• COVID-19: An evolving situation

    COVID-19: An evolving situation

    In what is an extremely fluid, evolving situation, Resthaven will continue to update the community.

    Following the announcement on 18 March 2020 by Prime Minister Scott Morrison of further restrictions to minimise the risk of exposure for the vulnerable people in our care, Resthaven has implemented the following restrictions, effective immediately.

     

    Visiting Restrictions in Resthaven Residential Aged Homes

    Visiting hours are restricted to the following times:

    • Monday to Friday: 10 am to 12 noon and 2 pm to 4 pm
    • Weekends and Public Holidays: 2 pm to 5 pm

    In addition:

    • Visiting is restricted to one (1) visit to each resident in a day, with a maximum of two (2) visitors
    • Visits must be of a short duration, ideally no longer than one (1) hour, keeping social distancing of 1.5 metres
    • Persons aged 16 years and under will not be permitted to visit or enter the site
    • Individual circumstances will be considered on a case by case basis, such as end of life care.

    Visitors include immediate social supports, family members and close friends. For this purpose, our definition is that visitors, as defined above, do not include treating medical/allied health professionals.

    We would appreciate the key contact person for each resident to coordinate a visiting schedule of family or friends who ordinarily visit the resident.

    Visits must occur in the room of the resident you are visiting, or an outside area or in a specific area that the site has designated for you. Information will be available to you at each site regarding accessing the designated visiting areas.

    When visiting, you will be required to enter the site via the main entrance only (all other entrance points will be secured).

    On your arrival, you must register your attendance in the new Visitor Register located at reception. Please sign out when you leave. Staff may ask visitors to leave the site, and we appreciate cooperation with their requests to do so.

    When visiting, you must:

    • go directly to the person you are visiting only. You must not interact with other residents. Only enter areas or spaces required to visit your family member or friend.
    • practice social distancing by staying a space of 1.5 metres apart
    • wash your hands before entering and leaving a resident’s room and observe good cough etiquette.

    Lifestyle and external excursions

    • All social activities and resident meetings with groups of more than ten (10) people are not permitted. Bus trips are cancelled.
    • Small group activities of ten or fewer people who maintain social distancing of 1.5 metres will continue, along with individual activities. Activities will not include external participants or entertainers.
    • Non-essential excursions for residents are postponed. Essential excursions are medical/allied health appointments. Individual circumstances will be considered on a case by case basis by the Manager Residential Services.
    • Hairdressing services will continue at this time, noting that social distancing of 1.5 metres between clients must be achieved.
    • Residents will be supported to stay in contact with family and friends by telephone and video calls as able.

    Restrictions to entry

    The following restrictions to entering an aged care home continue.

    Do not enter the site if:

    • You are unwell with fever, symptoms of acute respiratory illness such as cough, sore throat or shortness of breath
    • You have returned from overseas in the last 14 days
    • You have been in contact with a person known to be positive for COVID-19 in the last 14 days.

    Influenza Vaccination

    Another important Government directive you need to be aware of is that from 1 May 2020, you must have had your 2020 influenza vaccination prior to entry to an aged care home. Resthaven will require evidence of this vaccination.

    We appreciate your support during this difficult and challenging time.  Please be assured that we have not made any of these decisions lightly and we understand the impact for our residents, families and our staff.

    The decisions have been made in accordance with direction from the Australian Government Department of Health, and our commitment to protecting the health and wellbeing of the vulnerable older people in our care.

    Please direct any specific questions to your site manager. For the latest public advice, visit www.health.gov.au or call the National Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080.