Author: Belinda Howell

26 May 2021

Please note that Quality Assessors from the Australian Government Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission are onsite at Whiddon Casino until mid-Friday.

If you would like to speak with the assessors that are onsite to provide any feedback on the quality of your loved one’s care, you can make a booking to do so on 02 6661 2300.

Alternatively, you can contact the Australian Government Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission direct on 1800 951 822 and select option 2 when prompted. You can also provide feedback via an online survey at https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/consumer-feedback (to open the survey, use the code 2722).

For more information visit agedcarequality.gov.au

25 May 2021

Requirement for visitors to have had the 2021 influenza vaccination

As advised earlier this month, NSW Health have provided a directive that from 1 June to 30 September 2021, all visitors and staff entering a residential aged care facility in NSW are required to provide evidence that they received a dose of the 2021 influenza vaccination.

This means that if you visit a Whiddon care home from 1 June until 30 September, you will be required to bring evidence of your 2021 influenza vaccination to the care home. There are some exemptions to this which are outlined in the influenza vaccine medical contraindication form.

Whiddon vaccination record cards

Like last year, we will provide you with your own Whiddon vaccination record card that is signed by one of our team members, confirming they have sighted your relevant documentation. This will alleviate the need to show your documentation on each visit, making this more convenient for you. Please note that a copy of the evidence of your vaccination may be kept for administrative purposes to validate compliance with the government requirements.

This year’s vaccination record card also includes the date when a 2nd Covid-19 vaccine may have been administered. This is not a mandatory requirement, but as we are endeavouring to protect your vulnerable loved ones, we do encourage you to consider having the relevant Covid vaccine as determined by the Department of Health.

The Whiddon vaccination record card is valid 12 months from the date of your vaccination, and you will need to show this card on subsequent visits to the care home. Having this card will mean that you will not have to bring the evidence of your vaccine with you each time you visit, you will only need to bring the card with you. It folds to a business sized card so it is easy to take with you.

We encourage you to speak with the Care Manager if you have any questions.

25 May 2021

Please note that Quality Assessors from the Australian Government Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission are onsite at Whiddon Moree from today until Thursday.

If you would like to speak with the assessors that are onsite to provide any feedback on the quality of your loved one’s care, you can make a booking to do so on 02 6752 9200.

Alternatively, you can contact the Australian Government Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission direct on 1800 951 822 and select option 2 when prompted. You can also provide feedback via an online survey at https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/consumer-feedback (to open the survey, use the code 0896).

For more information visit agedcarequality.gov.au

Hello everyone,

It’s been another busy week here at Whiddon Moree! Here’s an update for our families:

• We came out of lockdown on Monday the 10^th of May.  Thank you to all for your efforts to ensure that this lock down was over very quickly.
• We celebrated International Nurses Day on the 12^th of May, and recognised some of our wonderful superheroes here at Whiddon Moree.
• We held a resident’s meeting where resident, Bill Murray was announced as our new Chairperson.
• Residents attended a delicious legacy lunch.
• We received an update regarding our COVID vaccinations, which are due to be held on the 25^th and 26^th of May.
• Residents will begin working on their new veggie garden after securing two new garden beds and soil.

We do encourage you to reach out if you wish to discuss any matters relating to your loved one’s care.

Thanks,
Martha Rowe
Director Care Services – Whiddon Moree

7 May 2021

2021 flu vaccination mandatory in NSW from 1 June – 30 September

We have been notified by NSW Health that from 1 June to 30 September 2021, all visitors and staff entering a residential aged care facility should be required to provide evidence that they received a dose of the 2021 influenza vaccination. There are some exemptions which are outlined in the influenza vaccine medical contraindication form. When visiting during this period, you will be required to show proof of receiving the 2021 flu vaccination or have this form completed by your GP.

Visitor restrictions update

In light of the unfolding COVID-19 situation in Sydney, NSW Health has advised that any visitors to residential aged care homes within the Greater Sydney area, including metropolitan Sydney, Nepean Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Wollongong must wear a mask until further notice. This applies to Whiddon Easton Park and Whiddon Hornsby.

Visitors must not enter any aged care facility in NSW at all if they:

• have been to any close or casual contact locations in NSW or interstate places of high concern
• have COVID-19 symptoms – fever (37. 5°C or higher) or symptoms of COVID-19
• are a close contact of a person with confirmed COVID-19 and are within their self-isolation period
• live in a household with a person who is currently self-isolating
• are waiting for a COVID-19 test result

Please ensure you don’t visit if you are unwell, stay 1.5 m from others and practice good hand hygiene.

The Chief Health Officer is advising all residential aged care facilities in NSW to implement electronic check-in systems to support efficient contact tracing if positive COVID-19 cases were to occur in a facility. Please remember to check in when visiting by scanning the QR code available in reception areas. If you don’t have a smart phone, please use the health declaration form provided to you at Reception.

Mother’s Day

If you would like to take your loved one out of the care home for Mother’s Day, NSW health has made the following recommendations:

Residents who are attending outings and excursions should ensure that:

• they avoid crowded indoor areas, such as shopping centers and restaurants
• the event complies with the current Public Health Gathering Restriction Order 2021
• no one at the event meets any of the above visitor exclusion criteria:
o have been to any close or casual contact locations in NSW or interstate places of high concern
o have COVID-19 symptoms – fever (37. 5°C or higher) or symptoms of COVID-19
o are a close contact of a person with confirmed COVID-19 and are within their self-isolation period
o live in a household with a person who is currently self-isolating
o are waiting for a COVID-19 test result

Please read additional information for visits and outings at a residential aged care facility.

Case Conferences

If at any time you would like to discuss your loved ones care, please feel free to make contact with a team member so that we can organise a Case Conference with you.

Reminder to book your visits

Please be reminded to book in before you visit.

For Arthur Webb Court bookings phone: 02 9827 6725
For Easton Park Units bookings phone: 02 9827 6735
For Sir David Martin bookings phone: 02 9827 6666
For Taylor House bookings phone: 02 9827 6774

7 May 2021

2021 flu vaccination mandatory in NSW from 1 June – 30 September

We have been notified by NSW Health that from 1 June to 30 September 2021, all visitors and staff entering a residential aged care facility should be required to provide evidence that they received a dose of the 2021 influenza vaccination. There are some exemptions which are outlined in the influenza vaccine medical contraindication form. When visiting during this period, you will be required to show proof of receiving the 2021 flu vaccination or have this form completed by your GP.

Visitor restrictions update

In light of the unfolding COVID-19 situation in Sydney, NSW Health has advised that any visitors to residential aged care homes within the Greater Sydney area, including metropolitan Sydney, Nepean Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Wollongong must wear a mask until further notice. This applies to Whiddon Easton Park and Whiddon Hornsby.

Visitors must not enter any aged care facility in NSW at all if they:

• have been to any close or casual contact locations in NSW or interstate places of high concern
• have COVID-19 symptoms – fever (37. 5°C or higher) or symptoms of COVID-19
• are a close contact of a person with confirmed COVID-19 and are within their self-isolation period
• live in a household with a person who is currently self-isolating
• are waiting for a COVID-19 test result

Please ensure you don’t visit if you are unwell, stay 1.5 m from others and practice good hand hygiene.

Mother’s Day

If you would like to take your loved one out of the care home for Mother’s Day, NSW health has made the following recommendations:

Residents who are attending outings and excursions should ensure that:

• they avoid crowded indoor areas, such as shopping centers and restaurants
• the event complies with the current Public Health Gathering Restriction Order 2021
• no one at the event meets any of the above visitor exclusion criteria:
o have been to any close or casual contact locations in NSW or interstate places of high concern
o have COVID-19 symptoms – fever (37. 5°C or higher) or symptoms of COVID-19
o are a close contact of a person with confirmed COVID-19 and are within their self-isolation period
o live in a household with a person who is currently self-isolating
o are waiting for a COVID-19 test result

Please read additional information for visits and outings at a residential aged care facility.

7 May 2021

2021 flu vaccination mandatory in NSW from 1 June – 30 September

We have been notified by NSW Health that from 1 June to 30 September 2021, all visitors and staff entering a residential aged care facility should be required to provide evidence that they received a dose of the 2021 influenza vaccination. There are some exemptions which are outlined in the influenza vaccine medical contraindication form. When visiting during this period, you will be required to show proof of receiving the 2021 flu vaccination or have this form completed by your GP.

Visitor restrictions update

In light of the unfolding COVID-19 situation in Sydney, NSW Health has advised that any visitors to residential aged care homes within the Greater Sydney area, including metropolitan Sydney, Nepean Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Wollongong must wear a mask until further notice. This applies to Whiddon Easton Park and Whiddon Hornsby.

Visitors must not enter any aged care facility in NSW at all if they:

• have been to any close or casual contact locations in NSW or interstate places of high concern
• have COVID-19 symptoms – fever (37. 5°C or higher) or symptoms of COVID-19
• are a close contact of a person with confirmed COVID-19 and are within their self-isolation period
• live in a household with a person who is currently self-isolating
• are waiting for a COVID-19 test result

Please ensure you don’t visit if you are unwell, stay 1.5 m from others and practice good hand hygiene.

6 May 2021

NSW Health has advised that residential aged care facilities in the Greater Sydney area which includes Easton Park and Hornsby must apply the following rules until further notice:

• A maximum of 2 visitors may be permitted per resident, per day
• All visitors must wear a surgical mask
• Visits should take place outdoors where possible

Visitors must not enter the facility at all if they:

• have been to any close or casual contact locations in NSW or Interstate places of high concern
• have COVID-19 symptoms – fever (37. 5°C or higher) or symptoms of COVID-19
• are a close contact of a person with confirmed COVID-19 and are within their self-isolation period
• live in a household with a person who is currently self-isolating
• are waiting for a COVID-19 test result
• (from 1 June to 30 September 2021) have not received a dose of the 2021 influenza vaccine

We will provide further information once we know more about the situation.

 

6 May 2021

Please note that there are a small number of residents who are experiencing flu-like symptoms at Whiddon Moree. The loved ones of the residents affected have already been contacted. We have also contacted the local public health unit who have asked us to take a number of measures to help keep everyone safe.

To help limit potential spread of infection among residents, employees and in the community, we ask that you do not visit Whiddon Moree for now. While some residents may need to be isolated based on the advice we have received from the local public health unit, we want to reassure you that affected residents are in no way ‘locked’ in their room. Our teams are working hard to keep these residents connected with their loved ones.

If you do need to visit under exceptional circumstances, such as an end of life visit, please speak with the Director Care Services.

We have no reason to believe this is a COVID-19 outbreak and are undertaking testing to determine the infection.

We will provide a further update soon once we know more about the situation and we thank you for your understanding.

 

 

5 May 2021

NSW Health issued a public health alert today about a new COVID-19 case in a person who resides in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. They have identified a number of venues that this person has visited while potentially infectious.

We ask that you to stay up to date with NSW Health news and updates as this situation unfolds and check for any venues of concern that you may have visited and follow the appropriate advice.

It is important that we continue to ensure safe COVID-19 practices such as good hand hygiene, social distancing and not visiting when you are unwell or have been to any venues of concern. This is a timely reminder that we all must stay vigilant so we can help keep everyone safe.