Code of conduct agreed on aged care visits

A sector stoush that was creating confusion among care residents and their families has been resolved.

Aged care residents and providers must navigate an agreed approach to visits.

Aged care providers have agreed with seniors advocates on a code of conduct for nursing home visits during the COVID-19 pandemic, ending a sector stoush that was creating confusion among care residents and their families.

Residents and providers must navigate an agreed approach to visits, though the code will give providers control over the numbers of visitors inside the home and the option to replace where necessary face-to-face visits with visits through a window or another way to connect.

The exception is for residents who are dying, or those who have a visitor that contributes regularly with their care, such as the family of people with dementia who help with meals or behaviour support, who can have longer visits.

“Residential care homes, residents and visitors need to work together to find the right balance between protecting residents from COVID-19 and providing them with vital social connections and support,” the industry code says.

“Wishes and preferences of residents will be at the centre of all decision making in relation to who visits them, and their choices will be sought and respected, unless the visitor is prohibited under state/territory directives,” the code says.

The code recognises some nursing homes have locked down facilities more strictly than government guidelines propose during the COVID crisis, causing angst among some family members of residents. Equally there have been concerns about visitors flouting entry procedures at homes looking to protect residents from coronavirus.

“Given the vulnerability and frailty of residents and in some cases the potential for residents to naturally pass away during the prolonged pandemic period, it is understandable that families and friends are seeking the maximum safe period of visitation and homes are seeking to minimise the risk of COVID-19 being introduced.”

Visitor access to nursing homes has been a running issue throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, with some homes adopting severe visitation restrictions in order to keep out the threat of the disease.

This has prompted complaints from families, which led to Prime Minister Scott Morrison, backed by seniors groups, calling out some in the residential aged care sector for not acting in the best interests of the mental health and wellbeing of residents by restricting visitors.

The code will be reviewed after three weeks of implementation.

“This code is absolutely essential and the review is just as important,” Aged and Community Services Australia chief executive officer Patricia Sparrow said.

“We need to monitor this closely because we can’t afford to get complacent. The price paid by older people in aged care will be too high.”