Coronavirus up to Date Information for Residents, Friends and Family

Last Updated: 29 March 1537 hrs

Please use this page for the most up to date information regarding the Coronavirus and Respect Aged Care. This page will be updated regularly.

It has become exceedingly apparent that traditional methods of communication are failing during the recent outbreak of Coronavirus. Respect Aged Care has created this page as a single source of truth for residents, friends, and family regarding the Coronavirus and steps Respect Aged Care are taking to minimise the risk to our residents.

To sign up to our newsletter to receive instant notifications, please visit respect.com.au/signup

Contact

Brett Menzies 0408 562 498 or brett.menzies@respect.com.au.

Current Status

Queensland Visitors

Please be advised of the recent COVID risk within Queensland in the Brisbane and Moreton Bay areas. The high-risk locations are listed on the Tasmanian coronavirus website at www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au/travellers-and-visitors/coming-to-tasmania/travel-alert

Anyone who has spent time in medium or high risk areas must not enter any Respect aged care home in the 14 days after doing so, unless exemption is granted by the Director of Public Health.

Tasmanian Homes

Changes to visitations in Tasmanian homes have been updated as of 29 March 2021, with the following information now applicable:

There will no longer be a requirement to pre-book for your visits
There will be no cap on the amount of people that can visit a resident at any one time
You will be able to visit residents from 8am-8pm, 7 days a week
Visits will be able to take place in communal areas around the home, as long as social distancing is maintained and density requirements are adhered to
It is also no longer a requirement to have a current flu vaccination
Persons under the age of 16 will be allowed to visit an aged care home
Visiting services such as hairdressers and allied health professionals will be able to attend a home; and
Residents will be allowed to leave the home, for example with friends and family
Although you no longer need to pre-book your visits, you will still be required to check-on upon arrival and undergo the screening process. So we encourage you to continue to pre-book if possible, as it will save you entering all of your details into the system once on-site.

The check-in process involves the following:

Entry to our homes will be limited to designated entry and exit points where Zipline and temperature scanning stations have been set up
In addition, all visitors must comply with our active screening process, which includes temperature checking, and questions regarding any respiratory symptoms
Once you have checked in you will receive a visitor sticker, which you must wear at all times once inside the homes. No sticker, No visit.

Victorian Homes

Face masks are mandatory when visiting people in care facilities
There are no limits on the purpose of visits, the number of visitors or the length of the visit to care facilities
People of any age can visit people in care facilities
Visitation is only to occur in the resident’s bedroom and not utilise communal area
Church services & group volunteer activities will continue to be suspended until further notice
All personal care workers, including hairdressers and barbers, can visit care facilities to provide hairdressing services to residents
Do not visit someone in a care facility if you are feeling unwell. Stay home and get tested.

New South Wales Homes

There are no limits on the purpose of visits, the number of visitors or the length of the visit to care facilities
People of any age can visit people in care facilities
Visitation is only to occur in the resident’s bedroom and not utilise communal area
Church services & group volunteer activities will continue to be suspended until further notice
All personal care workers, including hairdressers and barbers, can visit care facilities to provide hairdressing services to residents
Do not visit someone in a care facility if you are feeling unwell. Stay home and get tested

Booking A Visit – Tasmania

Although it is no longer a requirement to book a visit in Tasmanian homes, we still strongly encourage you to do so if possible, as it will save you from entering the same information when you are on-site. Bookings to Tasmanian homes can be made here

Booking A Visit – Victoria & NSW

The first step when booking a visit is to contact the home of your loved one and you will be given a code and instructions on how to make a booking through the website. We will continue to manage visits using our online booking system here. Once in the booking system you will be taken through a series of educational videos. Please be aware that the booking system shuts off at 3pm on a Friday and comes back up online at 9am Monday. This means you will not be able to make a booking in between these times for that weekend. You are still able to book for other times in the future, just not for that particular weekend. This is so that visitor numbers can be planned for that weekend where admin resources are less.

Visitor Requirements

Visitors, once on site, will be asked to:

complete a risk-based questionnaire regarding recent travel and activities;
have their temperature taken;
be supervised on entry to ensure proper hand sanitisation;
maintain social distancing from their loved one of 1.5 meters throughout the duration of their visit;
only visit their loved one in their room and with no access to public or communal areas (Vic/NSW only), or to visit other residents; and
wear personal protective equipment if deemed necessary in the future depending on the circumstances.

Current Visitation Restrictions

No person may enter the premises of a Respect site if they:

are unwell with flu-like symptoms, such as a cough, sore throat, runny nose, shortness of breath, or fever;
have had known contact in the last 14 days with a person who was a confirmed case of coronavirus (COVID-19); or
have a temperature higher than 37.5 degrees.
are a diagnosed person or close contact under the Diagnosed Persons and Close Contacts Directions;
have, during the 14 days prior to entry, arrived in Australia from overseas (other than on a quarantine-free flight from an overseas location designated by the Australian Government as a green travel zone);
have, during the 14 days prior to entry, had known contact with a confirmed case (except in the course of your employment while wearing the appropriate level of personal protective equipment in the circumstances);
have SARS-CoV-2 Symptoms; or
if you are a visitor – have been tested for COVID-19 and are awaiting your test results.

Residents in the Community

Residents will now be permitted to enter the community for outings such as shopping, provided they are following government regulations regarding masks. Due to social distancing requirements we are still not in a position to recommence bus trip outings or large group activities, and all of our staff and residents continue to adhere to density regulations. Respect is implementing every measure possible to prevent coronavirus entering one of our sites.

Loved ones can still be contacted by telephone and video chat facilities if they wish to do so. If you would like to speak with your loved one by video chat please don’t hesitate to contact the home your loved one resides in so this can be arranged.

We do not currently have any cases of coronavirus at any home, and will continue to closely monitor the situation and make changes to visitation as necessary.

There are 28,708 confirmed cases in Australia with 909 recorded deaths.

What is the Coronavirus?

The Coronavirus is a new virus, distinctively different from existing viruses such as Influenza or Gastroenteritis.

Despite reports to the contrary, the Coronavirus is not just like Influenza. Humans have not had previous exposure and therefore have no pre-existing immunity to the virus.

How can I see or talk to my love one?

Loved ones can still always be contacted by telephone, and during this time we have setup video chat facilities so friends and family can see and talk to their loved one face to face if they wish to do so. If you would like to speak with your loved one by video chat please don’t hesitate to contact the home your loved one resides in so this can be arranged.

We have seen ingenious ideas such as this in other countries where lock downs are occurring:

As a progressive aged care organisation, Respect will investigate all types of ways to keep our residents engaged with their loved ones. Next to their personal safety, their emotional well-being is paramount to us and we encourage family and friends to stay in contact as much as possible during this time.

What are the extenuating circumstances where I can see my loved in the home?

If your loved one is passing away, please contact the aged care home where your loved one resides so we can ensure you see them if you do not pose a risk to other residents. Other extenuating circumstances will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

If the visit is deemed necessary then you will be met at the front entrance, and;

will be shown how to properly sanitise your hands;
will need to complete a brief questionnaire which will include questions regarding recent travel including interstate, recent health issues, and contact with any known person with Coronavirus;
will be required to have your temperature taken; and
may also be required to wear personal protective equipment depending on the circumstances at the time.

Tasmanian sites only – What should I do if I am currently on the mainland or plan to travel out of Tasmania in the near future?

The Tasmanian Government has declared that from midnight on Friday, 20 March 2020, anyone arriving into Tasmania will be required to self-isolate for 14 days. This includes Tasmanian residents returning home to Tasmania.

Whilst the self-isolation will not apply to essential travelers, including health care workers, at this stage, we believe it will apply to all other non-essential visitors to the state including family of residents.

Are all elderly in general at risk?

It appears as people age so does their chance of having pre-existing conditions, and less fitness to “fight off” the Coronavirus which puts them at higher risk.

What pre-existing condition puts someone at higher risk?

Pre-existing conditions which currently appear to put people at higher risk than others include cardiovascular disease, diabetes, respiratory disease, hypertension, and cancer.

Should I be personally worried?

More than 80% of cases experience mild symptoms only.

The mortality rate of persons with no pre-existing conditions appears to be less than 1%, however this may include undiagnosed pre-existing conditions.

People most at risk are those with pre-existing conditions. If you have a pre-existing condition, we recommend considering self-isolation.

How can I help?

The best thing family and friends can do is keep in contact with your loved ones so they do not feel socially isolated. Please remember to reassure them the lock down is precautionary.

You can also follow hygiene instructions from trusted sources, including the the Department of Health and World Health Organization (WHO), to do your part in the community.

Hand Hygiene

Please see the following video for proper hand hygiene using the WHO method.

Cough and Sneeze Etiquette

Please see the following poster for proper cough and sneeze etiquette.

Social Distancing

Social distancing is an important way to mitigate the risks of the virus in the community.