Letter to Residents, Families, Next of Kin, Advocates
We have been informed that there has been a huge relaxation of directives around visiting residential aged care facilities. We are pleased this is the case for our residents and their families and friends, but we want to update you and ensure you are clear on our obligations as a Provider of Residential Aged Care Services, and your obligations as a resident and visitor to our Residential Care Services.
Please note, effective 7am Wednesday January 20, 2021, there will be no restrictions on the number, reasons, or duration of visits to Shepparton Villages Care facilities. However, there are some mandatory processes that we must ALL observe.
Please read the following very carefully and ensure all members of your family, friends or anyone visiting are aware of the processes:
- Visiting Hours are from 7am until 8pm, seven days per week.
- Doors to facilities will remain locked to ensure we can control the screening process that every visitor must undertake. You cannot simply walk into a facility to visit someone.
- You must follow the below infection control and screening process at all times:
- Fill in a Visitor Declaration form (available for download at the bottom of this page, as well as at entry points to all facilities) prior to entering. If you do not have a form with you, please ring the doorbell to access a form.
We suggest filling in the bulk of your form prior to attending to save time.
If you are bringing a pre-filled form with you, ring the doorbell and a staff member will take your temperature and record it on your Declaration form. Or if inside the entry to the facility, complete the form supplied and alert the staff who will take your temperature and record it. Do not proceed past the entry point without undertaking this process.
- Complete hand hygiene in accordance with DHHS directives on entry, and again immediately before proceeding with your visit.
- You MUST wear a mask at all times while within the boundaries of the facility – this includes internal and external courtyards within the Shepparton Villages facilities.
- You must observe social distancing at all times.
- You must comply with the limited numbers of people as designated by signage in communal spaces, eg small lounge areas, sitting rooms etc.
- The dining areas are for residents only and visitors are not permitted to sit or gather in the communal dining areas, or to make tea and coffee in these areas.
- Please be mindful of the number of people you have in a resident’s room at any one time.
Additionally, residents may leave the facility at any time, for any reason, providing they adhere to the directives of the day once they leave Shepparton Villages grounds.
If you have any concerns or further questions about visits, please contact the Care Manager at the facility you are visiting.
Importantly, we ask that you be patient with our staff. We have limited resources, and our first priority is the care of your loved ones.
These directives have changed with little notice and are a big departure from what was previously in place. As such our staff do a magnificent job to change many processes and policies in a short turnaround time. We have around 480 staff over several shifts who must be briefed and updated, and many will have additional duties as a result of these changes.
We respectfully ask you to keep that in mind while we transition to the new COVID-normal.
Again, thank you in advance for your patience and understanding. We are thrilled that our residents can now receive their loved ones, with very little restriction, and that our facilities can be filled with the joy that family and friends bring.
Together we must remain vigilant and work to ensure this privilege remains in place.