Staying Safe Our Acute Respiratory Illness (ARI) Update:
We are currently on GREEN visiting status
The happiness, safety, health and wellbeing of our Residents is an absolute priority for Woolgoolga & District Retirement Village Ltd, incorporating Woolgoolga Aged Care Centre.
We know the that being able to have a visit with a loved one is a compassionate action, essential to support the emotional, social, and mental wellbeing of our residents.
Our Acute Respiratory Illness Protocols for Visiting.
Given the fluctuating rates of community transmission and the frequency of acute respiratory illnesses (ARI), including COVID-19 outbreaks and exposures, we have implemented this visiting guide to assist residents, their families, friends, our staff, volunteers, contractors and our wider community in understanding our visiting protocols that will be in place from time to time, based on frequent risk assessments undertaken at Woolgoolga Aged Care Centre.
We know that being able to have a visit with a loved one is a compassionate action, essential to support the emotional, social, and mental wellbeing of our residents.
The following visiting protocols have been developed in line with the Industry Code of Visiting in Aged Care Homes Industry Code for Visiting in Aged Care Homes – COTA Australia in support of residents being able to continue to receive visitors and balance the risk and safety obligations of preventing and managing an acute respiratory illness outbreak or exposure with the risk of social isolation and harm caused by excluding visitors. Three visiting protocols are provided below and they outline:
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The protocol Woolgoolga Aged Care centre will adopt when we are not experiencing an outbreak or exposure and when there are very low or no levels of local community transmission of acute respiratory illnesses, including Covid-19.
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The visiting protocol Woolgoolga Aged Care Centre will adopt when we are not experiencing an outbreak or exposure when there are mid to high levels of local community transmission of acute respiratory illnesses, including Covid-19.
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The protocol Woolgoolga Aged Care Centre will adopt when we experience an outbreak or exposure to acute respiratory illnesses, including Covid-19.
Visiting Protocol 1: When Woolgoolga Aged Care Centre is not experiencing an outbreak/exposure (No or very low levels of local community transmission) - GREEN
Due to low or no rates of community transmission.
Residents are permitted to have visitors under the following conditions:
- Visitor numbers are not limited.
- Visitors are strongly encouraged to get Covid-19 vaccinations and booster vaccines as soon as they are eligible for them.
- Visitors are strongly encouraged to receive the seasonal flu vaccine as soon as it is available.
- Visitors will need to participate with screening, sign in and out for their visit and follow the infection control guidance of our staff when on site at all times.
- Visitors may be required to undertake and produce a negative Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) if clinically indicated, prior to each visit and must be temperature screened at entry to the facility.
- All visitors must socially distance whilst on-site and must stay 1.5 meters away from any other individual.
- Wherever possible, we encourage the visit to be in an outdoor area, patio or balcony or be in the resident’s individual room. If you wish to visit in a communal area, please speak to our Director of Nursing prior to doing so.
Visitors must not enter Woolgoolga Aged Care Centre at any time if they:
- Have Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) symptoms.
- Have had a high-risk exposure, are a household contact of someone with Covid-19, or are a close contact of someone with an acute respiratory illness including Covid-19, should not enter high risk settings for at least 7 days since their exposure to a Covid-positive or ill person.
- Are waiting for a Covid-19 test result or a respiratory pathology test result.
Resident outings: Are encouraged. We further encourage all residents and families to follow all the usual precautions for acute respiratory illnesses in the community and meet in lower risk areas (such as outdoor venues or private homes without exposures) wherever possible.
For residents returning to Woolgoolga Aged Care Centre from a high-risk area, such as a hospital or known outbreak location they will undertake RAT testing on days 2, 4 and 7 following their return and they may need to isolate in their room for 3 days if required. If the individual resident develops any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 or ARI, we will need them to isolate for a period of up to 7 days, where possible, and undertake further testing.
Visiting Protocol 2: When Woolgoolga Aged Care Centre is not experiencing an outbreak/exposure (High levels of local community transmission)- AMBER
Due to mid to high rates of community transmission.
- Visits will need to be pre-booked by calling 02 6654 0022 and speaking to our reception staff between the hours of 10.00am and 3.00pm Monday to Friday. A limited number of visitors will be able to attend Woolgoolga Aged Care Centre at any one time to ensure that maximum numbers of people in various areas of the facility are not exceeded.
- You are strongly encouraged to pre-book a few days in advance for busy periods such as lunchtime to avoid disappointment. As we have additional staff employed to facilitate visitor access, bookings should be made to occur between 10.00am and 3.00pm daily wherever possible. Visits outside of this time can only occur through special arrangement under the authority of the Chief Executive Officer, the Operations Manager or the Director of Nursing.
- Visitors be required to participate with screening, sign in and out for their visit, and be subject to a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) which must produce a negative result. You will also need to follow mask-wearing and PPE requirements, only visit in the designated visiting areas and follow staff instruction at all times.
- All visitors must socially distance whilst on-site and must stay 1.5 meters away from any other individual.
- You will only be able to visit the resident you nominate at the time of your visit.
- Visitors are also strongly encouraged to get all Covid-19 and booster vaccines when eligible, as soon as possible.
- Visitors are strongly encouraged to receive the seasonal flu vaccine as soon as it is available.
- All unvaccinated people wishing to visit are to contact our Director of Nursing and undertake risk assessment screening and understand additional PPE and infection control requirements may apply to your visit.
Visitors must not enter Woolgoolga Aged Care Centre at any time if they:
- Have Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) symptoms.
- Have had a high-risk exposure, are a household contact of someone with Covid-19, or are a close contact of someone with an acute respiratory illness including Covid-19, should not enter high risk settings for at least 7 days since their exposure to a Covid-positive or ill person.
- Are waiting for a Covid-19 test result or a respiratory pathology test result.
Resident outings: Are encouraged. We strongly encourage all residents and families to follow all the usual precautions and meet in lower risk areas (such as outdoor venues or private homes without exposure) wherever possible.
For residents returning to Woolgoolga Aged Care Centre from a high-risk area, such as a hospital or known outbreak location they will undertake RAT testing on days 2, 4 and 7 following their return and they may need to isolate in their room for 3 days if required. If the individual resident develops any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 or ARI, we will need them to isolate for a period of up to 7 days, where possible, and undertake further testing.
Visiting Protocol 3: When Woolgoolga Aged Care Centre is experiencing an outbreak/exposure- RED
If Woolgoolga Aged Care Centre experiences an exposure or outbreak the WDRV Outbreak Management Team will consult with the Public Health unit. Our aim is to ensure continuity of care for residents who would normally experience daily or regular support from loved ones, prior to the outbreak or exposure.
During periods of Red Visiting Status there will be visitor restrictions in place. We will increase video and phone calls so our residents can stay connected with loved ones, but it is also important to note that video and phone calls can be arranged at any time whether visiting restrictions are in place or not.
During periods of Red Visiting Status we encourage visiting from each individual residents nominated partner in care only.
Partners in care are those visitors who play a recognised role in the daily care and support of a resident, such as: helping with meals, personal care, and emotional support. These visitors are particularly important for residents with dementia and residents with a diagnosed mental health issue.
To be deemed a partner in care you would have visited the resident regularly and provided assistance with tasks of daily living. A register of partners in care is maintained at Woolgoolga Aged Care Centre. The determination of who is a partner in care is established between the resident/visitor/family’s person responsible and the Director of Nursing. Each resident can nominate one partner in care.
Approved partners in care are permitted to continue visiting if they are willing to:
- Participate in screening,
- Sign in and out of the facility
- Produce a negative RAT test prior to entry (frequency of testing will be the same as being done for staff), and
- Wear full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and abide by all infection control guidelines and instructions from our staff.
Partners in care can visit daily, preferably around mealtimes to assist their loved one. Visits must occur within the residents own room.
In addition to partners in care, visitors who need to see a loved one who is at end of life, can visit in consultation with the Director of Nursing who will facilitate these visits if clinically indicated.
In these instances end of life visitors will be required to produce a negative Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) prior to entry into Woolgoolga Aged Care Centre and wear full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). If you are not fully vaccinated, the Director of Nursing will discuss additional precautions to be taken to facilitate your visit prior to the visit occurring.
Visiting hours for partners in care and end-of-life visitors are available for those that work full time and include weekends but are preferred at the service between 10.00am and 3.00pm daily as we have additional staff employed to facilitate visitor access and provide testing and screening for persons entering the centre.
Orientation to properly donning and doffing PPE is available here https://youtu.be/Yk3P1HDYURI and will be provided at Woolgoolga Aged Care Centre for initial visits of partners in care and essential visitors including end of life visitors during red visiting status periods.
During outbreaks and exposures our Outbreak Management Team will work with Public Health and other health agencies to ensure we can lift our restrictions for non-impacted residents as soon as possible and return these residents to Amber visiting status as soon as possible. We will advise all relevant nominated resident representatives when this occurs and will provide updates via our website for the wider community, family and friends.
Resident outings are not permitted when Woolgoolga Aged Care Centre is experiencing red visiting status, unless in consultation with the Director of Nursing the appointment/outing is deemed essential.
Every effort will be made to defer medical appointments or conduct them virtually where possible when the centre is in outbreak or exposure.
Staying Safe.
Our COVID19 Update
The happiness, safety, health and wellbeing of our residents is an absolute priority
