Coastal residential care residents chip in to help encourage hand hygiene

Evergreen House resident John Passegger has spent a lifetime working with people. Of his almost 60 years living in the Lower Mainland, he spent most of that time working in hairdressing, an occupation that requires above-average people skills to be successful.

He enjoys talking to people, and it’s easy to see that people enjoy talking and joking with him. Which is what makes him a perfect candidate to be one of EGH’s Hand Hygiene Ambassadors as he politely but firmly asks residents, visitors, physicians and staff to clean their hands upon arriving and leaving the home.

“The first few days I had to constantly ask people,” John says. “But after those first few days, the message was clear and I don’t have to ask very often any more.”

Even though his asks are few and far between, it’s clear that his presence at the door of the residential care home has an effect. As people walk by and receive a greeting or funny comment from John, they stop to use the hand sanitizer, often remarking, “Hey, I’m doing my hands now John!”

John is a recent volunteer in the program, having only been in EGH since early December. Residents like Willi Kellerman, a Swiss-born resident are also part of the group who are helping increase the compliance of everyone coming in the door.

John feels that, without the benefit of the ambassador program that a recent influenza outbreak in the facility could have been far worse.