From 1am AEST 1 December 2020 changes to the Aged Care Direction were made.
What has changed:
The two-person visitor limit has been removed. Visitor numbers are now determined by the normal visitor rules at each aged care facility
You can now enter an aged care facility without having the flu vaccination, as the peak of the 2020 influenza season is over, and the vaccination is no longer readily available.
Residents can have as many visitors as the aged care facility allows.
Children under the age of 16 years can visit residential aged care facilities.
Service providers may visit the facility, including but not limited to:
hairdressers
legal advisors
mental health providers (e.g. diversional therapists and music therapists)
allied health providers (e.g. podiatrists).
Residents may now leave their residential aged care facility for a range of reasons, including but not limited to:
exercise
attending private family gatherings of up to 50 people (as long as physical distancing can be maintained)
receiving or accessing health care
attending a funeral
visiting a service provider (for example hairdressers, beauty therapists and legal advisors)
going shopping
visiting another residential aged care facility
going on an external excursion with a group of residents (e.g. a day trip to the beach)
socialising (for example attending bingo with friends).
Residents who are part of a family group (e.g. couples or siblings) or close friends can leave the facility together.
A support person can provide care and support to the person they are visiting, including physical care and support.
All residential aged care facility operators, no matter where they are located:
Must have a workforce management plan in place that makes it mandatory for employees to:
Tell their residential aged care facility employer of any other places of employment at care facilities
Tell their residential aged care facility employer if a COVID-19 case is identified at their other workplace.
Visitors should:
visit a resident in the resident’s room, outdoors or a specified area in the aged care facility
sign in for contact tracing purposes
avoid communal spaces
wash your hands before entering and leaving the facility
stay 1.5 metres away from residents where possible
stay away when unwell.
Visitors, staff or volunteers at the facility should not be anyone who:
is unwell
has returned from overseas in the last 14 days
has had contact with a person with COVID-19 in the last 14 days
has travelled to a COVID-19 hotspot in the last 14 days
has been tested for COVID-19 and is waiting for the result
has COVID-19 symptoms of fever (37.5 degrees or more), cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, loss of smell or taste, runny nose, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting or fatigue.
If you have any questions please call Benevolent Living on (07) 4837 0300.