Covid-19: one in three NSW aged care homes battling outbreaks as case numbers top 1862

Aged care providers say it is becoming increasingly challenging to keep Covid out of aged care facilities as cases rise within the sector. See the full list of homes with outbreaks:

Aged care providers say it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep Covid out of aged care facilities as new figures show the number of homes with active outbreaks has more than doubled over the last three weeks.

Figures from the Department of Health have revealed almost one in three aged care homes across NSW are at the centre of active outbreaks as case numbers within the sector once again trend upwards.

In the last three weeks, the number of aged care facilities where residents or staff members have contracted Covid-19 has jumped from 132 to 266.

A graph showing the number of active resident cases in NSW aged care homes over the last month.

The figures, captured on Friday, shows that of the homes with current outbreaks, there are 1236 active cases among residents – up from 530 recorded on March 23.

There were also 1577 active cases in staff members as of Friday – up from 536 cases on March 23.

Beechwood Aged Care in Revesby has the highest number of overall cases with 63 reported in residents and 19 in staff. One resident at the facility has died with the virus.

Hawkesbury Living is also at the centre of a fresh outbreak with 53 resident cases, 26 staff cases and three resident deaths.

Other facilities with more than 50 active cases include the Glenfield Retirement Village, Gallipoli Home in Auburn, Narrandera Homestead Care Community, The Maronite Sisters Of The Holy Family Village, Pemulwuy Aged Care and SummitCare in St Marys.

There are 132 homes with active outbreaks in NSW.

Maryann Inbari, facilities manager of the Willows Private Nursing Home in Ashfield which has 27 resident cases, said it had become increasingly challenging to keep Covid out of residential aged care.

“I would say most Covid that has come into homes comes through staff and when you look at the increase in community cases it’s very hard to keep it out of nursing homes, particularly when you have staff living in all those areas that are affected,” she said.

“There are requirements for staff to work including wearing PPE and rapid antigen testing which is good but it’s not foolproof. For example we had a staff member who was negative on a RAT then worked the full day, went home, wasn’t feeling well and had a PCR and tested positive.

“In that case, we did all the right things but were let down by the framework. How do you prepare for that?”

Staff protocols in homes with active outbreaks include wearing PPE.

Ms Inbari said the home’s Covid management plan has various measures in place to limit transmission including restrictions of visitors.

“When we’re in a lockdown situation we allow visitation on a much more limited basis and require visitors to wear full PPE and test before they come in,” she said.

“A lot of our patients are palliative so it’s quite challenging to balance because you can’t deny people end of life visits so we manage it on a case-by-case basis.

“On good days when it’s sunny we’re also happy to take residents outside and visitors can see them through the gates which are closed. At least they can see them and say hello and that contact makes a big difference.

“I think winter’s going to be the really tricky season for us to get through because the flu is just as contagious as Covid and it’s difficult to know how the Public Health Unit is going to manage it and what advice they’re going to be giving.”

Catholic Healthcare St Peter’s Lane Cove North had 10 active cases as of Friday.

Other aged care providers have also introduced specific visitor restrictions depending on case numbers including Catholic Healthcare, which only allows one essential care visitor, along with end of life visits, at homes at the centre of confirmed outbreaks

Homes currently abiding to the restrictions include St Peter’s Lane Cove North which has recorded 29 resident cases, one resident death and 10 staff cases as of Friday.

Aged care providers in regional NSW are also battling new outbreaks including Glacia House in Tuncurry with 16 resident cases and 18 staff cases.

General manager John Quinn said factors leading to the spike in cases include rising community infection and Tuncurry’s status as a “tourist town” bringing an increase of visitors.

“We continue to provide quality care to our residents at a difficult time with staff impacted with Covid,” he said.

The Defence Force has been assisting homes.

“Staffing has been an issue in aged care for years and when outbreaks occur this exacerbates the issues.

“Our residents have been able to move around their clusters and we encourage appropriate social distancing for those without Covid.

“Society as whole needs to make a judgment on how best to weigh up risk of increase in transmission against the mental health of residents.”

Aged care provider Uniting has meanwhile called for increased government assistance to help facilities respond to Covid outbreaks.

“If we want to address and manage outbreaks in the aged care sector better, we need to address staffing issues and increase wages – nothing can be delivered without a workforce and having enough capable staff on site every day to support and care for residents is so critical,” Uniting director of ageing Saviour Buhagiar said.

Covid cases are on the rise in NSW aged care homes.

“Aged care workers are true heroes. Our people have been turning up every day, many doing long shifts, wearing full PPE day after day, missing key events with their own families – all because they are so dedicated to the care and support of our residents.

“These heroic staff are some of the lowest paid workers in the country.”

Across NSW, the total current number of homes with active outbreaks equates to 30.6 per cent of the 870 residential aged care within the state.

In response to the Omicron variant, the Department of Health released further advice encouraging facilities to prepare for “worst-case scenarios” and sudden changes to the availability of staff.

Recommendations included moving casual and part-time staff to full-time rosters, covering hotel accommodation costs for employees who are concerned about their potential exposure to family members, and seeking support from surge workforce where applicable.

Other recommendations include using staff furloughed by Covid to assist on-site employees by carrying out remote tasks such as administrative duties or calling family members.

Nationwide, there were 2808 active resident cases of Covid-19 related to aged care across 761 residential aged care facilities as of Friday.

CURRENT CASES IN NSW AGED CARE HOMES – AS OF FRIDAY, APR 8

• Beechwood Aged Care – 63 resident cases, 1 resident death and 19 staff cases
• Hawkesbury Living Pty Limited – 53 resident cases, 3 resident deaths and 26 staff cases
• The Whiddon Group – Glenfield – 33 resident cases and 44 staff cases
• Gallipoli Home – 44 resident cases, 1 resident death and 25 staff cases
• Narrandera Homestead Care Community – 29 resident cases and 32 staff cases
• The Maronite Sisters Of The Holy Family Village – 37 resident cases and 18 staff cases
• Pemulwuy Aged Care – 35 resident cases, 1 resident death and 19 staff cases
• SummitCare St Marys – 45 resident cases and 9 staff cases
• Bupa Tamworth – 27 resident cases and 21 staff cases
• Randwick Montefiore Home – 3 resident cases and 45 staff cases
• Jonathan Rogers GC House – 32 resident cases, 1 resident death and 15 staff cases
• Killarney Vale Care Community – 35 resident cases, 1 resident death and 11 staff cases
• Maitland Grange Care Community – 32 resident cases and 14 staff cases
• Hixson Gardens Aged Care Facility – 30 resident cases and 14 staff cases
• Lara Aged Care – 20 resident cases and 22 staff cases
• Amaroo Aged Care Facility – 26 resident cases, 2 resident deaths and 15 staff cases
• BlueWave Living – 10 resident cases and 31 staff cases
• Anthem – 2 resident cases and 39 staff cases
• Catholic Healthcare St Peter’s Lane Cove North – 29 resident cases, 1 resident death and 10 staff cases
• Bupa Baulkham Hills – 32 resident cases and 7 staff cases
• Teloca House Hostel – 8 resident cases and 31 staff cases
• Bass Hill Aged Care – 25 resident cases and 12 staff cases
• Columbia Aged Care Services – Willowood Centre – 23 resident cases and 14 staff cases
• St Hedwig Village – 25 resident cases and 11 staff cases
• New Horizons Aged Care Facility – 22 resident cases and 14 staff cases
• Blacktown Terrace Care Community – 25 resident cases, 1 resident death and 9 staff cases
• McLean Care Ltd – 18 resident cases and 16 staff cases
• Glaica House – 16 resident cases and 18 staff cases
• Bundaleer Gardens Hostel – 14 resident cases, 2 resident deaths and 19 staff cases
• The Whiddon Group – Kelso – 18 resident cases and 15 staff cases
• The Whiddon Group – Glenfield – Easton Park – 32 resident cases
• Regis Elermore Vale – 18 resident cases, 1 resident death and 12 staff cases
• Wesley Taylor – 26 resident cases and 4 staff cases
• Uniting Aldersgate Lilyfield – 19 resident cases and 11 staff cases
• ACDMA Aged Care Services – 15 resident cases and 15 staff cases
• The Whiddon Group – Wingham – Primrose – 15 resident cases and 15 staff cases
• Brentwood Residential Aged Care Facility – 21 resident cases and 8 staff cases
• Anglican Care Storm Village – 16 resident cases and 13 staff cases
• Uniting Wesley Heights Manly – 21 resident cases, 1 resident death and 7 staff cases
• Whiddon Moree – 15 resident cases, 1 resident death and 13 staff cases
• The Willows Private Nursing Home Pty Ltd – 27 resident cases and 1 staff case
• Blue Hills Manor – 19 resident cases and 9 staff cases
• Whiddon Moree NH – 15 resident cases and 13 staff cases
• Bupa Banora Point – 15 resident cases and 12 staff cases
• Uniting Garden Suburb – 17 resident cases and 9 staff cases
• Uniting Wesley Heights Manly – 16 resident cases and 10 staff cases
• Estia Health Blakehurst – 15 resident cases and 10 staff cases
• Whiddon Mudgee Pioneer – 11 resident cases and 14 staff cases
• Heritage Queanbeyan – 15 resident cases, 1 resident death and 9 staff cases
• St Annes Nursing Home – 11 resident cases, 1 resident death and 13 staff cases
• Bayview Treetops Care Community – 17 resident cases and 7 staff cases
• Sienna Grange Aged Care – 15 resident cases and 9 staff cases
• Leigh Place – 13 resident cases and 11 staff cases
• Hunters Hill Montefiore Home – 3 resident cases and 21 staff cases
• RSL ANZAC Village – 17 resident cases and 6 staff cases
• Indochinese Aged Care Services – 13 resident cases and 10 staff cases
• Bankstown Terrace Care Community – 5 resident cases and 18 staff cases
• Brian King Gardens – 16 resident cases and 6 staff cases
• Catholic Healthcare St Francis Aged Care – 15 resident cases and 7 staff cases
• Uniting Hawkesbury Richmond – 14 resident cases and 8 staff cases
• Marco Polo Woonona Care Services – 17 resident cases, 1 resident death and 4 staff cases
• Three Tree Lodge – 16 resident cases, 1 resident death and 4 staff cases
• Bolton Clarke Cabrini – 17 resident cases and 3 staff cases
• Mountainview Nursing Home – 13 resident cases and 7 staff cases
• Southhaven Aged Care – 13 resident cases and 7 staff cases
• Wyoming Nursing Home – 17 resident cases and 2 staff cases
• Uniting Wontama Orange – 10 resident cases and 9 staff cases
• Seven Hills Nursing Home – 15 resident cases and 3 staff cases
• Presbyterian Aged Care – Paddington – 13 resident cases and 5 staff cases
• HammondCare – Cardiff – 11 resident cases and 7 staff cases
• Anglican Care Warnervale Gardens – 9 resident cases and 9 staff cases
• Advantaged Care at Edensor Gardens – 12 resident cases and 5 staff cases
• Goodhew Gardens – 10 resident cases and 7 staff cases
• Elizabeth Jenkins Place Aged Care Plus Centre – 6 resident cases, 1 resident death and 10 staff cases
• SummitCare Wallsend – 11 resident cases and 5 staff cases
• Blayney Multi-Purpose Service – 9 resident cases and 7 staff cases
• Catholic Healthcare St Catherine’s Aged Care – 8 resident cases and 8 staff cases
• John Goodlet Manor – 8 resident cases and 8 staff cases
• IRT Thomas Holt Kirrawee – 6 resident cases and 10 staff cases
• BaptistCare George Forbes House – 11 resident cases and 4 staff cases
• Mary Potter Nursing Home – 6 resident cases and 9 staff cases
• Groves House – 4 resident cases and 11 staff cases
• Roseneath Aged Care Centre Pty Ltd – 7 resident cases, 1 resident death and 7 staff cases
• Anglican Care McIntosh Court – 9 resident cases and 5 staff cases
• Bathurst Riverview Care Community – 9 resident cases and 5 staff cases
• Marco Polo Aged Care Facility – 14 staff cases
• Martyn Claver Aged Care – 10 resident cases and 3 staff cases
• Beresford Hall – 6 resident cases and 7 staff cases
• St Joseph’s Aged Care Facility Kensington – 9 resident cases and 2 staff cases
• Buckland – 7 resident cases and 4 staff cases
• Presbyterian Aged Care – Minnamurra – 6 resident cases and 5 staff cases
• St Vincent’s Care Services Yennora – 1 resident case and 10 staff cases
• Boronia House – 7 resident cases and 3 staff cases
• Ainsley Nursing Home – 5 resident cases and 5 staff cases
• IRT Links Seaside – 5 resident cases and 5 staff cases
• Hippocrates Aged Care Centre – 4 resident cases and 6 staff cases
• St Lukes Nursing Home – 4 resident cases and 6 staff cases
• Garden Village – 3 resident cases and 7 staff cases
• St Basil’s Lakemba – 3 resident cases and 7 staff cases
• St Elizabeth Home – 3 resident cases and 7 staff cases
• CASS Residential Aged Care Facility – 10 staff cases
• Uniting Nareen Gardens Bateau Bay – 10 staff cases
• Macquarie Lodge Aged Care Plus Centre – 8 resident cases and 1 staff case
• Murray Vale Shalem Hostel – 7 resident cases and 2 staff cases
• Fairfield Nursing Home – 4 resident cases and 5 staff cases
• Tallwoods Corner Aged Care Service – 4 resident cases and 5 staff cases
• Nazareth House Tamworth – 3 resident cases and 6 staff cases
• Melrose Cottage Settlement – 2 resident cases and 7 staff cases
• Rocky Point Residence – 9 staff cases
• Eugowra Multi-Purpose Service – 4 resident cases, 1 resident death and 4 staff cases
• St Andrew’s Village Ballina – 2 resident cases, 1 resident death and 6 staff cases
• Regis Hurstville – 8 resident cases
• Southern Cross Care North Turramurra Residential Aged Care – 2 resident cases and 6 staff cases
• Abbey House Aged Care – 8 staff cases
• Harbison Moss Vale – 8 staff cases
• The Orchards Aged Care – 8 staff cases
• Catholic Healthcare Bodington – 2 resident cases, 1 resident death and 5 staff cases
• The Village by Scalabrini – 6 resident cases and 1 staff case
• The Whiddon Group – Hornsby – 5 resident cases and 2 staff cases
• The Whiddon Group – Redhead – 5 resident cases and 2 staff cases
• Weeroona Aged Care Residence – 4 resident cases and 3 staff cases
• Bayside Residential Aged Care Facility – 2 resident cases and 5 staff cases
• Heritage Kingswood – 7 staff cases
• Uniting Northaven Turramurra – 6 resident cases
• Carino Care at Oatley – 5 resident cases and 1 staff case
• Japara The Brelsford – 5 resident cases and 1 staff case
• Lansdowne Gardens – 5 resident cases and 1 staff case
• Turramurra House Nursing Home – 5 resident cases and 1 staff case
• Estia Health Willoughby – 4 resident cases and 2 staff cases
• Glenwood Nursing Home – 4 resident cases and 2 staff cases
• RFBI Cessnock Masonic Village – 4 resident cases and 2 staff cases
• Meadowbank Grove Care Community – 3 resident cases and 3 staff cases
• Regis Rose Bay – 3 resident cases and 3 staff cases
• Bilyara Hostel – 2 resident cases and 4 staff cases
• Catholic Healthcare Holy Spirit Casula – 2 resident cases and 4 staff cases
• Japara Albury & District – 1 resident case and 5 staff cases
• RFBI Basin View Masonic Village – 1 resident case and 5 staff cases
• St Basil’s Annandale – 1 resident case and 5 staff cases
• Bowral House Nursing Home – 6 staff cases
• Bupa Willoughby – 5 resident cases,
• Anglican Care Kilpatrick Court – 4 resident cases and 1 staff case
• Columbia Aged Care Services – Strathdale Centre – 4 resident cases and 1 staff case
• Catholic Healthcare Gertrude Abbott Aged Care – 3 resident cases and 2 staff cases
• Pathways Sailors Bay – 3 resident cases and 2 staff cases
• James Milson Village North Sydney – 2 resident cases and 3 staff cases
• Montana Aged Care Facility – 2 resident cases and 3 staff cases
• Remembrance Village – 2 resident cases and 3 staff cases
• Thomas Street Lodge – 2 resident cases and 3 staff cases
• Arcare Glenhaven – 1 resident case and 4 staff cases
• Avondale House – 1 resident case and 4 staff cases
• Bolton Clarke Macquarie View – Bolton Point – 1 resident case and 4 staff cases
• Navorina Nursing Home – 1 resident case and 4 staff cases
• The Donald Coburn Centre – 1 resident case and 4 staff cases
• BaptistCare Shalom Centre – 5 staff cases
• Catholic Healthcare Jemalong Residential Village – 5 staff cases
• Illawarra Multi-Cultural Village Hostel – 5 staff cases
• S Antonio Da Padova Nursing Home – 5 staff cases
• Wesley Vickery – 5 staff cases
• Gill Waminda Aged Care Plus Centre – 4 resident cases
• IRT Thomas Holt Sans Souci Gardens – 4 resident cases
• McLean Care Mackellar Apex Campus – 4 resident cases
• Green Hills Residential Care Service – 3 resident cases and 1 staff case
• St Vincent’s Care Services Heathcote – 3 resident cases and 1 staff case
• Calvary Muswellbrook Retirement Community – 2 resident cases and 2 staff cases
• Calvary St Joseph’s Retirement Community – 2 resident cases and 2 staff cases
• RFBI Goulburn Masonic Village – 2 resident cases and 2 staff cases
• Bayswater Gardens – 1 resident case and 3 staff cases
• Carino Care at Russell Lea – 1 resident case and 3 staff cases
• Peter Cosgrove House – 1 resident case and 3 staff cases
• Presbyterian Aged Care – Thornleigh – 1 resident case and 3 staff cases
• BaptistCare Maranoa Centre – Alstonville – 4 staff cases
• Bella Vista Gardens – 4 staff cases
• Dudley Foord House – 4 staff cases
• HammondCare – Wahroonga – 4 staff cases
• Harbourside Haven Nursing Home and Hostel – 4 staff cases
• Moran Engadine – 4 staff cases
• Rathgar Lodge – 4 staff cases
• Springwood Greens Care Community – 4 staff cases
• St Marys Villa Residential Aged Care – 4 staff cases
• The Palms Nursing Home – 4 staff cases
• Uniting Farmborough Unanderra – 4 staff cases
• Yallambee Lodge – 4 staff cases
• Moran Kellyville – 3 resident cases
• Arcare Warriewood – 2 resident cases and 1 staff case
• McMaugh Gardens Hostel – 2 resident cases and 1 staff case
• Catholic Healthcare St Mary’s Retirement Village – 1 resident case and 2 staff cases
• Courtlands Aged Care Facility – 1 resident case and 2 staff cases
• Minchinbury Manor – 1 resident case and 2 staff cases
• Presbyterian Aged Care – Apsley Riverview – 1 resident case and 2 staff cases
• Uniting Osborne House Nowra – 1 resident case and 2 staff cases
• Advantaged Care at Bondi Waters – 3 staff cases
• Ashwood Residential Care Service – 3 staff cases
• Chow Cho-Poon Nursing Home – 3 staff cases
• Coastal Waters Aged Care – 3 staff cases
• Cooinda Hostel – 3 staff cases
• Florence Price Gardens – 3 staff cases
• Garrawarra Centre – 3 staff cases
• Japara Corymbia – 3 staff cases
• Mercy Aged Care Services (Singleton) – 3 staff cases
• Mona Vale View Care Community – 3 staff cases
• Uniting Abrina Ashfield – 3 staff cases
• Uniting Mingaletta Port Macquarie – 3 staff cases
• Uniting Mullauna Blacktown – 3 staff cases
• Viewhaven Lodge – 3 staff cases
• Wesley Tebbutt – 3 staff cases
• Windermere Aged Care Facility – 3 staff cases
• Woodlands Lodge – 3 staff cases
• Alkira Lodge – 2 resident cases
• Benjamin Short Grove – 2 resident cases
• HammondCare – Woy Woy – 2 resident cases
• Scalabrini Village Nursing Home (Bexley) – 2 resident cases
• BaptistCare Bethshan Gardens Centre – 1 resident case and 1 staff case
• Blacktown Nursing Home – 1 resident case and 1 staff case
• IRT Shoalhaven Court – 1 resident case and 1 staff case
• Jesmond Aged Care – 1 resident case and 1 staff case
• Macleay Valley House – 1 resident case and 1 staff case
• Mary Andrews Retirement Village Hostel – 1 resident case and 1 staff case
• Nuffield Village – 1 resident case and 1 staff case
• Ruby Manor – 1 resident case and 1 staff case
• Scalabrini Village Allambie Heights – 1 resident case and 1 staff case
• Scalabrini Village Chipping Norton – 1 resident case and 1 staff case
• St Brigid’s Green Maroubra – 1 resident case and 1 staff case
• Uniting Arrunga Ermington – 1 resident case and 1 staff case
• Alexander Aged Care – 2 staff cases
• Alexander Campbell House – 2 staff cases
• BaptistCare Morven Gardens Centre – 2 staff cases
• BaptistCare Warena Centre – 2 staff cases
• Borella House – 2 staff cases
• Bupa Ashfield – 2 staff cases
• Carino Care at Sylvania – 2 staff cases
• Catholic Healthcare Holy Spirit Dubbo – 2 staff cases
• Catholic Healthcare St Francis Aged Care – 2 staff cases
• Chester Hill Village – 2 staff cases
• Estia Health Figtree – 2 staff cases
• Estia Health Kogarah – 2 staff cases
• Flinders Court – 2 staff cases
• HammondCare – Bond House – 2 staff cases
• Lemongrove Gardens Hostel – 2 staff cases
• Maroubra Shores – 2 staff cases
• Mountain View Lodge Hostel – 2 staff cases
• Narraweena Grove Care Community – 2 staff cases
• Regis Hornsby – 2 staff cases
• Southern Cross Care Tenison Goulburn Residential Aged Care – 2 staff cases
• Stanmore Place Care Community – 2 staff cases
• SWIAA Gardens – 2 staff cases
• The Little Sisters of the Poor Mount St Joseph’s Home – 2 staff cases
• Touriandi Limited – 2 staff cases
• Uniting Caroona Jarman Goonellabah – 2 staff cases
• Uniting Caroona Kalina Goonellabah – 2 staff cases
• Uniting Caroona Yamba – 2 staff cases
• Uniting Edinglassie Lodge Penrith – 2 staff cases
• Woollahra Montefiore Home – 2 staff cases
• Aurrum Norah Head – 1 resident case
• Bupa St Ives – 1 resident case
• Bupa Sutherland – 1 resident case
• Dougherty Villa – 1 resident case
• IRT Culburra Beach – 1 resident case
• Juliana Village – 1 resident case
• Killara Glades Care Community – 1 resident case
• Murray Haven Hostel – 1 resident case
• RFBI Dubbo Masonic Village – 1 resident case
• The Royce Manor – 1 resident case
• Uniting Springwood – 1 resident case
• Uniting Westmead – 1 resident case
• Woodhaven – 1 resident case