COVID-19: 12 steps aged care facilities will have to take

AGED care facilities will have to adhere to a strict set of rules in the wake of the coronavirus.

Stringent new rules will apply to aged care facilities. . Picture: thinkstock

THE Australian government is enforcing a range of measures to prevent the transmission and spread of coronavirus among older people.

Leading Age Services Australia, the body representing aged care facilities nationally, said it agreed with the stringent measures. 

"Taking strong measures to protect older Australians is critical to saving lives, in the face of the escalating COVID-19 threat," LASA CEO Sean Rooney said.

"The aged care sector has been raising its defences since early February and scores of residential care homes have proactively put in place measures to protect residents and the staff that care for them.

"The sector sees today's announcement by the Prime Minister as a logical and essential escalation of the protections aged care providers have already put in place.

"There has been extensive communication with families and loved ones of those in care and, overall, there is wide community endorsement for stronger measures to protect vulnerable older Australians."

The Prime Minister advises these restrictions are likely to apply for at least six months:

1. No entry to all people (visitors, staff, contractors) who have been overseas within the past 14 days
2. No entry to all people who have been in contact with COVID-19 within the past 14 days
3. No entry to all people with fever or flu-like symptoms
4. No entry to school groups
5. Minimise visits by children under 16
6. After 1 May, no entry to all people who have not had an influenza vaccination
7. Short duration visits by family and friends of residents
8. Maximum of two visitors at one time per day
9. Visitations to be conducted in a resident's room or outside - not in indoor public places
10. No large groups of gatherings of visitors or residents
11. Practice social distancing of 1.5m
12. For residents facing the end of life, RACFs have discretion for visitors, on a facility by facility basis

"We welcome the balance between care, compassion and an appropriate measure of caution and protection," Mr Rooney said.

"We know the mental health of people in care is equally important to their physical health and wellbeing, so getting that balance right is fundamentally important. 

"There are also ways the sector is working to maintain communication between residents and their loved ones, through alternative mechanisms such as video conferencing."

The sector has been on high alert since late January and implementing increased infection controls, as required by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. In addition to that, we have been upskilling, training and planning for the wider spread of the COVID-19 virus within the community.

"Also, we have been making sure that staff, residents, family and friends are all fully appraised of the latest information from public health authorities so they understand what role they must play in ensuring we are protecting older people," Mr Rooney said.

"A whole of community response is required, because of the scale and the scope of what we have seen develop in other countries.

"This is crucial for the care of older Australians and the staff who look after them. We must ensure we are doing everything we possibly can to reduce their risk of infection.

"If you have a loved one in aged care, the message is 'play it safe and play your role in protecting vulnerable older Australians, and the passionate and professional workforce that cares for them'."

The sector also welcomes the government's announcement of the lifting of visa restrictions for student nurses, which will allow approximately 20,000 overseas student nurses to work full-time, instead of the current 20 hours per week.