COVID-19 lockdowns have caused heartache to families and friends unable to see loved ones inside aged care homes – but many providers and their staff went above and beyond to ensure that residents maintained their social connections.
Now Not For Profit HammondCare has been awarded the Innovation in Service or Design category in the NSW/ACT 2021 ACSA Aged Care Awards for its Partnering in Care program, which has allowed visits to continue during lockdowns.
About 1,800 family and friends of HammondCare residents have completed the online and virtual workshops that provide training in COVID-safe practices, infection control, hygiene and general care since the program was launched last year.
HammondCare Chief Operating and Risk Officer Angela Raguz, who received the award during an online event, said the program had enabled essential visits to continue in a measured and intelligent way.
“We recognised early that COVID-19 was a marathon and we needed to provide a way for visits to continue in a safe way to ensure the social wellbeing of our residents,” Ms Raguz said.
“We are proud to have developed a way for visits to continue as we know physical and social isolation can have an impact on residents.”
HammondCare now plans to expand the program to other areas where families and their loved ones may benefit from the training.
A well-deserved award then.
