Take special care of elderly for a Covid-free Christmas

While Covid is a distant memory for most, it’s still a danger to the elderly, especially those in aged care, so take extra-special care this Christmas.

Christmas is a time for family but we are being asked to take extra-special care around ­elderly relatives, especially those in aged care.

While Covid is a distant memory for most of us, it’s still a danger to the elderly.

Festivities are still not back to normal at many aged care facilities, with some homes banning family members from attending Christmas parties, reintroducing mandatory mask wearing and requiring a RAT test before entry.

Bernard Fisher is a resident at Uniting’s Bruce Sharpe Lodge at Rockdale, and has managed to dodge Covid thanks to the facility’s protocols and his wife Rosemary’s logical thinking.

“You follow the rules, we’ve had the vaccines,” she said. “You don’t visit if you’re ­unwell.”

Bernie Fisher gets visit from wife Rosemary and granddaughter Aubrey Taylor. Picture: John Appleyard

She and her granddaughter Aubrey visit Mr Fisher often, and celebrated a Covid-safe Christmas with the residents at Bruce Sharp Lodge this week, where staff and visitors wore masks and were asked to ­undergo a RAT test prior to their arrival at the facility.

“It’s not a big ask when it concerns people’s safety,” Mrs Fisher said.

The state is facing its third consecutive summer Covid outbreak. Experts are urging people to bring back the masks and hand sanitiser and avoid social gatherings if they are unwell – particularly if there are elderly or immunosuppressed people present.

“All of the things that we learnt about transmission during the height of the pandemic are still relevant,” said Associate Professor Jane Frawley, from the UTS School of Public Health.

“So, unfortunately, the more social you are, the more likely you are to catch the virus. This is bad news for the festive season, but you can still take precautions such as ensuring good hand hygiene and wearing a mask in public.”

While you are no longer mandated to isolate if you test positive, or notify anyone if you have Covid, NSW Health is on high alert and has warned people to stay home if they are sick.

“We want to remind the community if they are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, they should stay at home to protect others,” a spokesman told the Sunday Telegraph.

“If they need to go out, they should wear a mask. They should also avoid visiting high risk settings like hospitals, aged and disability care facilities for people who are at higher risk of severe illness.”

In the fortnight ending on December 2, more than 5300 cases were reported to NSW Health.

As of last week, there were 1996 active Covid-19 cases in 317 active outbreaks in residential aged care facilities across Australia. In NSW alone, 525 residents have tested positive since October 19, while 240 staff have also been struck down by the virus.

The good news is the current variant that’s circulating the state is Omicron, which means most will only experience mild symptoms.

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