6 October 2022
Dear family member/resident representative,
Thank you for your ongoing patience and support as we manage the risk of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and a contagious skin infection at your loved one’s aged care centre.
Our resident with RSV in Comerong House is still recovering from the virus. While they have pleasingly showed some signs of improvement, they are still experiencing some mild flu-like symptoms and will continue isolating in their room until they are fully recovered.
Our five residents in Callala House with a contagious skin infection are continuing their treatment this week. For the utmost caution, and to minimise the risk of transmission, all residents in Callala House are being encouraged to remain in their rooms where staff are supporting them with their care needs, serving their meals and providing them with activity packs to suit a range of interests.
I will continue to provide updates like this one, but if you are talking to your loved one and have any concerns, please do not hesitate to speak to the Care Manager.
Visiting arrangements
Callala and Comerong Houses
We encourage you to reconsider any planned visits to these two areas of the care centre at this time. If you do wish to proceed with your visit, please contact the care centre to discuss your plans and you will be guided on how to make it as safe as possible.
All other areas of the care centre
Visiting arrangements for all other areas are outlined below.
- There is no limit to the number of visitors (of any age) that a resident can have at any one time.
- All visitors are asked to complete their own rapid antigen test at home or on arrival at the centre and provide proof of the negative result (photo or actual test). The stations at the care centre are self-serve so our staff can be more available to residents in their roles as carers.
- If a visitor is unable to complete their own rapid antigen test they will need to make an appointment at the care centre for the test to be conducted by staff prior to entry. Contact numbers for staff to assist are displayed at self-serve rapid antigen testing stations.
- Appointments for visits are not required, unless, as above, assistance is required with rapid antigen testing on entry.
- All visitors are to complete the wellness questionnaire on arrival. This includes confirmation that they have had at least 2 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine and the 2022 influenza vaccine.
- All visitors must wear surgical masks when visiting a resident in their room or a P2N95 mask if visiting a resident in common areas (in this case, the Care Centre will provide visitors with the P2N95 mask).
- No cloth masks are permitted.
If you are visiting after-hours and on the weekend, please be patient while waiting for staff to open the door. If they don’t respond immediately it is because they are caring for a resident, but will respond as soon as they are able.
Please do not visit your loved one if you are experiencing any symptoms or are feeling unwell (even if you have a negative COVID-19 test result). You may still have influenza or another virus which is highly contagious.
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
