18 February 2022
Dear family member/resident representative,
I would like to thank you for your support and understanding as we manage your loved one’s aged care centre during what is a period of great challenge for everyone.
As is occurring in all industries right now, many of our aged care centres in NSW are experiencing staff shortages as our employees either recover from COVID-19 or isolate as close contacts.
Your loved one’s safety is a priority and we are committed to ensuring we minimise the risk of COVID-19 entering our aged care centres, and supressing it if it does. We are also committed to balancing these precautions with the mental wellbeing of our residents; emotional support and companionship is a significant part of this.
Partners in Care
While we remain focussed on ensuring the best care for our residents there are many opportunities for more support with some tasks, which you or other family may already assist with including emotional support and companionship.
As we explore a number of options to assist our staff with these tasks we are also seeking expressions of interest from family members who may be free to spend more time with your loved one to provide that emotional support and companionship.
This approach is aligned with the Commonwealth Government’s Partnerships in Care initiative, which has been developed to support safe assistance in aged care centres while COVID-19 remains an ongoing risk. Details of this initiative can be found here.
Can you help?
You may wish to consider supporting the team at your loved one’s aged care centre with the care of your loved one.
There is no minimum time commitment; we would be pleased to have your support for however short or long during the periods of morning tea to lunch times; and afternoon tea to dinner times.
Do you need training or qualifications?
While the main qualification is a genuine interest in helping your loved one and partnering in their care you will need to complete 1.5 hours of online training and a 4 hour face-to-face practical training session.
You’re interested. What next?
Firstly we would like you to express your interest by calling our Customer Service Team on 134 478.
They will ask you for your name, phone number and details of what types of support you or another family member may be able to partner us with. Please note that currently visiting is restricted to two people per resident but this can be increased to three people if one of them is partnering in care.
Once you have logged your expression of interest, Mia Parsons IRT Volunteer Unit Manager will be in touch to support you in becoming a Partner in Care for your loved one. Following confirmation from your loved one that they are comfortable with your participation as a Partner in Care there are many opportunities for you to offer support. Click here to read the fact sheet about IRT’s Partner in Care program.
I realise that for many, assisting at this time may not be possible but I remain grateful however for your patience and support as we work under these difficult circumstances to care for your loved one and ensure they remain safe.
I look forward to your ongoing support.
Nia Briguglio
EGM – Aged Care Centres
