Category: Uncategorized

Dear Families

We are pleased to advise that the current outbreak at Whiddon Kelso has been declared over by the Public Health Unit.

Visits are welcome between 8am-4:30pm, Monday to Friday and must be pre-booked with administration.

Below is an update on our latest Visitor guidelines.

Thank you

The Whiddon Team

Visitors to a Care Home

• Visitors cannot enter a care home if they have tested positive for COVID in the last 10 days and until they are symptom free. The NSW Government’s recent changes  to self-isolation periods do not apply to Aged Care facilities.
• Visitors are required to return a negative test immediately prior to entering the home. Visitors who provide essential care and visit the home every day, may undertake second daily testing. However, in the event of an outbreak at the home testing will need to be conducted daily.

Limitations on Numbers of Visitors

• We are also pleased to let you know that there is no longer a restriction on the number of visitors that your loved one can have each day. However, Whiddon recommends that group bookings are planned ahead, and that visitors contact the service so that you can reserve an area to accommodate your group size.
• Where possible, visits should be held outdoors or in well-ventilated areas away from other residents. This is particularly important for gatherings of more than 2 visitors.
• All visitors over 12 years of age must wear a mask over their nose and mouth while visiting indoors.
• As a precaution we ask that visitors maintain social distancing to help maintain resident safety.
• Visitors should remain with their loved one and not move between different areas of the facility. We ask that you remain in your loved one’s room or at the same outdoor location during your visit.
• In the event of a COVID Outbreak at your loved ones care home, changes to visitation may occur, including the requirement to pre-book visits in advance.

We are pleased to confirm that the Whiddon Narrabri Robert Young COVID exposure is now over.

As per our usual guidelines, Visitors are required to RAT test and to wear masks when visiting the facility.

We thank you for your patience during this time.

THE WHIDDON TEAM

We are pleased to confirm that Whiddon Belmont is out of lockdown from this afternoon as per Public Health Units recommendations.

Visitors are still required to RAT test and to wear masks when visiting the facility.

We thank you for your patience during this time.

THE WHIDDON TEAM

Dear Families

We are writing to advise that we have had 2 residents test positive to COVID-19 in John Read House at Whiddon Redhead.

We are working closely with the local Public Health Unit and the Outbreak Management Plan has been activated.

Residents in affected wings who have not tested positive are able to socialise within their wings.

Positive residents, under Public Health Orders, are required to maintain room isolation.

VISITATIONS:

• All visits must be pre-booked
• Visitations are restricted to partners in care or one nominated visitor, for compassionate and essential visits only.
• Upon arrival, visitors will be required to complete a RAT
• Visitors may be required to wear PPE for the duration of their visit

We thank you for your understanding and cooperation during this time, and will provide further updates as the situation evolves.

The Whiddon Team

We write to provide you with an update on a COVID exposure at Easton Park Units (EPU). The exposure has occurred in one location on level 2A in EPU.

As a precaution, we require that all staff and visitors wear face shields and N95 masks when entering the building.

Please note:

• All visits must be pre-booked
• Upon arrival, visitors will be required to complete a RAT test
• If you are feeling unwell or have symptoms, please delay your visit

We thank you for your understanding and cooperation during this time, and will provide further updates as the situation evolves.

The Whiddon Team

We write to provide you with an update on the COVID outbreak at Taylor House. In line with guidance from the Public Health Unit (PHU) Straughen 1 will remain a red zone and testing will continue.

However, we are pleased to let you know that restrictions will be lifted for Christie 1 on Saturday 17th September, and for Christie 2 on Sunday 18th September.

We are continuing to work closely with the PHU and will keep you updated.

All staff are required to wear face shields and N95 masks when entering the building; and full PPE is required for all red zones.   

VISITATIONS:

• For residents Straughen 1: visitations are restricted to partners in care or one nominated visitor, for compassionate and essential visits only.
• For residents in all other areas of Taylor House Building: normal visitation arrangements apply.

Please note:

• All visits must be pre-booked
• Upon arrival, visitors will be required to complete a RAT test
• Visitors are required to wear PPE for the duration of their visit

We thank you for your understanding and cooperation during this time, and will provide further updates as the situation evolves.

The Whiddon Team

We write to provide an update on the COVID situation at Whiddon Narrabri Robert Young.

Pleasingly, to date, we have only had one resident and two staff members test positive to COVID-19.

In line with current COVID practices, there are no changes required to the current visitation arrangements (refer to the ‘COVID Guidance for Whiddon Families’, details of which were communicated to all families on 12 September).

For visits outside of regular business hours, or on weekends: we ask that families contact us to pre-book their visit so that staff can manage these accordingly.

Thank you for your continued support and cooperation.

The Whiddon Team

We write to advise that from Thursday morning, 15 September, our Moonyah Dementia Support Unit will be out of COVID Lockdown. However our four Hostel areas will remain in Lockdown until next week, as per advice from the Public Health Unit.

While bookings for visitations to Moonyah will open tomorrow, we strongly recommend that all families please consider delaying your visit until later next week, or when the whole facility has reopened. This is because entry to Moonyah requires coming in to the facility through the Hostel area where there are COVID positive cases. The health and safety of our residents, families and staff, are our priority. By limiting visits to Moonyah, we will be helping to mitigate the risks for our residents in this area. We ask for your support with this.

Residents in the four Hostel areas remain in isolation, with visitations restricted to compassionate and essential visits only.

All Hostel visits must be pre-booked; visitors will be asked to complete a RAT test upon arrival and wear PPE for the duration of their visit.

As always we are continuing to work closely with the local Public Health Unit, and our Outbreak Management Plan is activated across all Hostel areas at Whiddon Belmont.

For any queries, or if you have any concerns, please contact Jo Peterson, Director of Care, on 02 4041 9300.

We thank you for your ongoing support, and will provide further updates as the situation evolves.

THE WHIDDON TEAM

Service changes on tHURSDAY, 22nd September

Dear clients

Following the Government’s announcement that there will be a Public Holiday on Thursday 22nd September, please note that only essential services will be available. All other services will be re-scheduled.

If you need to contact us about your service, please call our team on 1300 738 388 or email us at hello@whiddon.com.au

Thank you

The Whiddon Team

We write to advise that Whiddon Narrabri Robert Young is in Exposure Mode, due to a positive COVID case having been on site during their infectious period.

Residents are currently being tested, and we await their results. As a precautionary measure, residents of the Dementia Unit have been isolated until swab reports are returned.

We will provide a further update when test results have been received or as other information comes to hand.

The Whiddon Team