The ‘Industry Code for Visiting Residential Aged Care Homes during COVID-19’ was released this week following warnings from Prime Minister Scott Morrison that aged care operators must allow families to visit during COVID-19.
You can download the Code here.
As we covered here, many operators had said that they have a responsibility to protect all residents and staff – and the risk of the virus resulting in many deaths if it entered a home was too high.
The 13-point code – developed by the aged care peak bodies and consumer advocacy groups – is designed to provide a balance between these concerns and the wishes of family members to see loved ones.
Under the Code, visits to homes can take place in a number of ways, including through the use of technology or involve the use of windows, courtyards and balconies.
However, providers must offer alternative ways for residents to connect with family and friends where these are not effective (such as for residents with dementia or sensory loss).
Aged care homes can choose how many visitors that they allow at one time and use booking systems to facilitate visits.
Visitors must answer screening questions, provide proof of a current flu vaccination and follow any rules laid out by the home including hand hygiene, temperature checks, social distancing and wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Regular room visits and longer visits will also be allowed for those who are receiving end-of-life care.
Importantly, the wishes of the residents – about who visits them and when – comes first.
“The range of visits made available will be negotiated between residents, their visitors and staff of the homes. Residents may choose to have visits in a variety of these forms allowing them greater opportunities to remain in contact with families and friends,” the Code reads.
If a suspected or actual outbreak or case of COVID-19 takes place, aged care homes can still ban visitors – but must provide extra communication with families during this time.
The Code will now be reviewed in two weeks’ time to make sure it is effective – something ACSA CEO Pat Sparrow says is “just as important” as the Code.
“We need to monitor this closely because we can’t afford to get complacent,” she said. “The price paid by older people in aged care will be too high.”
A key point – the number of Australian aged care residents testing positive for COVID-19 stalled for the first time this week since the pandemic began.
None of us want to see those numbers going back up again.
