Author: despinao

Dear Clients,

We hope you are keeping safe and well as significant rainfall continues across the region.

It’s important to continue to monitor the Hazard Watch website (link) and ABC News Radio for weather updates. For urgent situations, call the SES at 132 500 or dial 000 in an emergency. 

Whiddon will continue with our home care services as long as it is safe to do so. If anything changes, we will be in touch with you.  

Take Care,
Whiddon Team

Dear Clients,

We hope you are keeping safe and well during the current flood situation.

For Wingham-based Clients, due to local SES evacuation warnings, we have made the difficult decision to cancel all non-essential services at this time.

Essential services (personal care, medication and welfare checks) will continue as long as it is safe, however may also be cancelled if conditions worsen. Our Scheduling Team will contact you if there are any changes to essential services. 

For Laurieton-based Clients, Whiddon will continue with our home care services as long as it is safe to do so. If anything changes, we will be in touch with you.

We will be calling you each day to check-in and see if there is anything we can do to support you.  

It’s important to continue to monitor:

• The Hazard Watch website for Wingham: link
• The Hazard Watch website for Laurieton: link and
• ABC News Radio for weather updates. 

For urgent situations, call the SES at 132 500 or dial 000 in an emergency.  

Take care and we will keep you updated.  

Thank you,
Whiddon Team

Dear Team,

We want to reassure you that all residents and staff at our Wingham Home are safe and well.  

Despite local flooding and evacuation orders, our Home remains fully operational. There has been minor damage to storage areas, but the home has power, water, and phone services, and is well-stocked. Our team is closely monitoring the situation and following SES advice. 

Please take all necessary steps to stay safe this week and do not travel in your car if it is unsafe to do so. Please stay alert from updates from your RSM and from the local SES.  

Take care and we will keep you updated.  

Whiddon Management

Dear Families, 

We want to reassure you that all residents and staff at our Wingham Home are safe and well. 

Despite local flooding and evacuation orders, the Residential Aged Care Home remains fully operational. There has been minor damage to storage areas, but the home has power, water, and phone services, and is well-stocked. Our team is closely monitoring the situation and following SES advice. 

If anything changes, we will update you immediately. While the phones are currently working, if you have trouble reaching the home, please call us on 1300 738 388 and we’ll pass on your message. 

Thank you for your patience and support during this time. 

Whiddon Team

Dear Families, Friends & Representatives,

Please note that we have zero positive COVID cases within our care home.

Masks and RA testing are not required when visiting the home, however we ask you to please refrain from visiting if you are feeling unwell or showing any signs of cold and flu symptoms or have tested positive to COVID in the last 7 days.

The health of our residents and employees is our utmost priority.

The Whiddon Team

Dear Families and Representatives ,

We have recently confirmed two cases of Influenza A among our residents, which is now declared an outbreak in Wingham /Ashmore Wing. We are implementing  immediate precautionary measures to protect all residents and staff.

Key Actions:

• Visitor Guidelines: We ask that you limit visitation. If you are unwell with fever, cough, sore throat, body aches and fatigue, it is advisable not to attend the care home  until you are well.
• Mandatory Masks: All staff in Wingham/Ashmore Wing must wear surgical masks at all times until further notice.
• Hygiene Measures: Frequent handwashing and sanitizer use are essential for all visitors entering and leaving the wing.
• PPE Use: Visitors must wear appropriate protective gear when interacting with positive resident.

We appreciate your cooperation in ensuring the safety of our community. Please reach out with any questions.

Thank you for your attention to this matter and for your continued commitment to the health and safety of our residents and staff.

Whiddon Wingham Team

Dear Families and Representatives,

As we approach the winter season, we are taking proactive steps to protect the health and wellbeing of our residents by organising a COVID-19 and Influenza vaccination clinic.

The clinic is scheduled for mid-April for residents who would like to receive these vaccinations. As recommended by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, these vaccines help reduce the risk of severe illness and are particularly important for older adults.

The appropriate consent forms can be found here:

• Influenza Vaccination Consent Form
• COVID Vaccination Consent Form

To proceed, kindly sign and return the completed forms back:

• In person at the facility reception
• Via email: V.John@whiddon.com.au

Alternatively, printed copies of the consent forms are available at reception for collection and submission.

If you have any questions or would like further information, please feel free to reach out.

Thank you for your cooperation in ensuring the health and safety of our residents.

Kind regards,

Whiddon Wingham Team

Dear Residents, Families, Friends & Representatives of Whiddon Kelso,

Please be advised that we are currently experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak.

We have had two residents test positive to COVID and as a result, we are enacting our Outbreak Management plan. If your loved one tests positive, please note our RN will call you directly to inform you of their condition.

The safety of our residents and team members is our number one priority. We ask your support to ensure their safety is maintained:

Visiting may still occur during this period, restricted to resident rooms only.

• Visitors are required to follow our safety precautions including:
  • RAT to be attended on entry and N95 mask to be applied prior to visiting and worn throughout the care homes.
  • Regular handwashing and use of hand sanitisers are strongly encouraged. Hand sanitising stations are available throughout Kelso and other areas including reception.
  • For those visitors who are visiting positive residents we have supplied full PPE, please wear them correctly during your visit and seek RN assistance if you need.
  • Maintain appropriate social distancing whenever possible.
  • All visitors are encouraged to consider postponing any visits if they are unwell or experiencing any flu-like symptoms.

Please also note that Resident and Relative meeting scheduled for Friday the 21st will be postponed until next week, with a date and time to be confirmed next week.

We will share a further update once we know more.

Dear Residents, Families, Friends & Representatives of Whiddon Wingham,

Please read for an update regarding the current COVID-19 exposure/outbreak at Whiddon Wingham.

First of all, we want to thank you all for your patience during this time. We are moving forward with better news!

The residents that have consented for Antiviral medication have been recuperating speedily and we have taken all measures to ensure the wellbeing of the residents during this recovery period.

There is still Covid out there in the community. As a result, we have experienced one resident and at least one staff positive cases including 2 residents in the Primrose wing in the last week.

There have also been instances where members of the community have not followed our precautions of wearing COVID masks and following hand hygiene instructions, which has been challenging for after-hours employees. These are in place to keep our residents, employees and wider Whiddon community safe.

As a reminder, I request that all community members adhere to infection control precautions of wearing a mask throughout the time when visiting and practicing hand hygiene on arrival and frequently if coming in contact with objects and when leaving the premises. Where unsure you can ask the RN staff to guide you. Your cooperation is highly appreciated.

We are taking all measures as per NSW COVID guidelines with residents and staff to ensure the outbreak.

The safety of our residents and team members is our number one priority and your support is essential in overcoming this outbreak!

For this to take place, please note:

• Visiting may still occur during this period, restricted to resident rooms only.
• Visitors are required to follow our safety precautions including:
  • RAT to be attended on entry and N95 mask to be applied prior to visiting.
  • Regular handwashing and use of hand sanitizers are strongly encouraged. Hand sanitizing stations are available throughout  the Wingham Wing and other areas including reception.
  • For those visitors who are visiting positive residents we have supplied full PPE. Please wear them correctly during your visit and seek RN assistance if you need.
  • Maintain appropriate social distancing whenever possible.

• All visitors are encouraged to consider postponing any visits if they are unwell or experiencing any flu-like symptoms.

We thank everyone for their support and understanding while our team manage this exposure/outbreak.

Please do feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns on 02-5594 3200.

Kind Regards,

Veronica John
Residential Services Manager

Dear Families, Friends & Representatives of Easton Park Units,

Please be advised that Whiddon Easton Park – EPU is currently dealing with a COVID exposure.

Please note:

• Visiting may still occur during this period, restricted to resident rooms.
• Visitors are required to follow our safety precautions including:
  • N95 mask to be applied prior to entering the care home.
  • Regular handwashing and use of hand sanitisers are strongly encouraged. Hand sanitising stations are available throughout the care home.
  • Maintain appropriate social distancing whenever possible. Visits should be conducted in resident rooms or on balconies.
• All visitors are encouraged to consider postponing any visits if they are unwell or experiencing any flu-like symptoms. The safety of our residents and team members is our number one priority.

We thank everyone for their support and understanding while our team manage this outbreak.

The Whiddon Team