Year: 2020

We have received advice today, 23rd December from NSW Health regarding the current COVID-19 situation. As a result of the current cluster in the Northern Beaches, our initial COVID-safe Christmas Plans have had to be amended. There have been no cases of COVID-19 at any of Whiddon’s care homes.

Until at least Wednesday, 30 December 2020 the following directives are in place:

• Up to two visitors per day are permitted to visit residents in residential aged care facilities in Greater Sydney (including local Government areas of Central Coast and Wollongong). Visitors from the Northern Beaches LGA are excluded.
• All staff and visitors must wear a mask in the care facilities

If visits can be delayed and a later festive gathering organised, we do encourage you to consider this if possible.

Outings and Excursions

Residents from residential aged care facilities in Greater Sydney should not leave the facility to attend family gatherings and group excursions unless the visit is essential (such as a medical appointment).

If a resident makes a decision to leave the facility to attend a family gathering or excursion, it is a requirement for the resident  to go into 14-day self-isolation upon return.

Our teams have already been working on putting plans into place that will allow residents to connect with their families on Christmas Day. From Skype and Zoom sessions, to phone calls, and across some of our homes we are able to facilitate risk-free visits. Please speak to our team to organise your session.

Please also keep in mind that these measures are directives from NSW Health. Our teams are working extremely hard to keep our residents happy and engaged, with an extra focus on Christmas Day.

If you do have any questions, please call 1300 738 388.

29 September 2020

From today, Tuesday 29 September, the directives surrounding wearing masks at Whiddon Easton Park and Hornsby will change.

Wearing of masks will only be required where social distancing of at least 1.5 metres from residents, visitors and other employees is not possible. If social distancing can be ensured, you are no longer required to wear a mask, unless you are otherwise directed to do so. Employees working for more than one employer are still required to wear masks at all times.

Due to the ongoing threat of COVID-19, if you cannot maintain a 1.5 metre distance from any other person on site at any time, you must wear a mask. Examples of such situations are listed below however they are not exhaustive and there may be other circumstances where mask wearing is required.

• Showering and personal care of a resident where you cannot maintain a distance of 1.5 metres at all times
• Providing assistance to a resident to walk or transfer
• Working in close proximity with your colleagues in providing care to a resident
• Providing medication and treatment to residents
• Being in a room with others where you cannot maintain 1.5 metres, such as a tea room, lounge area or resident’s room where there may be several
  staff members attending
• As directed or required in line with our infection control procedures, such as when a resident is in isolation or in unwell

All visitors to these services are still required to wear a mask when they are on-site.

We are very grateful for the support of First State Super, now known as Aware Super, towards our Aged Care Employee Day celebrations this year.

Aged Care Employee days pays tribute to those who dedicate their careers to working in aged care. Whiddon created this day in 2018 as a way to shine a light on these incredible people.

To help make the celebrations even better, First State Super generously donated packs and goodies for our teams at Easton Park to enjoy. Our teams were delighted to receive these on the day. Their CEO also created a special video aimed at all aged care employees, to acknowledge the great work they do. Watch the video here.

It is with support like this that we can grow this day to create more impact for the wonderful people this national day is centered around.

Thank you First State Super – these packs are terrific!

We understand that the last few weeks have been difficult due to the restricted visiting that’s in place to protect residents.

We have come up with a way of enabling risk free visiting, and we hope that you will try it! It’s a great way for you to be able to see your loved one, and you can bring a limited number of other family members, such as grandchildren. Risk free visits involve:

• Not entering the care home but accessing the outside in a designated area where you will be able to see your loved one
• There will be a physical barrier in place, such as a window or doorway to ensure that there is no infection risk
• We will have staff assisting the your family member and the visit with a telephone (so that you can still talk to each other)
• Chairs will be provided for your comfort. And other arrangements will be made if it is cold or bad weather.

For family members hoping to try this risk free visit, please be aware of the following:

• Bookings are essential. You will need to call the Care Home and book in a visiting time.
• A maximum of 2 people can visit, plus grandchildren. (Children must be under your control at all times. They will not be allowed to access other parts of the Care Home gardens as this puts other residents at risk)
• Please cancel your visit if things change and you are unable to come due to ill health or other reasons.
• When booking, you will be asked if you are well and without symptoms of cold and flu. Please do not arrange a visit if you or anyone else accompanying you has symptoms
• Visits will be restricted to 30 minutes only to ensure that everyone gets a chance to enjoy these visits
• A staff member will meet you outside the reception doors to take you to the dedicated area. Our reception doors will be locked, so please ring the team at reception when you arrive if the staff member isn’t there already
• Please do not wander around the outside of the care home unaccompanied while you wait for them
• Please bring your own refreshments and equipment that you might need for comfort (other than a chair, which we will provide) as we sadly are unable to offer you anything.

The last 18 months have been challenging for our residents who are missing their loved ones due to the visitor restrictions put in place as a result of COVID-19.

We want to continue helping our residents feel connected to the community. We know they’ve missed their buddies from the local pre-schools, primary schools and high schools immensely, as well as the friendly faces of volunteers and employees who often visit residents within our homes.

We’d love to have you involved in brightening up our residents’ days by sending messages and good wishes perhaps together with pictures and drawings.

Here’s how you can get involved. 

1. Download one of our templates. You can also use any sheets of paper you have if you’re unable to print the template off:
   • Template for children
   • Template for adults
2. Select one of our locations to write to
3. Share the finished product with us via email or through our Facebook messenger (at this stage, we are trying to reduce any risk so will be accepting digital copies to share with residents)
4. Watch our social channels for the finished product!
5. If your child would also like a reply from one of our residents, please let us know in your email or Facebook message

We do hope you’re all keeping safe and thank you for choosing to put a smile on our residents’ faces!