The state has become the first to go beyond the current Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) advice on residential care and lift restrictions on visitors to aged care residents.
Under the national advice, residents can only have two visitors at one time per day and children aged under 16 are only permitted in limited circumstances, such as palliative care.
But under changes announced by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk yesterday, aged care residents can have two visitors at a time – including children – for as often and as long as they like.
You can read the full list of changes here.
Residents can also leave their homes for specific reasons such as exercise, health appointments, to visit another aged care home and attend funerals and family gatherings of up to 20 people.
Service providers, such as physiotherapists, podiatrists, legal advisors, music and diversional therapists and hairdressers, are also now allowed to visit.
However, visitors must have had their 2020 flu vaccination – which is now required for all visitors to aged care homes under both Federal and State legislation.
Group outings, like day trips, are also still banned.
Ms Palaszczuk said: “Now that we are in a safer position, we can afford to ease some of these restrictions to allow residents to receive visits from more of their loved ones.”
However, the changes raise concerns about whether the states are moving too fast to ease restrictions.
The AHPPC advice was issued because it was recognised that our frail and elderly residents are more vulnerable to this virus.
While the number of cases of community transmission has dropped, there is still a real risk to older people
Of course, we want to be able to visit our family and friends in residential care, but we still need to stay COVID safe.
Under the national guidelines, visitors to aged care homes should take place in the resident’s room, outdoors or a specified area in the aged care facility.
Always wash your hands before entering and leaving an aged care home, avoid any communal spaces and stay 1.5 metres away from residents where possible.
And of course, do not visit if you are unwell, or have a fever (37.5 degrees or more) or a cough, runny nose, sore throat or breathing difficulties.
Doing the right thing could not only save the lives of our Mums and Dads, but also their fellow residents.
