With the coronavirus spread worsening around the world this week – and older people being the most vulnerable to the illness – we know many of you will be worried about your loved ones here – particularly those living in aged care homes.
In the United States and the UK, some aged care providers have asked families and friends to ‘minimise’ visits, stopped ‘non-essential visits’ or are limiting residents to one visitor a day to prevent coronavirus spreading into their homes.
So, should you still visit your family members and friends in aged care here?
It is sad to think that elderly Australians could be missing out on the social connection and support they receive from face-to-face visits.
Currently, the Department of Health has no advice that relatives should stop visiting aged care homes.
However, they are requesting visitors to take sensible precautions to keep our residents safe.
As we discussed last week, the Department is asking people to not visit aged care homes for 14 days if they have travelled overseas to any high-risk areas – now mainland China, Iran, Italy and South Korea – or been in contact with someone who has travelled to those areas.
They are also urging people who experience any flu-like symptoms to not visit aged care homes and seek medical attention – even if you think you only have a cold or another respiratory illness.
Providers are also asking families to do their part.
That means sticking to any guidance provided by the home to keep residents safe, such as signing in and out of the facility, using hand sanitiser at the entrance to the home and keeping other family members, including children, at home if they are unwell.
All have already taken the precautionary step of cancelling visits by schools and childcare groups.
If you are unsure if you should visit or not, call the facility’s manager.
As with most viruses, good hand and sneeze/cough hygiene is still the best defence. The Departments is requesting Australians:
- wash their hands frequently with soap and water, before and after eating, and after going
- to the toilet
- cover their cough and sneeze, dispose of tissues, and use alcohol-based hand sanitiser
- and if unwell, avoid contact with others (stay more than 1.5 metres from people).
As always, the message is: be alert, but not alarmed.
You can find more information for families of aged care residents from the Department of Health here.
If you are concerned about the home in which your relative or friend is living, you can contact the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission on 1800 951 822 or visit their website here.
