Important information about IRT Thomas Holt Kirrawee Aged Care Centre

22 July 2022

Dear family member/resident representative,

Thank you for your continued support as we manage the risk of COVID-19 in your loved one’s aged care centre.

While we continue to care for some residents with the virus in our Magnolia Cottage and COVID-19 wing, pleasingly all other residents are now free of the virus and not required to remain in their rooms.

Residents diagnosed with COVID-19 are experiencing mild to no symptoms at all and are being monitored closely and supported by staff as they remain in their rooms. All other residents of the cottage are also being encouraged to stay in their rooms in order to limit the transmission of the virus.

We will continue our program of early detection with further tests to be conducted over the weekend for residents in the cottage who are yet to test positive.

If your loved one is a resident of Magnolia Cottage staff will stay in touch with you and provide updates in the coming days. While the risk of COVID-19 remains in that area of the care centre, all visits to that area must be made by arrangement with the Care Manager.

With residents from other areas of the care centre now deemed recovered, visiting elsewhere in the care centre can resume as follows.

Visiting arrangements

• 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 will be 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 will be displayed at self-serve rapid antigen testing stations.
• Unless, as above, assistance is required with rapid antigen testing on entry appointments for visits are no longer required.
• 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. This system relies mostly on honesty and we trust that you will do the right thing to keep your loved ones safe. If asked, you will be required to show proof.
• 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 at the aged care centre.

Please do not visit if you are unwell yourself, with even the mildest symptoms. Symptoms of respiratory infection can indicate a range of contagious viruses including COVID-19 and influenza.

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 co-operation.

Yours sincerely

Nia Briguglio
EGM – Aged Care Centres