We hope you are staying safe and well in the current COVID-19 environment, as cases of community transmission continue to increase.
As you may be aware, our state recorded 3,707 new cases in the past 24 hours and there are now 144 South Australians in hospital, as a result of COVID-19.
As a community we are certainly at a critical stage in the pandemic, with record case numbers, and it’s imperative that we all do our part to protect ourselves and each other.
It’s within this context that we provide responses to some of our most frequently asked questions.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: My loved one’s Aged Care home is open to visitors, can they leave their home for a day outing?
A: If their home is open to visitors, residents are currently permitted to leave for a day outing. However, we strongly encourage residents to reconsider the need for outings at this time due to the heightened risk of community transmission. If residents choose to undertake an outing, we ask that they stay as safe as possible by practicing physical distancing, hand hygiene, and wearing a mask at all times. This will help to ensure the safety of all of those in our care.
Q: I visited my loved one routinely and frequently before their home closed to support aspects of their care. Am I deemed to be a ‘Partner in Care’ and an ‘essential care visitor’?
A: To determine if you are eligible to be listed as a Partner in Care and an essential care visitor, you should contact your home’s Director of Nursing or Site Operations Manager who will assess your situation, using UnitingSA’s risk assessment criteria. To obtain contact details for your home, visit unitingsa.com.au/contact and scroll down.
Q: My loved one’s home is closed to visitors, can I drop off food items for them?
A: Yes, you are welcome to drop off parcels containing non-perishable food items. Parcels can be left in the container in front of your loved one’s home, at the previously advised time. However, we cannot accept hot, chilled or frozen food items due to food safety requirements, including the need to store items at the correct temperature. Hot, chilled and frozen food will not be accepted and will be disposed of, so please refrain from delivering these items.
CHANGES TO SKYPE VIDEO CALL AVAILABILITY
Due to workforce pressures being experienced by the entire Aged Care sector, we are no longer able to conduct video calls on weekends. The team members who would ordinarily support this activity on Saturdays and Sundays, are now required to support the implementation of our Outbreak Management Plan and resident care duties. Our outbreak response and resident care remain our top priority at this time. We will reinstate weekend video calls if and when we are able to.
RESIDENTIAL OPERATIONS MANAGERS
Please be advised that we are in the process of changing the title of our Director of Nursing and Site Operations Manager positions to better reflect their role. Going forward, they will be referred to as Residential Operations Managers. Our upcoming communications will reflect this new title.
COVID-19 SITUATION UPDATES FOR ALL UNITINGSA SITES
Our twice weekly updates incorporate a situation summary for each of our Residential Aged Care homes.
HAWKSBURY GARDENS AGED CARE
Site status: Phase 3 Outbreak Management Plan enacted, with the site remaining closed to visitors.
Latest exposure/s: Seven staff members have now been confirmed positive, as a result of community transmission, and attended the site during their infectious period up until 6 January 2022.
Testing: Resident testing will be undertaken on 10 January 2022. All on duty staff will also be tested.
Booster clinics: A date for an onsite booster vaccination clinic is yet to be confirmed.
REGENCY GREEN AGED CARE
The Regency Green situation remains unchanged, and as per our previous update.
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 and have now returned negative 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: Another staff member has tested positive for COVID-19 and attended the site during their infectious period on 4 January 2022.
Testing: Rapid Antigen Tests are being undertaken on staff, and testing for all residents is being arranged.
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: There are no new exposures to report.
Testing: A select number of staff and residents underwent testing in line with SA Health’s ‘close contact’ directives. We are still waiting on some results. The results received so far have been negative.
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: Another staff member tested positive for COVID-19 on 5 January 2022 and attended the site during their infectious period on 3 January 2022, however was wearing full PPE.
Testing: As per SA Health directives, 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.
COVID-19 HOTLINE
On Monday, 10 January 2022 UnitingSA will be launching a new COVID-19 Hotline to provide timely information and advice to family members and friends regarding the COVID-19 situation at our Aged Care homes. The hotline will also serve to reduce calls to our homes impacted by COVID-19, and enable them to remain focused on implementing our Outbreak Management Plan. The hotline will be available from 8am until 8pm daily and can be contacted on (08) 8448 6300.