New training and guidelines for visitors to our homes will help to keep residents and their loved ones connected safely.
As we continue to support our residents, clients and patients through the challenges of the ongoing pandemic, Catholic Healthcare has updated visitor guidelines for our residential aged care homes and introduced new training modules to support safe visiting.
This is part of Catholic Healthcare's commitment to ensuring that resident care and wellbeing is at the heart of what we do. The Industry Code for Visiting in Aged Care Homes, first created by the aged care sector in 2021, acknowledges the importance of balancing safety in residential aged care with visitor access, and the importance of social connection to residents’ wellbeing.
Recent updates to the code will end the lengthy lockdowns and isolation of the past two years, allowing each Catholic Healthcare resident one nominated ‘essential care visitor’ even during a COVID-19 outbreak in a home. There may be a brief initial period restricting visitors while a home works with the local Public Health Unit to establish infection control measures, however following this time an essential care visitor may visit as long as they have completed our Outbreak Visitation Training. The practical, user-friendly program that can be completed quickly and easily online or in person.
While mandatory for nominated essential care visitors, the training is highly recommended for all families and friends visiting our homes. Topics covered include infection control, recognising transmission risks and symptoms, hand hygiene techniques and how to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Many of these same principles will also help to keep our homes and residents safe from influenza and other viruses through the coming winter.
For more information on the New Visitor Health & Safety Training program click here
For a link to the Outbreak Visitation Modules click here