We would like to thank our Residential Aged Care communities for their support and cooperation as we continue to respond to the escalating COVID-19 situation in South Australia.

Daily COVID-19 cases in our state have now surpassed 3,200, and an overwhelming number of Residential Aged Care providers have been forced to close their doors to visitors, due to COVID-19 exposures.

All of our Aged Care homes have now been impacted by COVID-19, with four facilities currently operating under our Phase 3 Outbreak Management Plan and remaining closed to visitors.

It has been a challenging time for all as we have rapidly responded to these exposures, enacted our Outbreak Management Plans, adapted to changing government mandates, and experienced the general uncertainties and anxieties that come with this pandemic.

We thank family and friends for the compassion they continue to show our teams who are working tirelessly to support our residents during these unprecedented times.

PARTNERS IN CARE
It is abundantly clear that COVID-19 will be with us in the longer term, and we must adapt to it being part of daily reality in our Aged Care system.

For this reason, we are implementing a ‘Partners in Care’ initiative which will allow individuals who have delivered frequent and ongoing support to their loved one at a UnitingSA Residential Aged Care facility to be deemed as ‘essential care visitors’.

This would ensure they are always permitted to visit and provide aspects of regular routine care or companionship to their loved one at a UnitingSA facility, including during an exposure period.

‘Essential care visitors’ will be required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) and follow the site’s infection control standards.

Individuals who would like to be listed as an ‘essential care visitor’ should contact their home’s Director of Nursing or Site Operations Manager who will assess their situation and provide further advice.

COVID-19 COMMUNICATION UPDATES
As we adapt to living with COVID-19, UnitingSA is formalising the frequency and timing of COVID-19 updates to residents, family and friends.

Commencing from 4 January 2021, twice weekly updates will be provided to all residents, primary and secondary next of kin on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Updates will also be uploaded to our website at unitingsa.com.au/covid-19-information which will enable other family and friends to stay up-to-date.

In addition to the twice weekly updates, we will notify residents and next of kin immediately if a site closes to visitors, reopens to visitors, or is impacted by any other critical matter.

COVID-19 SITUATION UPDATES FOR ALL UNITINGSA SITES
To support timely and consistent communication, our twice weekly updates will incorporate a situation summary for each of our Residential Aged Care homes, as per below. The summaries seek to provide the most pertinent information.

HAWKSBURY GARDENS AGED CARE
Site status: Phase 3 Outbreak Management Plan enacted, with the site remaining closed to visitors.
Latest exposure/s: Two residents were confirmed positive for COVID-19 on 4 January 2022. They remain in isolation and are subject to increased clinical monitoring. A staff member was also confirmed positive on 4 January 2022 and attended the site during their infectious period on 31 December 2021.
Testing: Residents were last tested for COVID-19 on 3 January 2021, with two residents testing positive (as outlined above). Their family have been informed.
Booster clinics: A date for an onsite booster vaccination clinic is yet to be confirmed.

REGENCY GREEN AGED CARE
Site status: Phase 2 Prevention Plan enacted, with the site remaining open to visitors in a restricted capacity. Restrictions include a maximum of one visitor per day, with a single visit of up to an hour.
Latest exposure/s: Nil
Testing: Nil
Booster clinics: An onsite booster vaccination clinic for residents will be held on 17 January 2022.

SEATON AGED CARE
Site status: Phase 2 Prevention Plan enacted, with the site remaining open to visitors in a restricted capacity. Restrictions include a maximum of one visitor per day, with a single visit of up to an hour.
Latest exposure/s: Nil
Testing: A select number of symptomatic residents underwent precautionary testing today and we are waiting on the results.
Booster clinics: An onsite booster vaccination clinic for residents was held on 17 December 2021.

WESLEY HOUSE AGED CARE
Site status: Phase 3 Outbreak Management Plan enacted, with the site remaining closed to visitors.
Latest exposure/s: Three staff members tested positive on 3 January 2022 and attended the site during their infectious period between 25 and 29 December 2021.
Testing: A select number of staff and residents are undergoing testing, in line with SA Health’s ‘close contact’ directives. Three staff have tested positive, as outlined above, and we are still waiting on some results.
Booster clinics: A date for an onsite booster vaccination clinic is yet to be confirmed.

WEST LAKES AGED CARE
Site status: Phase 3 Outbreak Management Plan enacted, with the site remaining closed to visitors.
Latest exposure/s: A visitor tested positive on 3 January 2022 and attended the site during their infectious period on 31 December 2021. A staff member also tested positive on 31 December 2021 and attended the site during their infectious period on 30 December 2021.
Testing: A select number of staff and residents are undergoing testing in line with SA Health’s ‘close contact’ directives. The results received so far have been negative, with several results yet to be provided.
Booster clinics: An onsite booster vaccination clinic for residents will be held on Tuesday, 18 January 2022.

WESTMINSTER VILLAGE AGED CARE
Site status: Phase 3 Outbreak Management Plan enacted, with the site remaining closed to visitors.
Latest exposure/s: A staff member tested positive on 2 January 2022 and attended the site during their infectious period on 1 January 2022. Another staff member tested positive on 31 December 2021 and attended the site during their infectious period on 24, 25, 27 and 28 December 2021.
Testing: As per SA Health directives, no residents have undergone testing as they are deemed ‘casual contacts’. We are continuing to monitor for symptoms and will test if symptomatic.
Booster clinics: An onsite booster vaccination clinic for residents will be held on 14 January 2022.

We continue to support visits on compassionate grounds for residents receiving end-of-life care, in consultation with the site’s Director of Nursing or Site Operations Manager.

Additionally, we continue to allocate staff time and resources to provide opportunities for residents and loved ones to connect through phone and video calls. We are also conducting regular wellbeing checks.