14 April 2021
Visiting arrangements – for all IRT aged care centres
The arrangements outlined below are subject to change at short notice pending directions for state and federal public health advice; should there be a group of unwell residents; or if a local COVID-19 outbreak is identified.
All visitors over 12 years of age to a NSW IRT aged care centre are requested to wear a surgical or clean cloth mask for the duration of their visit.
Please DO NOT visit if you have recently been to any local, interstate or overseas venues, case locations or geographical areas of risk listed on the NSW Health, ACT Health, or Queensland Health websites. Please check these websites for updated information before you visit.
Please note:
- For all IRT aged care centres, there are no restrictions on the number of visitors a resident can have each day or at any one time.
- Please note: the number of visitors may need to be limited to ensure adequate space for social distancing in accordance with Public Health directions.
- There is no limit to the length of time a person or persons may visit.
- All visits to occur between 10am and 5pm – 7 days.
- Appointments are not necessary for visits Monday to Friday (between 10am and 5pm)
- Appointments are necessary for visits at all other times including weekends– we cannot arrange a visit at those times without prior notice.
- Book your appointment by phoning your loved one’s aged care centre Monday to Friday between 10am and 3pm (please do not call, SMS or email on weekends to book a visit).
- Visitors aged 16 years and under are permitted.
- Flu Vaccination
- In Queensland from 3 May 2021 it is mandatory for all visitors to an aged care centre to provide proof of a 2021 Flu Vaccination.
- It is not yet mandatory in other states but we strongly encourage all visitors to consider receiving the 2021 Flu Vaccination.
- All visits must take place in your loved one’s room or in a designated outdoor area.
- Visitors must sign in at a dedicated entry point – this will be clearly marked on your arrival.
- All visitors must undertake a wellness check on arrival at the aged care centre. Please be patient and maintain social distancing if you have to wait while others complete the wellness check ahead of you.
- We encourage you to consider keeping your influenza vaccination current however this is not a government requirement for visitors to our residents at this time.
- All visitors must wash their hands thoroughly before entering and leaving the aged care centre or use alcohol-based hand sanitiser.
- After signing in please proceed directly to the room of the person you are visiting or outdoor location.
- Please maintain social distancing of at least 1.5 metres, unless assisting with personal care, such as meals; do not stop to chat with others as you make your way to and from visiting your loved one.
- To minimise risk of transmission we ask that you please wear clean clothes and come straight to the aged care centre from home.
Please DO NOT visit the aged care centre if you or anyone you have been in contact with has been:
- to, or is living in, an area of increased testing or area of concern as identified by state and territory health departments
- a close contact of a person confirmed with COVID-19 and are within their self-isolation period
- living in a household with a person who is currently self-isolating
- for a COVID-19 test and is still waiting for their result
- experiencing COVID-19 symptoms of fever (37.5 degrees or more), cough, shortness of breath, sputum production, sore throat, loss of smell or taste, runny nose, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, fatigue or nasal congestion.
Resident outings – for all IRT aged care centres
Please check NSW Health , ACT Health and Queensland Health to ensure you aren’t planning to take your loved one to an identified case location, hotspot or geographical area of risk.
Residents may leave the aged care centre to visit community locations such as shops and cafes, attend medical appointments, or join a gathering with numbers in accordance with Public Health Orders.
Residents may join a gathering if there will be no person at the gathering who in the last 14 days has been:
- to, or is living in, an area of increased testing or area of concern as identified by state and territory health departments
- a close contact of a person confirmed with COVID-19 and are within their self-isolation period
- living in a household with a person who is currently self-isolating
- for a COVID-19 test and is still waiting for their result.
- experiencing COVID-19 symptoms of fever (37.5 degrees or more), cough, shortness of breath, sputum production, sore throat, loss of smell or taste, runny nose, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, fatigue or nasal congestion.
On leaving the centre all residents and/or their representative will be asked to complete a resident outing form and confirm understanding of the above requirements. If unable to confirm the above the resident may be asked to self-isolate for 14 days when they return to the aged care centre.
