Visiting in Calvary Homes during COVID-19

Must watch before visiting a Calvary residential aged care home during a Covid-19 outbreak.’

Position Statement 9 February 2022

At Calvary, we make every conceivable effort to provide the people we serve with the highest possible clinical, emotional, social and spiritual care, to facilitate ongoing connections with their loved ones and to facilitate connection with their deepest spiritual aspirations and yearnings.

We acknowledge that long and frequent lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic are having a detrimental effect on residents and families and are keen to facilitate visitation for all residents during this time.

The Industry Code for Visiting in Aged Care (developed by Council on the Ageing) outlines:

Partners in Care – Access for partners in care should be prioritised, recognising their role in the daily care and support of a resident such as helping with meals, hygiene and emotional support. These visitors are particularly important for residents with dementia and residents with a diagnosed mental health issue.

At Calvary, we believe it is essential that we move to facilitation of visits for all residents in all circumstances, including during a lockdown associated with managing an outbreak), as well as for residents who are currently receiving End of Life care support or on compassionate grounds.

In order to maximise the safety and wellbeing of our residents, their visitors and our staff, the following requirements have been established for visits during a COVID-19 outbreak:

1. Visiting the home will be suspended for the first three (3) days of an outbreak to enable the home to ensure all safety measures are in place for residents, visitors and staff (exemptions for end of life and compassionate visits).
2. From Day Four (4) visiting hours will be restricted to commence after 11.00am.
3. Visits are restricted to one nominated Partner in Care (visitor) each day.
4. The Home Manager or delegate will ensure that each visitor understands the requirements and risks associated with visiting a home during an outbreak.
5. Visitors are required to wear full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), particularly if visiting confirmed COVID-19 positive residents. All visitors will be supplied with the appropriate PPE, provided education and be assisted with donning and doffing.
6. Visitors need to provide evidence that they:
   •  Are fully vaccinated and be encouraged to have a booster if they have not already had one.
   •  Have a negative Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) (where required in high community transmission areas)

Exemptions to the requirements outlined will be considered on an individual case basis, in consultation with the Home Manager.

When a home is not in outbreak, there are no restrictions on the number of visitors attending the home, however all visitors will need to be fully vaccinated and comply with any PPE and testing requirements. In non-outbreak scenarios, all attempts will be made to normalise visiting arrangements.

If the Home Manager is required to implement restrictions, these will be kept to the minimum necessary to maintain a safe environment for residents, visitors and staff.

Please don’t hesitate to contact the manager of your home should you have any questions or would like to discuss the individual care needs of your loved one.

Calvary Community Care is committed to supporting our clients as we all face the challenges of managing COVID-19. We want to reassure our clients, their carers and families that Calvary has taken the necessary steps in the way we operate. These measures ensure we are adhering to the Commonwealth Department of Health recommendations to minimise the risk of spread of infection.

• Staff are vaccinated against COVID-19.
• Support Workers affirm that they are fit to work by completing a daily self-declaration.
• Support Workers may be required to wear personal protective equipment (masks, apron, gloves, eye wear) based on service type delivered.
• Support Workers are provided with all the equipment they need to ensure safe delivery of care.
• Support Workers have completed training in infection control and the correct use and removal of personal protective equipment.
• Support Workers are provided with hand hygiene training and are supplied with hand sanitiser to use regularly throughout the day.
• Support Workers screen each of their clients before they enter a home to provide a service.
• Support Workers have completed government COVID-19 authorised training.
• Support Workers are not permitted to work if they show any signs or symptoms of COVID-19. We reinforce to our teams the importance of maintaining 1.5m distance (where possible), cough and sneeze etiquette, and ensuring they keep any equipment they use clean.
• Calvary employees follow the relevant state/territory guidelines when managing COVID-19 cases.

Need a little more support?
The continued and prolonged COVID-19 situation can be hard and we want to ensure you and your family are supported and are at ease. We will continue to provide safe, high quality services to assist you to live and stay well. Please speak to the service centre if you would like to discuss your care needs, or call 1300 797 522.

Visitation Update

Last updated 16 December 2022

Requirements for visitors

While it is no longer mandatory to isolate if you test positive to COVID-19, we remain a high-risk facility and need everyone to continue to be careful when visiting a health facility.

Visitors limited to two (2) at a time

As at 7am on Tuesday 13 December 2022, there will be a limit of two (2) visitors at the bedside at any one time.

Visitors can visit our hospital if they:

• wear a surgical mask at all times, unless directed by the clinical area to wear a hospital approved N95 mask
• do not have symptoms of COVID-19 or other acute respiratory infection
• do not live with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 14 days
• have not tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 7 days
• do not have ongoing symptoms even if they have recovered from COVID-19 in the last week.
• You must let us know if you do not meet one or more of the above criteria.

We may grant exemptions on compassionate grounds and on a case-by-case basis. Where an exemption is granted, you must agree to any COVID Safe measures or restrictions stipulated by us for the duration of the visit.

When visiting, you must:

• follow the advice of our team, who may limit visitor numbers to avoid overcrowding and ensure their COVID Safe plans are met
• maintain physical distancing
• restrict your movement to the area you are visiting
• practice good hand hygiene and respiratory hygiene, and
• stay at home if unwell and consider getting tested for COVID-19.
• If the patient you wish to visit has COVID-19, visitation will need to be clinically assessed by the team and some additional restrictions may apply.

At times, we may need to implement additional, short-term visitor restrictions in response to a local COVID-19 outbreak to minimise the risk of transmission and ensure the safety of patients and staff. These may include limiting the number of visitors at the bedside at any given time and requirement visitors to wear additional personal protective requirement.

We strongly recommend that visitors are up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccinations.

Please consider doing a RAT before entering. If you expect to return to our health facility, we encourage you to take a RAT home and take the test before returning.

Mask wearing

Patients

If you are coming to our hospital or Calvary Clinics for an appointment (‘outpatient’) you are required to wear a surgical mask where able to do so.

If you are a patient in hospital (inpatient) and have respiratory symptoms, such as coughing or sneezing, you are required to wear a surgical mask where able to do so.

If you are a patient in hospital (inpatient) and leave your room or treatment area, you are required to wear a surgical mask where able to do so.

Children 12 years and under are not required to wear a mask.

Visitors and carers

You must wear a surgical mask when entering any of our facilities, unless exempted from wearing a face mask.

You must not remove your mask while in inpatient areas, this includes not eating and drinking while at the patient’s bedside.

If you need to visit a high-risk clinical area (e.g: HDU) or if the patient you’re visiting has COVID, your visit will need to be clinically assessed by the team and we may require you to wear an N95/P2 mask.

Children 12 years of age and under are not required to wear a mask.

Exemptions to wearing a face mask:

• Children 12 years of age and under.
• Anyone who has medical certification (or other documentation from a medical practitioner) of a physical or mental health condition or disability that makes wearing a fitted mask unsuitable.

Exceptions to wearing a face mask:

• Eating, drinking or taking medicine – please replace your mask as soon as you are finished.
• Communicating with a person who is Deaf/deaf, or is hard of hearing and visibility of your mouth is essential for the communication.
• Clear enunciation, or visibility of the mouth, is required as part of your employment or training.
• Receiving medical care or treatment that can’t be provided while wearing a facemask.
• Where wearing a facemask would create a risk to your health or safety.

What to do if you have an appointment with us but have COVID-19 symptoms

If you have any COVID-19 symptoms, no matter how mild, you should get tested.

If you have an appointment and have symptoms, please call ahead before coming to the facility. Our team will be able to give you the most appropriate advice. You can call us on (02) 6245 3100.

For more information on COVID-19, testing and symptoms, visit the ACT COVID-19 website.

Visitation Update

The following information is for Calvary Mater Newcastle, Calvary Health Care Kogarah and Calvary Riverina Hospitals.

Calvary Mater Newcastle Hospital

Please visit Calvary Mater Newcastle’s website for the latest updates .

Calvary Health Care Kogarah 

Due to the extended lockdown in metropolitan Sydney, no visitors are permitted.

For patients who are at end of life, there are exceptions to visitation restrictions. Calvary is reviewing its current arrangements for the designated person responsible to visit its Palliative Care Unit, and we will be making contact with visitors and patients to ensure that we maintain a compassionate and empathetic understanding to their needs.

Screening questions and temperature checks remain in place for all visitors and staff. A visitor with an elevated temperature of 37.5 degrees Celsius or greater will not be permitted entry.

Hand hygiene is important. Remember to please use the hand sanitiser stations at the entrance and throughout the hospital regularly

For the latest jurisdictional COVID-19 information, please visit South East Sydney Local Area Health District website.

Please contact the facility if you have any questions.

Calvary Riverina Hospital

At Calvary Riverina Hospital, we understand that having visitors is an important part of ensuring the well-being and recovery of our patients. Currently we are only allowing two (2) visitors at any time. We do offer flexible visiting hours, but we do request visitors respect our rest period between 1:00pm and 3:00pm. Our Hospital doors are locked between 8:00pm to 7:00am. Please reach out to the Hospital on (02) 6923 2200, should you need to visit someone during this time and we will endeavour to meet this request.

Masks must be worn at all times whilst in the Hospital. As per NSW Health guidelines, masks must be worn at all times whilst in the Hospital.

Screening questions remain in place for all visitors and staff.

Hand hygiene is important. Remember to please use the hand sanitiser stations at the entrance and throughout the hospital regularly.

For the latest jurisdictional COVID-19 information, please visit NSW Health website.

Please contact the facility if you have any questions.

Update to SA Hospitals patients and visitors guidelines

Calvary Adelaide, North Adelaide and Central Districts Hospitals

Calvary Lenah Valley and Calvary St John’s Hospitals in Hobart

Effective 19th September 2022

Entry 

• All visitors (over 12yrs) will be required to wear a surgical mask
• All visitors must be well and not have any cold or flu or gastrointestinal upset symptoms
• All visitors must not be within 7 days of close contact with a person with COVID-19

Visitors
Limit of one adult at a time. A limit of 60 minutes per visit will apply.

• Paediatric
  For paediatric patients (2) parents may visit at the same time.
• Maternity
  For maternity, the support partner is not counted in the visitor limit.
• No Visitors to these Acute Care Areas
  Procedural areas such as Endoscopy, Day Oncology and Day Surgery Areas will still remain under the exclusion. These areas will only permit support persons / accompanying parents or carers by an exemption process.
• Flexibility to the above is considered for special circumstances (people requiring carers, patients with disabilities and of course families experiencing end-of-life circumstances.

Children
Accompanying children (under 16) are permitted to visit and are not counted in the daily visitor limit. They must be with their parent/carer during the visit.

Visiting Hours
Visitors are able to visit wards between the hours of 12 noon and 6 pm daily.

Testing

• Visitors will not need to undergo a RAT unless they remain onsite for more than 4 hours (granted as an exemption only).
• Visitors who are visiting an immunocompromised patient or a baby in our Special Care Nursery will be required to undergo a RAT.

Thank you for your understanding and support.

For the latest jurisdictional COVID-19 information, please visit the Tasmanian Government website.

Please contact the facility if you have any questions.

Calvary St Luke’s and Calvary St Vincent’s Hospitals in Launceston.

Due to the increases in community transmission of Covid-19 /Omicron, the following changes are effective 6 January 2022.

• Visiting hours are 2 pm – 8 pm each day with a maximum of two visitors at a time.
• It is no longer a requirement from Calvary for a patient to complete a PCR test prior to admission
• All patients presenting for admission at Calvary Launceston will complete a point of admission Rapid Antigen Test at our Clinics set up in a Reception area.

Thank you for your understanding and support. Our goal is to keep you safe by maintaining a COVID-19 free environment.

For the latest jurisdictional COVID-19 information, please visit the Tasmanian Government website.

Please contact the facility if you have any questions.

Visitation Update

For the latest update visit Calvary Health Care Bethlehem.

For the latest jurisdictional COVID-19 information, please visit: Victoria Health and Human Services website.