23 October 2021
Dear family member/resident representative
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we manage the COVID-19 outbreak at IRT Tarrawanna Aged Care Centre.
I’m pleased to advise that for the second day in a row all results from yesterday’s COVID-19 tests of residents and staff were negative.
In other good news, two residents who had been diagnosed with COVID-19 have now recovered, having reached 14 days since returning a positive swab and at least three days without symptoms.
We are currently caring for 21 residents who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 at the care centre.
We still have a number of residents who are stable with no symptoms; however as I explained yesterday others are declining due to their age and underlying medical conditions. We continue to deliver additional care and support to these residents, working with the Virtual Community Care team. We are also keeping their families up to date with daily phone calls and arranging compassionate visits where required.
There are now no COVID positive residents being cared for at Wollongong Hospital.
We still have 10 residents at Lawrence Hargrave Hospital, who do not have COVID-19, but were transferred there last week to assist with grouping of COVID positive residents into one area of the aged care centre.
Our resident at Bulli Hospital has now recovered from COVID-19.
Resident wellbeing
All residents and employees will be tested again today.
We continue to do all we can to keep all our residents comfortable, safe and entertained, and connected to their loved ones via phone or video calls.
We have a number of video calls scheduled today and two residents celebrating their birthdays. Our team will do what they can to make today a special day for these residents and their loved ones.
We have commenced individual exercise for residents in Rosella, Lorikeet and Kookaburra, with residents taking a short walk in the hallway or to the courtyard. Our physiotherapist is spending time with residents in Kingfisher and Cockatoo today, providing chest therapy and assisting residents to stay mobile.
Gifts and visiting
As you are aware, the centre remains closed to all visitors (except for those attending for end of life). Gifts can be dropped off between 10am – 11am and 1pm – 2pm each day at the table outside reception. Please remember to include your loved one’s name and do not send items that require refrigeration.
Ongoing communication
As the nominated representative of your loved one, I will continue to update you via this daily email and the team will continue making daily calls. Please pass on this information to other family contacts as appropriate.
If you have any questions or concerns we would appreciate it if you called our Customer Service Team on 134 478.
Thank you again for your ongoing patience and understanding.
Yours sincerely
Nia Briguglio
EGM – Aged Care Centres
