The Not-So-Dirty Truth About Laundry in Assisted Living

Deb’s mom, like many older adults, developed a specific routine for laundry: Everything was to be separated and washed on the correct settings by clothes type, neatly folded, and returned to hangers or drawers.

“I can’t think of a time in my life when she went more than a week without washing her sheets,” said Deb. “And putting darks and lights in together was something that just didn’t happen.”^[01]

As they toured assisted living communities, Deb noticed something both she and her mother appreciated. At Fairfield Place in Fairfield, Ohio, where her mom would eventually move, a care aide was carefully placing folded, color-coded laundry into a resident’s drawers.

“That’s what we were looking for,” said Deb. “A place that would treat her possessions as well as she always did.”

Is assisted living the right fit?

Most assisted living communities have a set schedule for laundry services. Generally, staff will pick up laundry once or twice a week, depending on a resident’s needs. Then, they’ll iron, fold, and return the clothes and linens.

Assisted living laundry services generally handle the following items:

Towels and bed linens. Daily-use items like sheets and towels are washed frequently at assisted living communities. Some residents may choose to keep their own favorite bedding, while others will opt for more interchangeable, community-owned linens.

Clothing and personal items. Pajamas, handkerchiefs, and day-to-day clothes are generally washed by an assisted living laundry program, whether it’s off-site or in the building. Dry cleaning and delicate items may have to be laundered separately.

Different communities may offer different laundry services depending on size, available space, number of residents, and other factors. While most communities offer on-site laundry, others may contract out to designated companies.

On-site assisted living laundry services

Many assisted living laundry programs are housed on-site in a commercial-grade facility. These operations are thoroughly regulated and must meet several criteria from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).^[02]

To meet CDC guidelines, assisted living laundry policies should address the following:

• Proper bagging of linen at the site of use
• Transportation in appropriate carts
• Separation of clean and dirty laundry
• High water temperatures, or the use of an appropriate chemical mix
• Appropriate hygiene practices for staff

You may worry that your loved one’s laundry will be mixed in with other residents’ clothes, but most communities wash personal items belonging to each resident separately. It’s still a good idea to label clothing and personal linens with a name or initials to ensure they’re delivered to the right resident in case of a mix-up. Subtle markings, like sewn-in labels or permanent marker on existing tags, will help staff without harming your loved one’s clothing.

Off-site facilities for assisted living laundry

Some assisted living communities may contract with a laundry and linen service rather than doing washing in-house. This is especially common in facilities that offer more high-level medical or incontinence care.

Since bodily fluids are considered biohazards, a certified laundry service can safely process linens or clothing that may have come in contact with these substances without putting assisted living staff in a potentially dangerous situation.

When assisted living laundry is processed by an outside company, residents are often assigned laundry numbers and color-coded bags. They can fill the bags, and clothes will be returned neatly folded and packaged, according to FDR Services, a company specializing in health care laundry.^[03]

Resident-choice assisted living laundry and dry cleaning

Because of the strenuous regulations on laundry practices in long-term care facilities, residents may choose to use another resource for delicate items or dry-clean-only clothes that could be damaged by high-heat water.

Some assisted living communities may provide laundry machines for residents to use independently without staff assistance — however, this solution is only useful for residents who have the physical ability to wash their own clothes.

Other communities may offer “valet” dry cleaning services, where a local company comes to pick up individually labeled bags of laundry each week and returns the clothing pressed and on hangers. While the community may provide a discount on these services, they’re usually paid for directly by the residents to the dry cleaning company.

Assisted living questions? Get expert help

The cost of assisted living laundry varies from community to community. Some include laundry services in their base monthly cost, while others charge extra for the amenity. When touring a community, be sure to ask how they structure their rates so you and your family aren’t surprised by hidden costs.

Cost-inclusive laundry services. Laundry services aren’t generally a revenue-generating function. But even when laundry is included, it can boost resident satisfaction and improve community reviews, benefitting both seniors and the community.

Additional amenity fees. Some assisted living communities charge a la carte for services like laundry and housekeeping. These assisted living amenities may be optional and show up as individual line items on a monthly bill. Or, a community may charge to launder clothes and personal items but provide linens and towels free of charge.

Conditional fees. A community may charge extra for special laundry needs, like daily sheet changes for a resident experiencing incontinence.

When touring assisted living communities, don’t forget to ask about laundry services. To make sure you find the best fit for your loved one, get answers to these questions:

• Are laundry services included in flat monthly fees?
• How often are laundry services provided in the community?
• Is the laundry facility located on-site or somewhere else?
• Does the community adhere to CDC guidelines such as hygiene practices for staff who handle laundry?

If your loved one is aging in place and you have more general questions about services offered in assisted living, consider reaching out to our Senior Living Advisors. They can provide answers and help connect your family with local assisted living communities, all at no cost to you.