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Important information about IRT Berala on the Park Aged Care Centre

17 August 2022

Dear family member/resident representative,

Firstly I would like to thank you for your ongoing patience and support as we manage the COVID-19 outbreak at your loved one’s aged care centre.

Unfortunately since my last update to you we have been notified that our resident who was transferred to Westmead Hospital earlier this month sadly passed away at the weekend.

The resident, who was in her 80s, will be greatly missed by her friends and staff at IRT Berala on the Park.

On behalf of everyone at IRT, I would like to pass on my sincere condolences to the resident’s family and friends, and our residents and staff at Berala who are saddened by her passing.

As they always do when one of our residents passes away, staff will go about their work today caring for all our residents, and in quiet moments will reflect on what they knew of the resident, the connections they made with her, and her long life, well lived.

Test results

We continue to work with the local public health unit to ensure the care centre is managed in accordance with our outbreak management plan and this includes the ongoing regime of precautionary testing.

Results of tests conducted since my last update have disappointingly confirmed another positive case on Level 3. Pleasingly, however, all other PCR results were negative.

In other news, 14 residents who were previously diagnosed with COVID-19 have reached their full recovery criteria and are now free of the virus. We also expect a further six residents to reach their full recovery criteria today, pending a final review. This will bring the total number of residents with COVID-19 in the care centre to six. Five of these residents are on Level 3, and one resident is in the Dementia Secure Unit.

We continue to encourage all residents to remain in their rooms where they are being supported by staff with their care needs. The lifestyle team also remains available to assist where needed with phone and video calls.

To ensure we detect any other cases as soon as possible, all residents on Level 2 and Level 3 who have not already tested positive will be tested again tomorrow. Residents in other areas of the care centre do not have to be tested. The tests will be sent off site for analysis and we expect to receive the results within 24 hours. As previously explained if your loved one returns a positive result staff will contact you to let you know.

Visiting arrangements

Until we are certain there is no further risk of transmission of COVID-19 in the care centre you are encouraged to postpone your visit at this time, however if you do continue with your plans to visit please assist staff by complying with the arrangements outlined below.

  • Residents are permitted 2 visitors only and strictly by appointment only.
  • No children under the age of 12 years are permitted to visit. I know this is challenging but please do not bring children to the centre while we are managing an outbreak of COVID-19.
  • All visitors are asked to show proof of a negative rapid antigen test before entering the care centre. If you complete the test at the centre please wait 15 minutes before entering and if you can please take a photo of it with your phone to show staff if they ask you to.
  • All visitors must wear all necessary PPE properly at all times while in the care centre including a P2/N95 mask, face shield and gown which will be provided on entry. You will also be instructed on how to dispose of your PPE safely when leaving.
  • Please co-operate with staff if they ask you to adjust your PPE. The will do so because they know how it is to be worn correctly in order to protect you, your loved one, and all others living and working in the care centre.

Please do not visit your loved one if you are experiencing any symptoms or are feeling unwell, even if the symptoms are mild. Even if you have a negative COVID-19 test result you may still have influenza or another contagious virus.

Please pass this message on to others as you consider appropriate and if you have any questions please contact your Care Manager.

Yours sincerely

Nia Briguglio
EGM – Aged Care Centres

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