Housekeeping

The Housekeeping Department is managed by a highly qualified Director, a full-time member of our management team, who is responsible for staffing, training and oversight of all operations related to maintaining a clean, safe and healthy environment. The department covers four basic areas:

• Houston Commons, the main commons area of the community containing the lobby, meeting rooms and classrooms and dining rooms and Presser Lounge on the second level.
• Residential apartments.  
• Bishop White Lodge resident rooms, hallways, dining rooms and lounge areas.
• An in-house Laundry which provides:
• Fresh community-owned bed and bath linens to residents in apartments and Bishop White Lodge.
• Personal laundry(*) for most residents in the Lodge and some in Assisted Living.

Every effort is made to keep housekeeping staff working for the same residents, whether in the residential apartments or in the Lodge, in order to provide continuity and a sense of security for each resident. The weekly cleaning of an apartment includes:  

• Floors and surfaces in kitchens and bathrooms   
• Vacuuming wall-to-wall carpet or resident-owned carpets in each room   
• Dusting furniture   
• Delivering fresh bed and bath linen

Housekeeping Department also offers heavier cleaning of carpeting, interior windows, and draperies on a scheduled basis.

While regular weekly cleaning assignments are completed Monday through Friday, there is always someone from Housekeeping on duty weekends and holidays to complete scheduled assignments and to attend to emergencies. Someone is always on call during nighttime hours.  

All personnel, including the Director, attend mandatory training sessions related to Residents’ Rights and Confidentiality, Infection Control, Fire Safety and response to fire or other emergencies, and other training relevant to their job requirements.  

(*)  For personal laundry, large Laundry Rooms located in convenient areas are equipped with free washers and dryers as well as ironing appliances. Country, Townhouse and some Two Bedroom apartments are equipped with washers and dryers.