Is Your Nursing Home Causing Your Parents to Gasp for Air?

May 14, 2018 Leave a Comment

None of us ever want to see our parents in a nursing home, but unfortunately, sometimes there is no other alternative. For whatever reasons, sometimes a family can't adequately care for elder parents. In these cases, a nursing home or long-term care facility seem like the best choice. Unfortunately, nursing homes and long-term care facilities can leave your loved ones worse off than when they went in. Is your nursing home causing your parents to gasp for air?


According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there were 15,600 nursing homes in the United States as of 2014, with 1.7 million licensed beds. Although there are state and federal laws governing the operation of nursing homes and long-term care facilities, there isn't always a way of knowing a facility is doing everything by the book. Even if they are, there are still dangers lurking that may not be immediately recognizable or even considered as dangerous.

Let's face it. If your loved ones are in a nursing home or a long-term care facility, there's a reason they are there. Poor health, the inability to care for themselves, and having nowhere else to go are the primary reasons for being in a nursing home. With all of this going on, the last thing your elderly parents or grandparents need is to be trapped in a facility where their health is at an even greater risk, but this is exactly what's happening in many facilities across the country. The culprit? Germs, bacteria, and harsh, toxic cleaning chemicals used and stored on the premises.

Types of Toxic Cleaning SolutionsThere are numerous toxic cleaning solutions on hand at any given nursing home across the country. These toxic cleaners are stored in bulk and used frequently. The concept of frequent cleaning in a nursing home should be a positive thing, but when products containing toxic ingredients are used, it's likely that more damage is being done rather than good. Sometimes, the effects of those cleaners are not even known right away and can lead to more serious health problems in the long run, such as cancer and extreme respiratory issues that could lead to death. Here are some of the products that contain dangerous chemicals:

• Soaps
• Detergents
• Floor cleaners
• Glass cleaners
• Furniture polish
• Air fresheners
• Dish cleaners
• Sanitizers
• Disinfectant sprays

These products can be found in just about any janitorial closet or closet for cleaning supplies, not only in nursing homes and other health facilities, but in schools, the workplace, and at home. Using them has become second nature because we believe they work. They do, in fact, work. They clean what they're supposed to clean. The real question is, at what cost?

Problems Related to Toxic Cleaning SolutionsMany people just don't realize the problems that occur with the use and storage of toxic cleaning solutions, whether it's in schools where our kids spend a majority of their days, the workplace, and even in the health facilities where we're supposed to go to get well. This includes nursing homes, where the elderly, who are particularly vulnerable, spend most of their time.

There are a number of ways toxic chemical cleaners can be harmful to nursing home residents, leaving many of them gasping for air. Chemical cleaning solutions are used to clean every aspect of a nursing home facility. Bedrooms, bathrooms, the kitchen, hallways, and visitation rooms. In addition, nursing home laundry is often done with detergents that, according to the Health and Safety Authority, may present the risk of respiratory problems. There are no laws against using these harsh, toxic chemical cleaners, and in fact, most nursing homes and other health agencies use them as a matter of standard practice, attributing the illness they cause to other issues.


These toxic cleaning solutions can present serious health issues to nursing home residents through their use and pose dangers in storage. Through their use, these cleaning agents hang in the air and find their way to nursing home residents as they go about their daily lives, while they're awake and asleep. These toxic chemicals also leave residue on furniture, walls, and floors, presenting further danger long after the products have been used.

Storage of these harsh chemicals presents another danger altogether, including the risk of fire, leakage issues that could contaminate the air, and even instances where nursing home residents might gain access to the products and use them without proper supervision.

Health concerns include:

• Upper respiratory issues
• Rashes
• Skin lesions
• Burns
• Accelerated heart rate
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Cancer

As you can see from the list above, there are a range of health issues and concerns that can manifest through the inhalation of toxic cleaning solutions. Many of these issues, if left untreated, could lead to even more severe health concerns. These chemical solutions often make their way into lakes, rivers, streams, and landfills through illegal disposal methods. They damage our entire eco-system, so imagine what they are doing to residents who live in a nursing home or care facility that uses harsh, toxic chemicals on a daily basis and in large quantities.

Better Alternatives to Toxic ChemicalsThere are enough health risks in nursing homes without adding to the problem by using harsh, toxic chemical cleaners and storing them in places where they can do inadvertent damage to people, particularly those who are already at risk for health issues. The only way to avoid those dangers is by considering the products you use and how they affect people and the environment. To this end, it's imperative we find better ways to clean, sanitize, and disinfect our homes, the workplace, shopping centers, medical facilities, and care facilities such as nursing homes, where our loved ones spend their time, and where we may one day spend time. These toxic chemicals are causing severe health issues to the people who are exposed to them.


To do our part, GenEon offers cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting products that are eco-friendly and completely safe for consumers. Our proprietary Mineral Electrolyte lets consumers harness the power of natural minerals to make cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting solutions in an environmentally friendly, safe, and cost-effective way. Our electrolytes are food-based additives classified "Generally Regarded As Safe" (GRAS) by the U.S. FDA. While many companies claim to be sustainable, GenEon truly delivers on the promise to bring the consumer sustainable solutions and better, safer options for cleaning. Our cleaning solutions are generated by consumers on-site, as needed, which eliminates the need for keeping cleaning solutions on hand that can harm people and the environment. This makes our products ideal for the workplace, schools, department stores, medical facilities, and care facilities such as nursing homes. Using GenEon cleaning solutions is the perfect way to reduce the risk where cleaning solutions are stored in large quantities, and perfect for homes as well. Besides the safety factor, on-site generation saves money.

GenEon also brings exceptional cleaning technology to the table like our new Mist2.5 , designed to deliver our cleaning and sanitizing products in the most efficient and effective way possible. The Mist2.5 Sprayer/Blower allows you to clean, sanitize, and disinfect without direct contact with surface areas. The Mist2.5 is ideal when used in conjunction with our non-toxic cleaning solutions generated by our portable on-site generating devices like the TRIO Rx and Immerse-A-Clean.

At GenEon, we are committed to your health, the health of your loved ones, and the continued health of our planet. Our sustainable cleaning solutions are a testament to that commitment. None of us can do it on our own, but together, by making changes, we can begin to change the way we live in positive ways that will promote better and healthier living.


If you found this article helpful, let us know in the comment section below. Also, feel free to share it by clicking the share buttons below. Want us to cover another topic related to cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing solutions? If so, then like us, follow us, and post to any of our social media profiles the topic you'd like us to discuss: Facebook GenEonTechnologies and Twitter @geneontech.