With the latest Omicron variants spreading rapidly, many headlines this week have focused on the increasing number of COVID-19 outbreaks in Australia’s aged care homes.
Almost one in three residential aged care homes – 819 homes – currently have outbreaks of COVID-19, and medical experts and Governments are forecasting that the case numbers will continue to rise in the coming weeks.
This is a worrying time for older Australians and their families, especially those in residential aged care, so it was heartening to hear Anika Wells, Minister for Aged Care, say on Wednesday that 70 per cent of aged care residents have been vaccinated with a fourth dose, which is a much higher rate than the wider population.
It is also welcoming to see that both the Government and aged care providers are taking steps to protect people living in residential care.
On Thursday, Ms Wells released the Winter Plan, a guide for residential aged care providers to provide advice on how to deal with the current wave of cases.
“That response is in five parts: vaccination, antiviral access, proactive engagement, visitor and worker safety and infection control training,” she said.
The Federal Government has also sped up access to oral antiviral treatments for every COVID-positive resident aged 70 years and over.
“Treatment should be offered to every person 70 years of age or older who tests positive for COVID-19 (regardless of setting), where clinically appropriate, within 24 hours of a positive test,” Professor Paul Kelly, the Government’s Chief Medical Officer, said.
Family members, friends and staff can also do their part to help by getting a booster and following visitor requirements when they visit a loved one in residential care.
Adults aged 50 to 64 years are now recommended to receive a winter booster dose, and adults 30 to 49 can receive a fourth dose if they wish.
Masks are required to enter a residential aged care home and operators can impose further restrictions on entry.
There is no doubt that this is a challenging time for everyone in aged care, particularly after two years of restrictions, but we all need to do our bit to support our Mums and Dads now.
