Eldercare's response to COVID-19

Family and friends may visit their loved one at Eldercare's aged care homes provided they meet the following revised visiting precautions:

• Visitors will be required to complete a screening declaration on entry to the facility and to have had a negative Rapid Antigen Test result within 72 hours prior to any visit.
• Each visitor must complete a separate declaration form (not multiple visitors information on one form).
• If visitors meet the requirements outlined in the declaration forms at each aged care home, then there are no restrictions to the time of visiting, length of visit or number of visitors. This includes weekends and public holidays.
• If you are travelling a long distance, please call the site to confirm the site (or area within the site) is not closed due to a COVID outbreak prior to travelling.

Eldercare may need to tighten visiting restrictions during a COVID outbreak. We also reserve the right to tighten restrictions if visitors do not comply and/or individuals will be prevented from entering if they breach these requirements.

• All staff are regularly screened using Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT), visitors are also requested to test with RAT’s within the 72 hours prior to visiting.
• All staff, contractors and visitors are screened on entry to the facility using a self-declaration process. This includes, for confirming their RAT result from the previous 72 hours was negative.
• Staff who are unwell are instructed not to come to work , if they become unwell whilst on shift, they are sent home and asked to check their COVID status with RAT testing. If a staff member does receive a positive COVID result they are not allowed to work for 7 days and must be symptom free for 72 hours prior to returning to work.
• All staff are receiving additional training and resources about infection control.
• All sites are monitoring residents and staff for any symptoms of the virus - this vigilance will be our best defense in containing the spread of the virus at our facilities. (We ask that visitors and family members are also vigilant in monitoring their own symptoms, and not to visit if unwell).
• Good levels of personal protective equipment have been secured and all our sites have well stocked 'outbreak' kits.

• Staff, residents and all visitors have been educated about the importance of hand hygiene and physical distancing.
• Hand sanitiser stations are placed in locations around our sites and we encourage residents and staff to use the gels as frequently as possible.
• All staff members are screened prior to commencing each shift, RAT tested regularly, and make a declaration that they are not presenting a risk to our residents or their co-workers.
• Key staff have undertaken hands-on infection control training over and above the e-learning modules offered by the Department of Health.
• Our managers are being provided with regular updates on COVID-19 and have direct access to an infection control clinical expert.
• Our outbreak management plan will be activated if required.

Page updated: Friday 10 May 2024 at 11:59am ACDT.