Rogue aged-care providers warned over Christmas visits

‘Rogue’ aged-care providers continuing to impose COVID-19 restrictions on visits from relatives, the Council on the Ageing has said.

Council on the Ageing chief executive Ian Yates. Picture: AAP

Some nursing home residents risk a ruined Christmas with “rogue” aged-care providers continuing to impose COVID-19 restrictions on visits from relatives, the Council on the Ageing has said.

COTA Australia chief executive Ian Yates said while most providers were allowing reasonable in-person visits by families to their loved one in accordance with ­nationally agreed guidelines, a minority were keeping some lockdown arrangements in place.

Mr Yates said nursing home residents had a right to spend Christmas with their families. He has threatened to name and shame providers who flout the rules. “Older Australians deserve a loving Christmas, this year more than ever,” he said.

“A few rogue providers doing the wrong thing must not ruin Christmas for those who have waited so long to spend time with their loved ones again.

“There is simply no reason why providers should be cutting the people in their care off from their loved ones.

“If peak bodies and the national regulators cannot pull rogue aged-care facilities into line, we will be forced to make their behaviour public, and to ask the government to make the code mandatory.”

The comments came on the day NSW moved to ease a directive limiting the number of visitors to an aged-care resident to two in time for Christmas.

NSW Health announced the “two-visitor rule” would end on Tuesday, and there would be no limit on the number of people allowed to visit each resident.

“The risk of transmission in the community is now low enough to facilitate the easing of restrictions for aged care, just as the NSW government has eased restrictions across many other areas,” NSW Health director of aged care Stefanie Williams said.

“We are very pleased to enable residents to spend time with more of their loved ones this festive season, and to provide this certainty for families as they finalise their plans,” she said.

Nursing homes have been particularly susceptible to the virus, with 685 residents dying of COVID-19 out of a national death toll of 908.

A national visitor code was agreed in May with all peak bodies and federal government parties. It was last updated in November to ensure homes could freely permit visits provided there were appropriate infection control procedures in place., but different states have provided different directives.

“Aged-care residents have been the worst affected by this pandemic. Many were left feeling afraid and isolated this year, cut off from visits and support from family and loved ones as aged-care homes slammed their doors closed, with many throwing away the key for too long,” Mr Yates said.

Leading Age Services Australia manager of policy and advocacy Tim Hicks said while “vigilance is critical to save lives in aged care … providers must follow state and territory health legislation and guidelines against COVID-19 for festive season visits and outings.”

“Supporting residents’ mental and emotional wellbeing is most important, especially at Christmas. Aged-care providers want to allow a joyful Christmas for their residents and families after a most challenging year.”