UPDATED 19/09/23

Montefiore has no facility or unit currently closed to visitors.

To assist with planning a visit, please read the Visitor Guidelines below.

• If you have any (non-urgent) queries about COVID-19 and Montefiore, please email covid19info@montefiore.org.au. For any urgent matters relating to a resident, please contact the relevant care manager directly.
• For the latest information and restrictions in Sydney, please visit the
  NSW Government website.

Other Services:

• Help at Home continues to provide home care services to older people and people with a disability living in the community.
• Our Day Centres / Burger Centre is operating programs and outings.

These guidelines have been developed referencing the NSW health advice to Residential Aged Care Facilities. Latest Advice

For the health and safety of residents, staff and families, management thank you for your cooperation with the following during your visit.

UPDATED 14/09/23

Please note the changes to our standard visitor guidelines effective from the 14th of September 2023.

Thank you for your continued support and vigilance as we have navigated the ever-changing landscape of COVID-19 within our residential care facilities.

In line with NSW Health recommendations, we are pleased to advise that as of Friday 15th September 2023 we will be updating many of the visitation restrictions.

Montefiore always ensures that restrictions when visiting are the least restrictive, based on the assessed risk at the time. Going forward, you will be notified of the current assessed risk level (LOW or HIGH) of the site you are visiting on arrival. Each risk level has separate visitor guidelines. Where changes to visiting arrangements are made, you will be notified as soon as is practical.

Currently most of our units are considered low-risk and visitors are not required to wear masks, rapid antigen test or complete a temperature check-in on arrival. Visitors will be required to complete the welcome registration form (via a QR code) on arrival.

Please note that COVID-19 outbreak precautions are still in place in the Randwick Special Care Unit (SCU – Level 3). All visitors to SCU must wear full PPE.

LOW-RISK GUIDELINES

When respiratory viruses are circulating at a level assessed as LOW-RISK in the community and in our home, normal visiting arrangements will apply:

• Masks are not required to be worn.
• No evidence of a negative COVID-19 RAT is required.
• No COVID-19 check-in requirements or temperature monitoring. All visitors are still required to complete a welcome registration form upon arrival, as was protocol before COVID-19, to ensure we know who is on site if there is an emergency.
• There are no limits to the number of visitors a resident can have.

HIGH-RISK GUIDELINES

When respiratory viruses are circulating at a level assessed as HIGH-RISK in the community and/or in our home, the following will be implemented:

• The recommended limit for visitors will be 4 people per resident (any age) within a 24-hour period.
• Visitors will be asked to provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 Rapid Antigen test (RAT) result taken just before entry (at home or onsite).
• All visitors over 12 years of age will be required to wear a surgical mask over their nose and mouth while visiting. When a unit is in outbreak, N95 and/or full PPE may be required.
• Visitors can meet residents in common indoor spaces (lounges and cafe seating areas – masked at all times) in addition to outdoors and inside resident’s rooms.
• One visitor will be allowed to assist a resident during the mealtimes in the dining room, masked at all times.
• Visitors will be required to wear a mask at all times if not eating or drinking, communicating with another person who is hearing impaired, or when in a resident’s room when there are no other residents present.
• Visitors and staff will be asked to maintain social distance and limit interactions.
• Care should be taken to avoid crowding within any area of the home.
• If visiting an outbreak area, you should not visit another area which is not in outbreak.

You must not enter a residential care facility if you:

• Have Cold, Flu or COVID-19 symptoms or other acute respiratory symptoms.
• Are waiting for a COVID-19 or other respiratory pathogen test result.
• Are a close contact of a COVID-19 positive person – unless they have completed their self-isolation and testing requirements.
• All household contacts should avoid visiting high-risk settings, such as hospitals, aged or disability care facilities, or visiting people at high-risk of severe illness for at least 7 days after the last person in their house had a positive COVID-19 test. If there are extenuating compassionate reasons for visiting a high-risk setting (e.g. end of life) and you do not have symptoms of COVID-19, you should contact the unit to discuss if this can be safely arranged. Between day 7 and 14, you should limit visiting high-risk settings to further reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19.
• Have tested positive to COVID-19 in the last 7 days. Even if you are seven days clear of your diagnosis date, you should not visit until you are symptom free. Special consideration is given for the purpose of visiting a resident who is at the end of life.

VACCINATION

• Visitors are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated for COVID-19 and to receive their booster when it is due.
• Visitors are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated for seasonal influenza.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Regards,

The Montefiore COVID-19 Management Team (MCMT)

Our home care service has implemented stringent precautions and procedures to help protect our vulnerable clients, as well as providing additional support. Services will continue with all precautions in place during the current NSW Government lockdown, and we also ask for your cooperation to ensure our staff remain safe as they continue to perform essential duties.

M by Montefiore has no restrictions in place.

The Burger Centre is now open in Randwick and Hunters Hill for in-person programs. The Burger Centre team is available by phone on 02 8345 9147 and email info@burgercentre.com.au

Since the COVID-19 crisis began, Montefiore has spent significant time and resources to ensure we are doing everything possible to protect our consumers, staff and community through this challenging time, and prepare for a potential outbreak. Below is an overview of some of the planing and precautions we have implemented:

• The Montefiore COVID-19 Management Team (MCMT), which meets daily to update our own planning and precautions, implement all NSW Public Health Unit (PHU) directives and ensure we are following the latest NSW Health guidance and information regarding cases and hotspots in NSW.
• All staff and essential contractors are undertaking a temperature check and completing a daily health declaration and annexure regarding hotspot locations.
• Supplies of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including masks are now in place.
• An Outbreak Management Plan has been established, overseen by the Director of Quality, Compliance & Risk. This plan covers everything from signage to infection control protocols and communications.
• Dedicated COVID-19 Care Zones are in place at each of our Residential Care sites, to be used in the event of an outbreak. If required, these zones can be activated immediately. They will be quarantined from the rest of the site, including separate staffing and equipment, increased cleaning protocols and other precautions.
• Nursing staff with previous relevant hospital experience have been selected to work in the COVID-19 Care Zones, and have received additional training to manage care of any infected residents should the need arise.
• All staff continue to receive training in the latest precautions and protocols introduced across our sites.
• An agreement with a nursing agency is in place to provide care staff should large numbers of Montefiore employees be required to self-isolate.
• Our Catering Department has contingency plans in place should replacement kitchen and dining staff be required, as well as alternative menu plans should food supplies be interrupted in the case of a more widespread community outbreak.