UPDATED 02/06/23

Hunters Hill: Ariel nursing home, Apple and Pear on level 2, is in outbreak.

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.

• Providing the best care for residents at each of our four campuses continues to be our focus. This includes strategies to support individuals’ social and emotional wellbeing through these challenging times, especially when isolated. We have introduced assisted video and phone calls to keep residents and their loved ones connected. Allied Health and Leisure & Lifestyle programs are continuing with safe social distancing practices in place.
• All staff are vaccinated according to Australian Government regulations for aged care workers, and undergo daily health and temperature checks. Rapid Antigen Testing is undertaken according to NSW health advise to residential aged care facilities.
• Our clinical staff continue to monitor residents for any signs or symptoms of illness and we have rigorous testing and isolation policies in place. Additional cleaning protocols are in place across our sites, along with additional hand sanitiser and hand-washing stations.
• For older members of the community and their carers in need of added support, Respite Care is available at each of our Residential Care sites subject to availability.

VISITOR GUIDELINES

UPDATED 02/06/23

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.

Please note the changes to our standard visitor guidelines effective from the 14th of October 2022.

• Due to the continued COVID-19 resource related demands on Montefiore we will continue to supply 2x Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) per resident per day, however if 4 people visit in one day, you will need to ensure you have provisions to RAT additional visitors. Many of the RAT kits now being used are saliva testing kits and require the user to not consume any food or liquid 30 minutes prior to use.

With ongoing COVID-19 and influenza cases in the community, and with isolation requirements changing, visitor vigilance regarding the use of rapid antigen tests, mask wearing, and hand hygiene has never been more critical. Adherence to these measures is required to minimise the impact of outbreaks to our residents. If you have tested positive to COVID-19 in the last 10 days, you are not able to visit (you must also be symptom free before you visit). If you are a close household contact, you are not able to visit for 7 days. Special consideration is given for the purpose of visiting a resident who is at the end of life, please contact the unit Executive Care Manager (ECM) for any enquiries.

We would also like to remind visitors to responsibly dispose of masks in the rubbish bins provided at exit to ensure we are not impacting our local environment.

Please see below for our full updated guidelines.

You must not enter a Residential Care Facility if you:

• Have Cold, FLU or COVID-19 symptoms
• Are waiting for a COVID-19 test result.
• Are a close contact of a COVID-19 positive person – All household contacts must not visit high risk settings (aged care, healthcare, disability care and correctional facilities) 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 10 days. Even if you are ten 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.

Visitor Guidelines:

1. Visitors should provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 rapid antigen test (RAT) result taken just before entry (at home or onsite).
2. All visitors over 12 years of age must 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.
3. Visitors and staff should maintain social distance and limit interactions.
4. Visitors should not cross units. If visiting an outbreak area, you should not visit another area which is not in outbreak.

Vaccination

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

We thank you again for your patience and understanding as we manage Covid -19 associated risks.

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.