Deprived residents of Elderly Housing with Care, affected by COVID-19 in Queensland, are subject to an extreme “no visitor” policy, with visitors waving through the window at one facility. Even forbidden.
Key Point:
- Exacerbating the stress of elderly caregivers seems to have been a mixed interpretation of the blockade visitor’s policies.
- Queensland Health states that there is no state-wide public health direction to limit visitors to geriatric care facilities
- The crisis in the elderly care sector is exacerbating, with some residents facing staffing problems, lack of sufficient RAT, and blockades for weeks.
As housing is working on an explosive increase in COVID-19 cases, policies that may violate the industry code of conduct are in place.
At least two infections have been reported at more than 52 facilities in Queensland, according to Federal Health Department statistics, and three elderly care workers died yesterday at COVID-19 in the state.
Elderly housing with care has introduced rolling lockdowns in some cases to combat infectious diseases while addressing staff shortages and delays in COVID-19 testing.
However, exacerbating the stress of older caregivers seems to be a mixed interpretation of the policies of the blocked visitors, some of which have occurred intermittently before Christmas.
Under the Code of Conduct of the Industry’s Aging Council (COTA), elderly caregivers are entitled to have “essential visitors” regardless of the occurrence of COVID-19 at the facility.
But yesterday, ABC received a communication from a Bundaberg geriatric care facility sent to a relative of a resident of a home that appeared to be inconsistent with the code.
A January 12 correspondence from the Church of Christ-run Grace Haven Elderly Care Services said the Queensland Government’s “Public Health Department” ruled “no visitors.”
“While we are blocked, relatives are not allowed to visit their loved ones, either outside the window or outside our garden,” said a letter from the owner of the Grace Haven family in Bundaberg. It was sent on the 12th of March.
Visitor restrictions “guidance”
Yesterday, a Christian Church spokesperson said the local public health unit (PHU) in Queensland Health provided “guidance for implementing visitor restrictions” at the facility.
“The PHU will visit until all residents have two PCR tests (January 4th and January 10th) to ensure that the outbreak was controlled before the service was resumed to the visitor. I advised them to implement restrictions, “said a spokesman.
A spokeswoman said late January 13 that the facility was informed that a second resident of Acacia Hostel was positive, so that section of Elderly Care Services would remain under visitor restrictions until further notice. Stated.
Face-to-face visits will resume in other areas of the service from 14 January.
A spokeswoman said he offered digital visits to residents and families when first notified of visitor restrictions on January 1.
A spokeswoman said the service manager could grant a case-by-case visitor exemption, including end-of-life care, when visitor restrictions were dictated by the PHU, as in this case.
There is no state-wide obligation
Queensland Health said there are no state-wide obligations in the form of public health directions that limit visitors to geriatric care facilities.
A Queensland Health spokesperson said the public health department is providing advice to the facility. This may include recommending that visitors be restricted to avoid further spread within the facility and to the community.
“This wasn’t new, it was a standard practice throughout the pandemic,” said a Queensland Health spokeswoman.
Concerns raised by COTA
The interpretation of the rules by the Queensland Geriatric Care Facility at the time of the COVID-19 outbreak has already raised concerns for COTA CEO Ian Yates.
On January 1st, Yates began writing to Jude Emmer, CEO of Wesley Mission Queensland, about the “no visitor” policy at John Wesley Gardens’ elderly housing in Brisbane.
His letter follows ABC, revealing that a distraught elderly woman who spent her first Christmas alone at the facility was denied an essential visitor because of a “red level” blockade. Did.
In a communication obtained by ABC, Mr. Yates told Emmer that the rule of not allowing visitors to residents in “red level” situations was incorrect.
Emmer responded to Yates by saying that “a risk-assessed visit has occurred,” despite Wesley’s home experiencing an active red zone outbreak, in all directions along the code. Balanced.
He said the facility was in full outbreak control under the direction and guidance of the Public Health Unit and the Federal Ministry of Health.
Emmer said in a January 2 newsletter that the four communities have now been reduced to amber zone classifications and all residents are accepting visitors.
A Wesley Mission spokesperson said the provider’s “Red Level Outbreak Management Plan” allowed end-of-life or essential support visitors as determined on a case-by-case basis.
Blockade of elderly care is not sustainable
Yesterday, Paul Sadler, CEO of Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA), said the crisis in the elderly care sector was due to population issues, lack of sufficient rapid antigen testing, and a few weeks of blockade. He said it was getting worse.
He said the blockade was not sustainable.
“It’s not good for older people, it’s not good for their families.”
Sadler said ACSA has expressed concern to the federal government about the situation and hopes for improvement.
“Government is aware of RAT shortages and deliveries [rapid antigen tests] And PPE [personal protective equipment]So they promised to improve their supply chain as much as possible, “he said.
“I think there are more than 1,000 elderly housings reported to have occurred when the data was released tomorrow.
“This has risen from 500 a week ago and from 100 to 500 in the two weeks of Christmas / New Year.
“This is exponential growth that is directly related to community communication.”
Loading the form …
..
