Visiting and resident outing arrangements

Please be aware that restrictions may apply if the aged care centre you are planning to visit is managing an outbreak of transmissible infection. If you’re not sure, before visiting please phone the aged care centre to check.

Visiting arrangements

There is no limit to the number of visitors (of any age) that a resident can have at any one time. We ask that you be mindful of the surrounding environment and size of your loved one’s room.

All visitors must comply with the details below.

Before you visit:

• Please consider annual flu vaccination for all visitors over the age of 6 months.
• Please consider COVID-19 vaccination for you and anyone visiting with you, who is over the age of 5 years.
• To reduce the risk of infection transmission, please wear clean clothes and come straight from home to the care centre.
• To reduce the risk of a person with COVID-19 entering the care centre 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.

When you arrive:

• Please sign in at the dedicated entry point and complete the wellness questionnaire including temperature testing. Please be patient and maintain social distancing if you have to wait while others complete the wellness check ahead of you.
• Please put on a mask and wear it at all times when you are visiting your loved one in their care centre. This includes the hallways, common areas and your loved one’s room. Masks are provided at the entrance.
  When a care centre is operating in outbreak conditions, all visitors will be asked to wear additional PPE including a different type of mask; a closer fitting P2/N95 mask, and face shield.
• Please wash your hands thoroughly before entering and leaving the aged care centre, or use alcohol-based hand sanitiser.

Resident outings

Residents can leave the care centre either by themselves or with a friend or relative for a range of reasons.

Before leaving the centre you can discuss with the Care Manager or the rostered staff member in charge any risks associated with the proposed outing, and they may provide advice and input on how to stay safe while away from the care centre.

This will include the following:

• Please consider the location of the outing and the risk of infection transmission. For example, large indoor areas where social distancing is not possible.
• To minimise the risk to all who attend large family or friend gatherings, including those most vulnerable, please consider asking all to take a rapid antigen test before the event and not to attend if they feel unwell.

Please note: residents who leave the centre to attend an event or gathering will be asked to complete a COVID-19 rapid antigen test on days two, four and six after they return. If they develop any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 or other respiratory infection, they will need to isolate and complete a rapid antigen or PCR test.