The Alerta Adult Washable Bib is a durable mealtime protection garment for adult users in care homes, hospitals and home care settings, designed for the high-frequency laundering of professional care. The 300-wash guarantee reflects the construction durability required for care home use where bibs may be laundered multiple times daily. The integral waterproof barrier prevents liquid penetration to clothing throughout the wash cycle lifespan, and the crumb tray at the lower edge captures food debris. Two stud-fastening neck positions accommodate different neck sizes without adjustable straps that can become soiled. Five colour and style options allow care homes to offer residents choice, supporting CQC Regulation 10 dignity objectives.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 90cm long x 45cm wide |
| Wash Guarantee | 300 machine wash and dry cycles |
| Barrier | Integral waterproof barrier |
| Crumb Tray | Integrated at lower edge |
| Fastening | Two stud-fastening neck positions |
| Washing | Machine washable |
| Drying | Machine dryable on low heat only |
| Tartan Blue | NCL-ALT-BIB-BL |
| Plain Blue | NCL-ALT-BIB-PB |
| Plain Green | NCL-ALT-BIB-PG |
| Plain Wine | NCL-ALT-BIB-PW |
| Pink Check | NCL-ALT-BIB-PS |
CQC Regulation 10 (Dignity and Respect) is the primary regulatory anchor for adult bib provision in care settings. The standard requires that care homes treat residents with dignity during all care activities including mealtimes; well-fitting, clean and visually appropriate mealtime protection is part of meeting this standard. Bibs that are poorly fitting, soiled or visually undignified represent a potential CQC inspection finding under Regulation 10. The Alerta bib range addresses this through the 90x45cm coverage area, the 300-wash durability guarantee and the five style options enabling personalised choice. NHS IPC standards for shared mealtime equipment in care homes are addressed by the machine-washable construction and low-heat drying compatibility, supporting regular laundering between uses.
How should adult bibs be introduced to care home residents?
CQC Regulation 10 requires that residents are treated with dignity and their preferences respected. Care homes should offer bibs as a practical mealtime choice rather than imposing them, using person-centred language - many settings refer to them as clothing protectors or mealtime aprons. Residents should be offered a choice of style or colour where available. The bib should be introduced as a personal item for that resident rather than shared, which also supports NHS IPC standards for reducing cross-contamination at mealtimes.
What temperature should the bib be washed at to maintain the waterproof barrier?
Follow the care label instructions for the recommended maximum wash temperature. Machine dry on low heat only; high-heat drying will damage the waterproof barrier more rapidly than correct low-heat drying. Inspect the barrier integrity at each laundry cycle; a bib that no longer prevents liquid penetration should be removed from use. Consistently washing above the recommended temperature will reduce the lifespan of the waterproof barrier and may affect the 300-wash guarantee.
Part of our specialist Patient Comfort and Care range. Clothing and surface protection products maintain dignity and hygiene standards for care home residents across all care environments.