Update on current COVID-19 situation and visiting
South Australians have had a very challenging week, with many changes to our daily lives due to the COVID-19 cluster in Adelaide’s northern suburbs.
On 21 November, the SA Emergency Management (Residential Aged Care Facilities No 14) (COVID-19) Direction 2020 came into effect. In response, the following decisions are in effect:
Visiting Arrangements:
Visiting will re-commence from Tuesday, 24 November 2020, noting that end of life and compassionate visiting remains in place as previously advised.
The Direction allows each resident one visit of up to two visitors per day, with an additional care and support visit on compassionate grounds being available following approval from the Manager Residential Services.
Visiting hours will be as follows, so please liaise with family members to coordinate visits each day. From Tuesday, 24 November 2020, the following visiting hours will apply:
- Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 10am-4pm
- Tuesday and Thursday: 10am-4pm and 6-8pm
- Saturday: 1-5pm
- Sunday and Public Holidays: 1-3pm
Entry requirements:
All visitors are required to record their temperature, complete and comply with the contact tracing details as listed in the visitor register and provide evidence of having received the 2020 seasonal influenza vaccination.
Visitors are to maintain 1.5 m physical distancing, together with attention to good hand hygiene and cough etiquette to reduce risks of transmission of COVID-19.
Additionally, visitors are not to enter if they are displaying any respiratory symptoms or have visited any of the locations of concern listed in the current SA Health contacting tracing document. Also, if you have been tested, you must not enter until you have received a negative COVID-19 test result and have completed any required quarantine.
Consistent with health advice, Resthaven suggests that visitors wear a mask when 1.5m physical distancing cannot be maintained. We request visitors supply their own masks as the supply held by Resthaven is required for our staff.
All staff are to wear masks when 1.5m physical distancing cannot be maintained – this includes distancing from residents, other staff and any other person. Personal Care Workers continue to work at a single residential home.
Residents may leave the home, noting that the Public Health recommendation is to wear a mask in public where physical distancing cannot be maintained. If residents choose to leave the site, we request information be provided about where the resident is going and with whom they are travelling/visiting to assist with contact tracing. Staff will discuss risks of leaving the site with the resident/representative. Read more here.
Lifestyle programs and hairdressing will recommence, with physical distancing requirements maintained. Hairdressers will wear a mask.
Please remember that all communication from the home is to each resident’s primary contact, who is responsible for sharing information with all other family members and/or significant others as appropriate. Please ensure that you have provided your Resthaven site with current contact details and advise if there is any change to the primary contact at any time.
Our focus is always the wellbeing of our residents. We will continue to deliver high quality care, support and services to meet resident needs. Each Resthaven home has the support of corporate services based at head office to provide ready assistance to our workforce.
Should you have any queries related to the current situation, please feel free to speak with your site Manager Residential Services.
SA Health have provided a helpful contact tracing page, listing the locations of concern with the latest cluster.
Please also refer to the information available on our website, which is updated frequently: https://www.resthaven.asn.au/covid-19-information-for-our-community/
For further information about aged care restrictions in South Australia, please visit: www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/covidagedcare.
For the latest public advice, visit www.health.gov.au or call the National Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080.