Author: Belinda Howell

11 January 2022

A resident at Whiddon Redhead (Keppel House) has tested positive to COVID-19 via rapid antigen testing today. A follow-up PCR test will now be undertaken. As a precaution, and on the advice of the local public health unit, we are restricting visitors to Keppel House for now. We are currently in the process of notifying families who had booked in to visit, to inform them that their booking will be cancelled. Please note that this does not impact the visitation arrangements currently in place at John Read House.

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

We are working closely with the local Public Health Unit and following their advice, and as mentioned previously, we have activated our COVID-19 response 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 spread of the virus across our care homes. Employees across the Redhead campus continue to wear appropriate PPE and complete a rapid antigen test when they commence their shifts, to complement our robust screening processes.

We understand that this is a challenging time for everyone, but 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.

We will provide a further update to you later in the week. We thank you for your support and understanding.

11 January 2022

Since our last update to you, pleasingly, no further residents at Whiddon Easton Park have tested positive to COVID-19.

Following a meeting with the local Public Health Unit, we are pleased to advise that residents at Taylor House no longer need to stay in their rooms, which was in place as a precautionary measure. Residents are now able to enjoy moving around the area/wing that their room is located in. We are hopeful to have similar good news for Sir David Martin and Easton Park Units later this week. As no residents at Arthur Webb Court have tested positive to the virus to date, this measure was not in place there.

As cases of COVID-19 continue to rise in our community, and we continue to see a number of our employee test positive to COVID-19, as a precaution, we are still restricting visitation for now, based on the advice of the local public health unit. Only visits for essential caring or on compassionate grounds will be permitted on approval, and residents are strongly encouraged to not leave the care home for now, again as a precaution. We hope to be in the position to be able to welcome back visitors soon.

As previously mentioned, we have activated our COVID-19 response plan to ensure all necessary precautionary measures are implemented and our employees are wearing full PPE.

We have also been conducting rapid antigen testing onsite, to complement our strict screening processes and robust COVID-19 protocols. This will continue at this time.

We understand that this is a challenging time for everyone, but 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. Our teams are working hard to facilitate phone and video calls where they can, as we know how important it is for residents to stay connected with their loved ones.

We will provide you with a further update on Friday and thank you for your understanding.

10 January 2022

Further to our update to you last week about an employee testing positive to COVID-19, we have been informed that an additional employee has tested positive. Currently, no residents at Whiddon Belmont have tested positive to COVID-19.

While the risk of potential exposure is considered low, as a precaution, we are asking residents’ families to consider delaying their visit for now if they can. If they do need to visit, they will be asked to wear an N95 mask, face shield and gown, and complete a RA test.

Employees must continue to wear full PPE (N95 masks, face shields, gown and gloves), complete a rapid antigen test, and social distancing must be observed at all times, including the staff room and nurses station.

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

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.

Thank you for your ongoing support and dedication to Whiddon Belmont.

10 January 2022

Further to our update to you last week about an employee testing positive to COVID-19, we have been informed that an additional employee has tested positive to the virus. Currently, no residents at Whiddon Belmont have tested positive to COVID-19.

While the risk of potential exposure is considered low, as a precaution, we do ask that you consider delaying your visit for now if you can. If you do need to visit, you will be asked to wear an N95 mask, face shield and gown, which will be supplied to you. We also ask that you complete a rapid antigen test when you arrive.

Our employees are wearing full personal protective equipment (PPE) and our robust COVID-19 management plan means that we have strict protocols in place to avoid potential spread of the virus across our care home.

We thank you for your understanding and patience during this time. We will provide a further update to you soon.

10 January 2022

Further to our update last week informing you that two employees at Whiddon Grafton had tested positive to COVID-19, we are pleased to advise you that no further employees have tested positive to COVID-19 at this stage. Currently, no residents at Whiddon Grafton have tested positive to COVID-19.

As a precaution, and on the advice of the local public health unit, we are continuing to restrict visitation for now. Only visits for essential caring or on compassionate grounds will be permitted, and residents are strongly encouraged to not leave the care home for now, again as a precaution. Our employees are completing a rapid antigen test before commencing their shift and 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.

We thank you for your understanding and patience during this time. We will provide a further update to you soon.

10 January 2022

Further to our update to you last week, the small number of residents who were showing symptoms of respiratory illness have pleasingly, returned negative PCR test results.

Since our last update, we have had an additional two employees test positive to COVID-19. We have implemented our COVID-19 Outbreak Management Plan to ensure all necessary precautionary measures are implemented. This includes residents staying in their rooms for now as a precaution.

We continue to work closely with the local Public Health Unit and continue to follow their advice and our employees are wearing full personal protective equipment (PPE).

Only visits for essential caring or on compassionate grounds such as end of life will be permitted and residents are strongly encouraged to not leave the care home for now, again as a precautionary measure.

Employees must continue to wear full PPE (N95 masks, face shields, gown and gloves) and social distancing must be observed at all times, including the staff room and nurses station.

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

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.

Thank you for your ongoing support and dedication to Whiddon Moree.

10 January 2022

Further to our update to you last week, the small number of residents who were showing symptoms of respiratory illness have pleasingly, returned negative PCR test results.

Since our last update, we have had an additional two employees test positive to COVID-19. We have implemented our COVID-19 Outbreak Management Plan to ensure all necessary precautionary measures are implemented. This includes residents staying in their rooms for now as a precaution.

We continue to work closely with the local Public Health Unit and continue to follow their advice and our employees are wearing full personal protective equipment (PPE).

Only visits for essential caring or on compassionate grounds such as end of life will be permitted and residents are strongly encouraged to not leave the care home for now, again as a precautionary measure.

We understand that this is a challenging time for everyone, but 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.

We thank you for your support and understanding.

7 January 2022

Further to our update to you earlier in the week, we have had an additional employee test positive to COVID-19.  We have implemented our COVID-19 Outbreak Management Plan to ensure all necessary precautionary measures are implemented. This includes residents staying in their rooms for now as a precaution.

Only visits for essential caring or on compassionate grounds such as end of life will be permitted and residents are strongly encouraged to not leave the care home for now, again as a precautionary measure.

Employees must continue to wear full PPE (N95 masks, face shields, gown and gloves), complete a rapid antigen test, and social distancing must be observed at all times, including the staff room and nurses station.

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

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.

Thank you for your ongoing support and dedication to Whiddon Laurieton.

7 January 2022

Further to our update to you earlier in the week, we have had an additional employee test positive to COVID-19. Employees continue to wear full PPE and we are still working closely with the local Public Health Unit and following their advice. We have implemented our COVID-19 Outbreak Management Plan to ensure all necessary precautionary measures are implemented. This includes residents staying in their rooms for now as a precaution.

Only visits for essential caring or on compassionate grounds such as end of life will be permitted and residents are strongly encouraged to not leave the care home for now, again as a precautionary measure.

We understand that this is a challenging time for everyone, but 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.

We will provide a further update early next week.

7 January 2022

In our last update to you, we advised you that a resident at Greenstone Lodge had tested positive to COVID-19. We conducted PCR testing of residents and employees at Greenstone Lodge as a precaution, and as advised by the local public health unit. All test results to date for residents have come back negative. We are waiting on one more employee’s test result to come back. Unfortunately one employee has returned a positive test result.

As a precaution, visitation remains restricted for now (this applies to Greenstone Lodge only). Only visits on compassionate grounds such as end of life are permitted and residents are strongly encouraged not to leave the care home for now, again as a precautionary measure.

We continue to work closely with the local Public Health Unit and follow their advice. As previously mentioned, we have activated our COVID-19 response plan to ensure all necessary precautionary measures are implemented and our employees are wearing full PPE.

We understand that this is a challenging time for everyone, but 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.

Employees must wear N95 masks, face shields and gloves, and full PPE when attending to the COVID positive resident, and social distancing must be observed at all times, including the staff room and nurses station.

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

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.

Thank you for your ongoing support and dedication to Whiddon Temora.