COVID-19 Information for our Communities

October 18, 2021

Visiting Hours

Visiting hours at Resthaven residential aged care homes:

Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 10am to 4pm
Tuesday and Thursday: 10am to 4pm AND 6pm to 8pm
Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays: 1pm to 5pm

As more than 70% of residents at all Resthaven aged care homes have received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, visitor numbers are not restricted.

Resthaven’s visiting arrangements may change in response to Emergency Management Direction updates which can occur at immediate notice.

Emergency Directions

The Governor of South Australia approved a further 28-day extension of the existing Declaration of a Major Emergency under the Emergency Management Act 2004 in respect to the outbreak of COVID-19 commencing on 16 October 2021.

Under this Act, the State Coordinator, Police Commissioner Grant Stevens, enacts the South Australian Directions that apply to everyone living in and entering South Australia.

South Australia is currently under Level 1 restrictions with some additional restrictions.

Read the full versions of the Directions https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/emergency-declarations

The Emergency Management (Activities – General No 3)(COVID-19) Direction 2021 came into effect on Wednesday 21 July 2021.

The Emergency Management (Activities—Associated Direction No 15) (COVID-19) Direction 2021 is to operate as an appendix to the Emergency Management (Activities—General No 3) (COVID-19) Direction 2021 or to any direction that replaces that direction, and modifies that direction.

The Emergency Management (Residential Aged Care Facilities No 41) (COVID-19) Direction 2021 mandates RACF to display the State Government’s COVIDSAfeCheck-In QR code at the point of entry in addition to other entry or record keeping requirements, such as vaccination status, screening requirements etc. You can view this direction by clicking here.

COVID-19 Vaccinations

More than 70% of residents at all Resthaven aged care homes have received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.

COVID-19 vaccination is mandatory for all residential aged care workers. At this time, it is not mandatory for Home Care Workers. Resthaven encourages all staff to access the COVID vaccination. Read more about vaccinations for aged care workers HERE.

Important reminders:

No person who has attended a COVID-19 exposure location identified on the SA Health website should be permitted to enter or remain on the premises of a RACF until they have been tested for COVID-19 and received a negative test result and finished their required quarantine period.
Any person who has been directed to quarantine by SA Health must stay at home and not attend a RACF. This includes essential workers.
For an up-to-date list of exposure locations, visit: http://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/COVIDcontacttracing

Wearing of Masks:

A person (other than a resident or a child under 12 years) must not enter or remain on the premises of a RACF, unless the person is wearing a face mask (covering mouth and nose) at all times.

The requirement for a mask does not apply:

when the person is eating or drinking;
the wearing of a mask will hinder the provision of the relevant care and/or impact resident safety or wellbeing;
by a person who has a relevant medical condition, including problems with their breathing, a serious condition of the face, a disability or a mental health condition; or
in circumstances where the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication, such as to enable communication by or with any person who is deaf or hard of hearing.

Resthaven’s focus is on protecting the health and wellbeing of our residents and clients, along with employees and volunteers, and their families. We continue to monitor and review arrangements as information becomes available.

We will continue to advise residents and clients about the latest government directives. This includes restrictions on visiting and activities at residential sites, and how home care services that we provide in people’s homes and service locations, may be impacted.

Influenza Vaccination Reminder:

Please ensure you have your flu vaccination!

All people entering a Residential Aged Care Facility must be vaccinated against seasonal influenza and have evidence with them. (Existing exemption criteria continue to apply.)

We again thank you for your continued support.