Air purifiers for care homes, explained
In one line: care homes hold vulnerable residents in shared indoor air, so airborne infection and odour both matter. Portable HEPA purifiers sized for a good air-change rate lower the concentration of airborne particles between people — a supplement to ventilation and cleaning, not a replacement.
Why air matters here
Residents are older and often have respiratory or immune vulnerabilities, and they share indoor air in lounges, dining rooms and corridors for long periods. Respiratory infections spread partly through airborne particles that linger and accumulate when ventilation is poor. A portable HEPA purifier continuously removes those particles, lowering the amount circulating between people — the same principle behind using purifiers in classrooms and clinics.
How to size and place them
Think in air changes per hour (ACH): shared rooms benefit from a higher rate (often 4–5 ACH), so choose CADR for the room's actual volume, and use more than one unit in large lounges rather than one that's undersized. Site units where air can circulate, keep them running continuously, and keep noise low enough not to disturb residents. Filtration supplements fresh-air ventilation and surface cleaning; it doesn't replace them.
Note: avoid ozone-generating "ionisers" around vulnerable residents — ozone is a respiratory irritant. Stick to sealed HEPA filtration.
Next step
For unit selection and sizing help, see Best Air Purifier UK. Running a school or nursery setting? The evidence and funding notes at cleanair.academy apply to any shared-occupancy room.
FAQ
Do air purifiers reduce infection in care homes? HEPA units lower the concentration of airborne particles between people, which helps — alongside ventilation and cleaning. They're a supplement, not a cure.
How many purifiers does a care-home lounge need? Enough combined CADR for a high air-change rate in that room's volume — usually more than one unit in a large lounge.