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.


Strategies for Senior Housing Communities during COVID-19



Instructors: Juliana Bilowich
5,109 already enrolled
Course
(149 reviews)
Recommended experience
What you'll learn
Develop emergency preparedness plans related to COVID-19 policies, practices and procedures
Employ effective COVID-related infection prevention strategies and communication methods
Understand regulations around managing occupancy, community access, and behavior
Identify methods for promoting staff and resident well-being during COVID-19
Skills you'll gain
- Category: infection prevention
- Category: Emergency Management
- Category: Housing Operations
- Category: Well-being Promotion
Details to know

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7 quizzes, 2 assessments
Course
(149 reviews)
Recommended experience
There are 6 modules in this course
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.
What's included
5 videos4 readings
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.
What's included
8 videos1 reading3 quizzes
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.
What's included
6 videos1 reading1 quiz
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.
What's included
6 videos1 reading1 quiz
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.
What's included
1 video4 readings2 quizzes
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.
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Please note the difference between auditing the course and enrolling for free. While both options cost nothing, “auditing” the course means you will not have access to the assessments nor will you be issued a certificate upon completion of the course. Choose the “Enroll for free” option to access the assessments and get a certificate upon completion. For a full explanation of all enrollment options, review the Enrollment Options article on Coursera’s Learner Help Center.
This is a self-paced course that could take up to 8 hours depending on the learner’s engagement. There is no specific time interval in which this course must be completed. Each lecture is short and interspersed with housing provider interviews; learning can be modified in order to address the specific needs of your community.
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 related to COVID-19. 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. Learners are encouraged to concurrently develop and enhance their own community’s policies, procedures, and practices.
This course is directed towards property owners and managers, senior housing staff, service coordinators and providers, community housing leaders, and other senior housing stakeholders interested in learning best practices to prepare and respond to outbreaks of COVID-19 at senior housing communities. It can be incorporated into training practices of staff as an important component of your community’s response to the pandemic.
Johns Hopkins University has been on the forefront of the country’s COVID-19 response through data, training, and response resources. For housing communities left out of the national’s broader response, this course gives insight into current guidance and real-life examples that will help keep senior housing residents and staff as safe as possible.
COVID-19 poses a high risk for senior housing communities and the people who live and work there, and yet the United States’ COVID-19 response has largely focused on nursing homes, leaving independent living communities serving older adults with fragmented guidance on how to respond to COVID-19 challenges. The course lectures, interviews, and homework are largely geared toward federally-subsidized, multifamily senior housing providers, but the material is relevant for all senior housing providers.
The course lectures and homework materials draw on COVID-19 guidance and recommendations from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other federal agencies; learners will have the chance to review requirements and strategies for combatting COVID-19 at senior housing communities, accompanied by additional reading and exercises for deeper comprehension. Throughout the course, learners will also hear applied examples of key concepts through interviews with housing providers in the field.
Learners will develop an understanding of emergency preparedness plans related to COVID-19 policies, practices and procedures; review effective COVID-related infection prevention strategies and communication methods; understand COVID-19 adapted requirements for managing occupancy, community access, and resident behavior at senior housing communities; and identify methods for promoting staff and resident well-being during and beyond COVID-19.
No, this course is not a source of personal medical advice. Please contact your doctor or local healthcare provider if you have questions about your specific symptoms or circumstances.
Always consult your legal teams, as well as the most recent HUD and CDC guidelines before implementing any procedures.