27 September 2022
Dear family member/resident representative,
Thank you for your ongoing support and patience as we continue to manage the risk of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) at your loved one’s care centre.
Since writing to you last week, I’m pleased to let you know that two more of our residents who were previously diagnosed with RSV have now fully recovered and are free to leave their rooms.
Unfortunately, however, we’ve had a couple more residents test positive to the virus in both Callala House and Comerong House.
We are now caring for five residents with RSV and apart from experiencing some mild flu-like symptoms, all residents are regarded as stable. We continue to monitor these residents closely and they are being reviewed by their GPs on a regular basis.
All residents with RSV in Callala House and Comerong House are being encouraged to remain in their rooms where staff are supporting them with their care needs and serving their meals.
Our Lifestyle team is also providing residents with activities to suit a range of interests and offering their assistance where needed to connect with family and friends via phone and video calls.
All other residents in the care centre are well, without viral symptoms, and are free to leave their rooms and meet with others to participate in group activities as usual.
I will continue to provide updates like this one, but if you are talking with your loved one and have any concerns please let the Care Manager know.
Visiting arrangements
Callala House and Comerong House
While the risk of RSV transmission remains, 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 (except Callala House and Comerong House)
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. I do ask that you be mindful of the surrounding environment and size of your loved one’s room.
- 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 have had COVID-19 you must not enter an aged care centre until 10 days has passed from your diagnosis day, and you have no symptoms.
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
