The media has been understandably focusing on aged care homes being safe from COVID-19, and Australia has done a remarkable job in keeping residents safe.
Consider this: in Canada, the same size of country and population as Australia, up to last week aged care residents made up 82% of Canada’s 6,600 deaths – around 5,400 people. We have had 103 deaths for the whole of Australia.
Behind these great results has been a lot of good work by a lot of people, especially retirement villages where there have been no direct deaths from the pandemic.
One of the tools they are using is thermal temperature imaging, so not only residents can be checked, but also staff, tradespeople who visit and family and friends.
But how does this technology work?
Thermal imaging cameras measure skin surface temperature and identifies individuals with Elevated Body Temperature (EBT).
It measures key areas, especially the corner of the eye and forehead. The tear duct (at the inner canthus) is the location that provides the closest temperature correlation to human core body temperature.
It is remarkable technology, and readily available.
An advertiser with our sister publication The SOURCE, Acsess Health, has a Temperature Check Station that will read the temperature fast, within 0.2 seconds, and to within less than 0.3 degrees accuracy when a person stands before it. And no staff are required.
This terminal costs only $2,500. Not bad when you consider that people are visiting villages at least 18 hours a day, seven days a week!
Looking forward, if you live alone in the suburbs, such things as your health security should now be a major consideration. Villages are a real alternative for peace of mind.
Find out more at villages.com.au.
