It’s safe to say that this has been a long and difficult year for aged care residents, their families and staff.
January saw a number of aged care homes endangered by bushfires, but it was soon clear that the sector faced another threat: coronavirus.
The pandemic saw tough restrictions put on aged care homes with limits on visitors, bans on gatherings, activities and excursions – and worse.
Sadly, the high rates of community transmission saw outbreaks in residential care in both NSW and Victoria – with Victoria’s second wave infecting thousands of aged care residents, staff and their close contacts, leading to the deaths of 655 Australians living in aged care homes.
States have been dropping visitor restrictions in aged care
With the cases falling and lockdown restrictions easing, the States and Territories have been easing back on their restrictions – last week, NSW became the latest state to drop its two visitor a day rule for facilities.
“Social connections are important to all of us, but particularly to residents in aged care. We are very pleased to enable residents to spend time with more of their loved ones this festive season, and to provide this certainty for families as they finalise their plans,” NSW Health’s Director of Aged Care, Stefanie Williams, said in a statement.
The national Visitor Code for visiting aged care homes during COVID – first released in May – was updated last month to reflect the new ‘COVID-normal’ situation in Australia.
Aged care homes on the Northern Beaches told to bar visitors
But this week has shown the threat posed by the coronavirus is still out there.
NSW has recorded 28 cases of community transmission following an outbreak on Sydney’s Northern Beaches – including one in an aged care worker who works at a retirement village and had no symptoms.
Aged care homes in the area have been directed by the health authorities to close their doors to visitors until the outbreak is contained.
Under the National Code, providers can restrict visitors when there is a COVID outbreak in the local community.
But they must offer alternatives to connect residents and families such as technology, window visits and balconies.
Stay safe over the holidays
The positive cases are a good reminder that we are the best defense against this virus until there is a vaccine available.
While we will be visiting older relatives this year for Christmas, we will be following the precautions put in place by the aged care home and keeping up our social distancing and hand hygiene.
After all, we want to keep our loved ones safe.
If you do have an issue with visiting a loved one in residential care, you can contact the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC) on 1800 951 822 (free call) or email them at info@agedcarequality.gov.au.
