Healthcare Textiles and Linens for Skilled Nursing and Long-Term Care Facilities
Geriatric Medical supplies healthcare textiles and linens in wholesale volumes to skilled nursing facilities, long-term care and assisted living communities, and other senior care providers nationwide. Our catalog includes bedding, towels and washcloths, reusable clothing protectors, privacy protectors, tablecloths, and laundry supplies, all built to hold up to frequent commercial laundering, so your housekeeping, laundry, and dining teams can source linens from the same distributor as your clinical supplies.
Whether you're replacing worn linens, building par levels for a new unit, or outfitting your dining room, our team can help you match textiles to your beds, laundry operation, and order volume.
Healthcare Textile Questions from Facilities
What healthcare textiles does Geriatric Medical carry?
We carry bedding, towels and washcloths, reusable bibs and clothing protectors, privacy protectors, tablecloths, and laundry supplies. For laundry chemicals, see our industrial laundry category, and for single-use options, see our disposable bibs and aprons.
What should we look for in healthcare towels and washcloths?
Healthcare towels and washcloths need to withstand frequent high-temperature commercial washing and bleaching. Towel weight is typically listed in pounds per dozen, and heavier weights are more absorbent and durable, while lighter weights dry faster and cost less to launder. Cotton-polyester blends hold their shape and last longer through industrial laundering than all-cotton towels, while all-cotton towels are softer and more absorbent. White towels are easiest to bleach and keep looking clean.
What size sheets fit a hospital bed?
Most standard hospital bed mattresses are narrower and longer than residential twin mattresses, commonly around 35 to 36 inches wide and 80 inches long, so sheets should be sized for hospital beds rather than standard twin beds. Knitted fitted sheets stretch to stay in place on mattresses that articulate with the bed frame. Bariatric beds require wider sheets. Check your mattress dimensions, including depth, before ordering bedding.
What bedding do facilities typically stock for each bed?
Facilities commonly stock fitted and flat sheets, draw sheets for repositioning, pillowcases, thermal or cotton blankets, and bedspreads for each resident bed. Many facilities also consider durability, fabric weight, and flammability ratings when choosing blankets and bedspreads. Residential-style colors and patterns can help resident rooms feel more homelike while still holding up to commercial laundering.
How many sets of linens should a facility keep per bed?
Facilities plan linen inventory using par levels, which are the number of sets needed per bed to cover what's in use, what's in the laundry, and what's on the shelf ready to use. Par levels depend on how often linens are changed, how quickly your laundry turns them around, and how many residents need more frequent changes due to incontinence. Tracking linen loss and replacement rates helps facilities adjust par levels and budget for replacements.
Should we use reusable or disposable clothing protectors?
Reusable clothing protectors are laundered and reused, which lowers cost per use over time and reduces waste, and many are designed to look like adult apparel to support resident dignity at meals. Disposable clothing protectors eliminate laundering and are useful for residents on isolation precautions or during outbreaks. Many facilities use reusable protectors for everyday dining and keep disposables on hand for isolation and special situations. Offering clothing protectors as a choice, rather than applying them automatically, supports resident dignity.
What are privacy protectors used for?
Privacy protectors help preserve resident dignity by keeping residents covered during care, transfers, bathing, and transport through the facility. Protecting resident privacy is a basic resident right in long-term care, and having privacy products readily available makes it easier for staff to maintain it during everyday care. Check each product listing for the specific design and intended use.
What type of tablecloths work best for senior living dining rooms?
Tablecloths for senior living dining rooms should be stain resistant, easy to clean, and durable enough for daily laundering or wiping between meals. Polyester and vinyl tablecloths are common choices because they resist stains and hold up to frequent cleaning. Tablecloths also help create a more restaurant-like, homelike dining experience for residents.
How should soiled linens be handled to prevent the spread of infection?
Soiled linens should be handled as little as possible and without shaking to avoid spreading contamination. They should be bagged or placed in a container at the point of use, and sorting or rinsing shouldn't happen in resident care areas. Linens heavily soiled with bodily fluids should be placed in leak-resistant bags, and some facilities use water-soluble laundry bags that go directly into the washer so staff don't need to handle the contents. Follow CDC guidance and your facility's infection control policy for linen handling.
Can we order textiles and linens through EDI or a punchout catalog?
Yes. Geriatric Medical supports EDI ordering and punchout catalog integration for accounts that manage purchasing through their own procurement, EHR, or ERP systems, so textiles and linens can be ordered the same way as the rest of your catalog without manual re-entry.