakeholders.

Senior Housing Operations

This module covers how senior housing operations are impacted by the pandemic and suggests adaptations to occupancy procedures, community access, and behavior management to lower the risk of COVID-19 transmission on site.

Promoting Mental Health and Well-being

This module discusses reasons for increased stress, anxiety, and feelings of isolation among staff and residents during this time and what types of programs and policies can be implemented to promote well-being.

Health Department Partnerships & Vaccination Guidance

This module discusses how to create partnerships with local and state health agencies to support your community’s response to COVID-19. It also provides resources about the COVID-19 vaccinations, distribution, and messaging.

Final Assessment

The Final Assessment asks about changes you've made to your community's emergency response strategies while taking this course. Prior to starting the Quiz, read the Overarching Resources section and revisit any uncompleted assignments or items that may have required follow up with others in your community.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Develops practices to reduce COVID-19 transmission in senior housing communities, which is relevant to health care professionals

Discusses challenges specific to Senior Housing communities, which is relevant to senior housing providers

Provides resources about COVID-19 vaccinations, distribution, and messaging

Offers guidance on promoting pandemic-safe behavior on site

Promotes well-being among staff and residents during this time

Taught by experts in infection prevention, senior housing operations, and mental health

Reviews summary

Excellent covid-19 strategies for senior housing communities

According to students, this course provides excellent information on strategies that senior housing communities can use during COVID-19. Learners say the course is very helpful, informative, and well-crafted. The course has great learning methods and is well worth the time.

Learners felt that the time spent on this course was well worth it.

"Well worth the time spent."

Learners found this course helpful.

"It is indeed helpful and pushes us to teach it to others"

"Very helpful and informative..."

The course has great content on senior housing communities.

"This course is very good"

"Great learning method"

"very useful and add new insights for me"

Learners found this course to be excellent and informative.

""EXCELLENT COURSE""

"Excellent, thank you."

"Excellent information-filled course"

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Strategies for Senior Housing Communities during COVID-19 with these activities:

Test basic concepts you may have forgotten

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Reviewing basic concepts you may have forgotten will help familiarize you with the topic of the course.

Browse courses on COVID-19

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Look over chapters in any relevant textbooks you may have
Go through your notes from previous relevant courses

Practice developing a communication plan for a COVID-19 outbreak

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Practicing developing a communication plan for a COVID-19 outbreak will help you prepare for a real-world scenario.

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Identify the key stakeholders who need to be included in the communication plan
Develop a plan for how to communicate with each stakeholder group
Create a template for communication materials
Practice delivering the communication plan to a group of people

Show all two activities

Career center

Learners who complete Strategies for Senior Housing Communities during COVID-19 will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Health Director

Health Directors are responsible for developing and implementing policies, programs, and services that promote and protect the health of a particular population. If you are taking this course with the intent to manage senior housing facilities, you may find it helpful to learn about strategies for preventing and responding to pandemics and addressing the unique health challenges of senior citizens in order to fit into this role. This course can help you build a foundation in the best practices for outbreak prevention and pandemic response, as well as communication strategies and fostering collaboration with health departments.

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Nursing Home Administrator

Nursing Home Administrators plan, direct, and coordinate healthcare and other resident care services in nursing homes and other long-term healthcare facilities. If you are interested in managing a facility that provides housing and care to senior citizens, you may find this course helpful since it covers infection prevention, senior housing operations, and promoting mental health and wellbeing during a pandemic. These are topics that you will likely encounter throughout your career as a Nursing Home Administrator.

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Health Program Manager

Health Program Managers direct and manage healthcare programs in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, and community organizations. If you are interested in designing, managing, and evaluating health programs that specifically address the needs of senior citizens, you will likely find this course helpful. This course can help you build a foundation in the unique challenges faced by senior housing facilities, as well as best practices for outbreak prevention, pandemic response, and promoting well-being.

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Epidemiologist

Epidemiologists investigate patterns and causes of disease and other health problems in order to develop and implement public health programs. If you are interested in researching and controlling the spread of infectious diseases, you will likely find this course helpful. This course can help you build a foundation in the best practices for outbreak prevention, pandemic response, and communication strategies, especially within the context of senior housing facilities.

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Infection Control Nurse

Infection Control Nurses develop and implement infection prevention and control programs in healthcare settings. If you are interested in working in a healthcare setting to prevent and control the spread of infection, you may find this course helpful. This course can help you build a foundation in the best practices for infection prevention, outbreak prevention, and pandemic response, which are all important topics for Infection Control Nurses to be familiar with.

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Public Health Nurse

Public Health Nurses provide healthcare and health education to individuals, families, and communities to prevent disease, promote health, and improve quality of life. If you are interested in working in a community-based setting to improve the health of senior citizens, you may find this course helpful. This course can help you build a foundation in the unique challenges faced by senior housing facilities, as well as best practices for outbreak prevention, pandemic response, and promoting well-being.

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Environmental Health Specialist

Environmental Health Specialists conduct inspections and investigations to identify and control environmental health hazards. If you are interested in working to improve the environmental health of senior housing facilities, you may find this course helpful. This course can help you build a foundation in the best practices for infection prevention, outbreak prevention, and pandemic response, as well as strategies for promoting mental health and well-being.

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Disaster Relief Specialist

Disaster Relief Specialists are responsible for planning, coordinating, and implementing disaster relief and recovery efforts. If you are interested in working in disaster relief and response, you may find this course helpful. This course can help you build a foundation in the best practices for outbreak prevention, pandemic response, and communication strategies, especially within the context of senior housing facilities.

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Health Educator

Health Educators develop and implement educational programs to promote health and prevent disease. If you are interested in working in health education and promotion, you may find this course helpful. This course can help you build a foundation in the best practices for outbreak prevention, pandemic response, and promoting mental health and well-being, especially within the context of senior housing facilities.

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Social Work Case Manager

Social Work Case Managers provide case management services to individuals and families who are facing challenges, such as poverty, homelessness, or mental illness. If you are interested in providing social and support services to senior citizens, you may find this course helpful. This course can help you build a foundation in the unique challenges faced by senior housing facilities, as well as best practices for outbreak prevention, pandemic response, and promoting well-being.

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Geriatric Social Worker

Geriatric Social Workers provide social and support services to older adults and their families. If you are interested in providing social and support services to senior citizens, you may find this course helpful. This course can help you build a foundation in the unique challenges faced by senior housing facilities, as well as best practices for outbreak prevention, pandemic response, and promoting well-being.

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Recreational Therapist

Recreational Therapists use recreational activities to help people with disabilities or illnesses improve their physical, cognitive, and emotional well-being. If you are interested in working in recreation therapy, you may find this course helpful. This course can help you build a foundation in the best practices for outbreak prevention, pandemic response, and promoting mental health and well-being, especially within the context of senior housing facilities.

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Occupational Therapist

Occupational Therapists help people with disabilities or injuries to improve their ability to perform everyday tasks. If you are interested in working in occupational therapy, you may find this course helpful. This course can help you build a foundation in the best practices for outbreak prevention, pandemic response, and promoting mental health and well-being, especially within the context of senior housing facilities.

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Registered Nurse

Registered Nurses provide a variety of healthcare services to patients in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities. If you are interested in working as a nurse in a senior housing facility, you may find this course helpful. This course can help you build a foundation in the best practices for infection prevention, outbreak prevention, and pandemic response, as well as strategies for promoting mental health and well-being.

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Licensed Practical Nurse

Licensed Practical Nurses provide basic nursing care to patients under the supervision of a Registered Nurse. If you are interested in working as a nurse in a senior housing facility, you may find this course helpful. This course can help you build a foundation in the best practices for infection prevention, outbreak prevention, and pandemic response, as well as strategies for promoting mental health and well-being.

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