08 August 2022
Dear family member/resident representative,
Thank you for your ongoing support as we manage your loved one’s aged care centre in accordance with our outbreak management plan.
With our outbreak management plan in place we have implemented all infection control protocols including the co-horting of staff to work in specific areas to reduce the risk of transmission, and continued encouragement of residents to remain in their rooms and limit their movement within the care centre.
Test results
Since writing to you on Friday we have received results of PCR tests conducted for residents who hadn’t yet tested positive. The results have confirmed additional residents in Flametree Level 2 and Ribbonwood Level 2 to have the virus.
We now have 30 residents at the care centre with the virus (an additional resident remains in our COVID-19 unit at Kirrawee).
All are being monitored regularly as they experience symptoms ranging from moderate to none at all. Monitoring includes checks of blood pressure, oxygen saturation, temperature, heart rate and symptoms where present such as sore throat, cough and runny nose. In consultation with their GPs anti-viral medication has been prescribed where deemed appropriate.
All residents will be tested again today (those who haven’t tested positive), and I will provide another update later this week when we have those results. If your loved one returns a positive result staff will be in touch to let you know and they will continue to provide you with updates on their recovery.
The Lifestyle team has prepared a new set of activity packs for distribution and is assisting residents where they need it to connect with family and friends by video and phone calls.
Staying connected
To connect via video calls, and if you haven’t done so already, you may wish to download to your mobile phone or tablet, our app, IRT Connect. Search for it in your app store, and log in using your mobile phone number. Go to this link to find out more and to book a video call with your loved one please contact our Customer Service Team on 134 478.
Resident and Relatives meeting cancelled
While the risk of COVID-19 remains high within the care centre our meetings scheduled for tomorrow are cancelled. We will be in touch again with details of the re-scheduled meetings after we have transitioned out of the outbreak.
Restricted visiting
With results since Friday indicating an increase in the number of people diagnosed with COVID-19 visiting arrangements remain restricted to those who provide essential care only and by arrangement with the Care Manager.
If you are an essential visitor thank you for your assistance in completing your rapid antigen test according to instructions and waiting for the required 15 minutes before entering the care centre. If there is nobody in attendance to witness your result, please take a photo of the negative test as staff may ask you for proof.
Please pass this message on to others as you consider appropriate and if you have any questions please contact your Care Manager.
Thank you for your support.
Yours sincerely
Nia Briguglio
EGM – Aged Care Centres
