Year: 2022

20 January 2022

Since our last update to you, we have had three residents at Whiddon Casino who have tested positive to COVID-19. The families of these residents have been informed.

We are working closely with the local Public Health Unit and following their advice. This includes that residents are required to stay in their rooms at this time. As mentioned previously, we have activated our COVID-19 outbreak management plan to ensure all necessary precautionary measures are implemented. Our robust COVID-19 management plan means that we have strict protocols in place to avoid potential spread of the virus across our care homes. Our employees continue to wear full PPE.

Please continue to wear appropriate PPE and social distancing must be observed at all times, including the staff room and nurses station. Complete a Rapid Antigen Test if you are unwell or have symptoms.

If you have any concerns, please speak to your manager in the first instance. Please also remember our confidential EAP service contactable 24/7 on 1800 818 728.

As a reminder, we encourage you to have your Booster shot and send evidence of your vaccination to payroll@whiddon.com.au at your earliest convenience. Eligibility for booster shots are for those that have had their second dose at least 4 months ago.

We thank you for your incredible efforts in keeping residents safe, well and connected at this time. We genuinely appreciate all you have done and continue to do for the wonderful people we care for. We also thank you for your support during this challenging time.

20 January 2022

We are very pleased to advise you that there are no active COVID-19 cases at Whiddon Narrabri Robert Young. There have not been any cases of COVID-19 at Whiddon Narrabri Jessie Hunt.

We genuinely thank you for your amazing efforts in keeping our residents, and each other, safe.

We are welcoming visitors to both our care homes, but we do ask that they book prior to visiting and arrive 15 minutes prior to visitation to complete a rapid antigen test. Visiting hours at this time will be from 10am – 2pm daily. If visitors do wish to request a time outside of these hours, they can call our administration teams.

From tomorrow, rapid antigen testing at Robert Young will be undertaken by employees every second day, in line with the arrangements at Jessie Hunt.

Please continue to wear appropriate PPE and complete a rapid antigen test every second day. Social distancing must be observed at all times, including the staff room and nurses station. Please also monitor for symptoms and do not come to work if you are unwell.

As a reminder, we encourage you to have your Booster shot and send evidence of your vaccination to payroll@whiddon.com.au at your earliest convenience. Eligibility for booster shots are for those that have had their second dose at least 4 months ago.

20 January 2022

We are very pleased to advise you that there are no active COVID-19 cases at Whiddon Narrabri Robert Young. There have not been any cases of COVID-19 at Whiddon Narrabri Jessie Hunt.

To continue to protect residents, our employees are wearing N95 masks and shields, and completing regular rapid antigen testing.

We are welcoming visitors to both our care homes, but we do ask that you book prior to visiting and arrive 15 minutes prior to complete a rapid antigen test. Visiting hours at this time will be from 10am – 2pm daily. If you do require a time outside of these hours, please call our administration teams. For Robert Young, please call 6792 9600 and for Jessie Hunt, 6790 5500).

We are encouraging our visitors to get their booster vaccine if they are eligible to do so.

Please see our guidelines for visiting at this time:

• Residents are permitted to have two fully vaccinated visitors aged 12 years and over only, per day
• Visitors must have received a second dose of a COVID vaccination at least 14 days prior to their visit
• Visits must not take place in communal areas and wherever possible, visits should occur in an outdoor area
• All visitors must wear a N95 mask and face shield when visiting
• Visitors will be asked to complete a rapid antigen test as a condition of entry
• Unvaccinated visitors are only permitted to visit a resident who is at the end of life. Please speak to your loved one’s Care Manager directly to gain the necessary approval to visit

Please ensure that you:

• pre-book your visits. Please note that the number of visitors allowed at any one time may be restricted to enable management of capacity limits refrain from visiting if you have COVID-19 symptoms
• refrain from visiting if you are a close or casual contact of a person with confirmed COVID-19, unless they have completed their isolation and testing requirements. Close contacts should not enter high risk settings for at least 14 days since their exposure to a COVID-positive person
• do not visit if you have been overseas in the previous 14 days, unless you are fully vaccinated and have received a negative PCR test 7 days or later after arrival in NSW
• refrain from visiting if you are waiting for a COVID-19 test result
• practice good hand hygiene and socially distance
• check in to the Service NSW app AND Whiddon’s check-in system when you visit

We thank you for your continued understanding and support.

20 January 2022

Since our last update to you, we have had three residents at Whiddon Casino who have tested positive to COVID-19. The families of these residents have been informed.

We are working closely with the local Public Health Unit and following their advice. This includes that residents are required to stay in their rooms at this time. As mentioned previously, we have activated our COVID-19 outbreak management plan to ensure all necessary precautionary measures are implemented. Our robust COVID-19 management plan means that we have strict protocols in place to avoid potential spread of the virus across our care homes. Our employees continue to wear full PPE.

We know this is a challenging time. Our teams are working hard to keep you connected with your loved ones at this time. If you would like to book in a video or phone call, please talk to our administration team on 02 6661 2300.

20 January 2022

We are pleased to advise you that we are now in the position to welcome back visitors to the CHAPCA Gardenia area. Pleasingly, we do not have any residents in this area who are currently experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19. Our robust COVID-19 management plan means that zoning of areas to minimise the potential risk of spread of the virus have been in place.

As previously advised, we are welcoming visitors to HAVEN. Please note the guidelines for visiting below and that visits to these areas must be pre-booked.

Visits to the CHAPCA FUCHSIA area are still restricted at this time on the advice of the local Public Health Unit. However, visits may be allowed on compassionate grounds. Please speak to the Care Manager to request a visit on compassionate grounds. Please note that window visits, Skype and phone calls can be booked through our Administration team by calling 02 6538 3300.

Residents in CHAPCA have continued to enjoy their favourite activities and a Leisure Manager has been based there to ensure continued leisure activities of  residents’ choice are offered regularly. This including chats with familiar staff who know them well. Please be reassured that while we continue to ensure the safety of our residents, the wellbeing of residents also remains a focus.

Please see our guidelines for visiting the Haven and CHAPCA Gardenia areas at this time:

• Residents are permitted to have one fully vaccinated visitors aged 12 years and over only, per day
• Visitors must have received a second dose of a COVID vaccination at least 14 days prior to their visit
• Visits must not take place in communal areas and wherever possible, visits should occur in an outdoor area
• All visitors must wear a N95 mask and face shield when visiting
• Visitors will be asked to complete a rapid antigen test as a condition of entry
• Unvaccinated visitors are only permitted to visit a resident who is at the end of life. Please speak to your loved one’s Care Manager directly to gain the necessary approval to visit

Please ensure that you:

• pre-book your visits. Please note that the number of visitors allowed at any one time may be restricted to enable management of capacity limits
• refrain from visiting if you have COVID-19 symptoms
• refrain from visiting if you are a close or casual contact of a person with confirmed COVID-19, unless they have completed their isolation and testing requirements. Close contacts should not enter high risk settings for at least 14 days since their exposure to a COVID-positive person
• do not visit if you have been overseas in the previous 14 days, unless you are fully vaccinated and have received a negative PCR test 7 days or later after arrival in NSW
• refrain from visiting if you are waiting for a COVID-19 test result
• practice good hand hygiene and socially distance
• check in to the Service NSW app AND Whiddon’s check-in system when you visit

We thank you for your continued understanding and support.

20 January 2022

Further to our last update to you, we are still waiting on the PCR tests results for the resident at Whiddon Maclean who tested positive to COVID-19 via rapid antigen testing last week. Pleasingly, their symptoms are no longer present and they are doing well. We are also pleased to share that we do not have any other residents who are currently experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms.

In addition to the employee who tested positive last week, which was considered low risk to the care home, we have had a further employee test positive via rapid antigen testing. Again, the risk is considered low. On the advice of the local Public Health Unit, visitation will remain restricted for now. Visitors are permitted to visit a resident who is at the end of life or if the visitor is an essential carer. Please speak to your loved one’s Care Manager directly to gain the necessary approval to visit.

Our team is working hard to keep you connected with your loved ones wherever possible, with video and phone calls. It is our highest priority to keep our residents safe, well and connected to loved ones.

We are continuing to work closely with the local Public Health Unit and following their advice, and as previously, advised, we have activated our COVID-19 response plan to ensure all necessary precautionary measures are implemented.

19 January 2022 

We want to provide you with an update on Whiddon Beaudesert Star. We are pleased to say that the situation has not seen any significant escalation over the last week and we are now in the position to offer window visits for residents and their loved ones.

Visitation into the care home does remain restricted for now on the advice of the local Public Health Unit. Only visits for essential caring or on compassionate grounds such as end of life will be permitted, and residents are strongly encouraged not to leave the care home for now.

Please continue to wear appropriate PPE, complete a rapid antigen test, and social distancing must be observed at all times, including the staff room and nurses station.

If you have any concerns, please speak to your manager in the first instance. Please also remember our confidential EAP service contactable 24/7 on 1800 818 728.

As a reminder, we encourage you to have your Booster shot and send evidence of your vaccination to payroll@whiddon.com.au at your earliest convenience. Eligibility for booster shots are for those that have had their second dose at least 4 months ago.

We thank you for your incredible efforts in keeping residents safe, well and connected at this time. We genuinely appreciate all you have done and continue to do for the wonderful people we care for.  We also thank you for your support during this challenging time.

19 January 2022 

We want to provide you with an update on Whiddon Beaudesert Star. We are pleased to say that the situation has not seen any significant escalation over the last week and we are now in the position to offer window visits. If you would like to make a booking for a window visit, please speak to our administration team on 07 5542 4700. You can also request to book a video or phone call with your loved one.

Visitation into the care home does remain restricted for now on the advice of the local Public Health Unit. Only visits for essential caring or on compassionate grounds such as end of life will be permitted, and residents are strongly encouraged not to leave the care home for now. Our employees are wearing full PPE and we continue to work closely with the local Public Health Unit and follow their advice. We are also regularly conducting rapid antigen testing of employees.

We want to thank our team members for their efforts in keeping residents safe, well and connected at this time. It is our highest priority to keep everyone in our family safe and well, and we are doing everything we can to achieve this.

We thank you for your understanding and support at this time.

19 January 2022

Previously, we had advised that two residents in the Leslie Lock level of Sir David Martin had tested positive to COVID-19. We want to let you know that an additional two residents in Leslie Lock 2 have tested positive over the last 24 hours. The families of these residents have been informed.

As a result, we will need to limit movement within Leslie Lock 1 and 2 at all times. Residents in Leslie Lock 2 who have tested negative to COVID-19 to date, are quarantined to their immediate areas, but may leave their rooms to access corridors, lounge areas and shared spaces in the immediate vicinity of their rooms. Second-daily testing of all residents in Leslie Lock will continue until otherwise advised by the local Public Health Unit (PHU). Residents who have tested positive to COVID-19 must stay in their room at this time as advised by the local PHU.

Throughout the day, we have worked closely with the local PHU to ensure resident safety is maintained, whilst also ensuring that resident wellbeing remains a focus.

At this stage, the local PHU have agreed to allow some visitation. However, we must stress that strict infection control processes must be followed at all times if you choose to visit at this time. To make a booking to visit, please call 9827 6666.

Our employees at Whiddon Easton Park continue to wear full PPE and complete a rapid antigen test when they commence their shifts. If you do visit, you will be asked to wear an N95 mask, face shield and undertake a rapid antigen test as a condition of entry. Full PPE is required for the visitors to Leslie Lock 2, including an N95 mask, face shield, gown and gloves.

We genuinely understand that this is a difficult time. We want you to know that it is our highest priority to keep everyone in our family safe and well, and we are doing everything we can to achieve this. Wherever they can, our teams are working hard to keep residents connected to their loved ones at this time.

We thank you for your ongoing support, patience and understanding at this time. We will provide another update to you later in the week.

19 January 2022

Since our last update to you, we have had a further three residents at Whiddon Redhead (Keppel House) test positive to COVID-19. Based on the advice of the local Public Health Unit (PHU), we continue to restrict visitation to Keppel House for now.  The local PHU will advise us as to when we can welcome back visitors to Keppel House. Please note that this does not impact the visitation arrangements that are currently in place at John Read House.

On the advice of the local PHU, residents at Keppel House will need to stay in their rooms for now, as a precaution. Visits on compassionate grounds will be permitted on approval, and residents are strongly encouraged to not leave the care home for now.

We continue to work closely with the local Public Health Unit and want to reassure you that all necessary precautionary measures have been implemented and our robust COVID-19 management plan means that we have strict protocols in place to avoid spread of the virus across our care homes. Employees across the Whiddon Redhead campus continue to wear appropriate PPE and complete a rapid antigen test when they commence their shifts.

We genuinely understand that this is a difficult time. We want you to know that it is our highest priority to keep everyone in our family safe and well, and we are doing everything we can to achieve this. If you would like to book in a visit to John Read House, or book a video or phone call with your loved one at Keppel House, please contact our team who are working hard to keep residents connected with their loved ones wherever possible at this time.

We thank you again for your patience and support.