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Australia Day Update

We are happy to announce that NSW Health has advised that we are now able to offer residents an outing in the ATV bus. Obviously, there need to be a number of COVID safeguards in place which we will comply with. We are in the process of formulating a COVID safe plan for these outings to take place. Please note that numbers will be limited for these trips and may need to be allocated in terms of care needs.

There are still some restrictions and exclusions for visiting. Please refer to the suburb listing on our booking page. If you have visited any of these locations unfortunately you will be excluded from visiting. Of course, we have alternative methods for you to keep in contact with your loved one. There are also exemptions on compassionate grounds or for essential care purposes. Visiting days are detailed here.

Thank you to everyone for your patience and understanding. Can I wish you all a very happy and safe Australia Day. This year more than ever we should be grateful to be living in such a great country!

Sophia Markwell,
General Manager

Bookings & Telehealth

Thank you for your patience in regards to the temporary lockdown over the past few weeks. Everyone has been very understanding and supportive. The online booking system has been working very well, please don’t hesitate the staff at the Abel Tasman Village to assist with bookings if you are having issues on (02) 9645 3388.

I understand that times have been very difficult, and some of you may be struggling in silence. The Swinburne University Wellbeing Clinic for Older Adults have launched a National Telehealth Counselling and Support Service for aged care residents, their families, friends and aged care staff. This service has been very successful so far and is completely free of charge. The counsellors are provisionally registered psychologists, social work interns and counselling postgraduates, who are supervised by experienced practitioners. They currently have capacity to offer support to more people, which is the reason we are reaching out to aged care facilities. Staff, residents and family/friends can refer themselves or others via the below link, where you can also read more about the service: www.swin.edu.au/telehealthcounselling  

The list of suburbs which are excluded for visits has been updated by adding Mount Druitt and Rooty Hill. See the full list on our booking page.

Sophia Markwell,
General Manager

Resident Contact Update

Great news for NSW with COVID numbers on the decrease, thank goodness. We have received an update this afternoon from NSW Health and are currently reviewing the revised visiting restrictions in line with our COVID 19 Management Plan.

At this stage, we are expecting to communicate new visiting arrangements on Monday 11th January so stay tuned for that update. Until that time, current restrictions will remain in place (ie. no visiting is permitted at this time).

Communication options with your loved one are still available via phone and video calling for Friday 8th January to Monday 11th January from 1pm to 5pm (last call is 4.30pm). Could we also ask that family members coordinate bookings so that one contact per resident is made per day. This allows for a more even opportunity for all residents to speak with their families.

Phone calls should last for no more than 30 minutes. Bookings are essential and timeframes must be strictly adhered to, please book here. If you do not have internet access to visit our website, please call 0432 597 534 and a member of staff will assist you to make a booking.

We appreciate that the restrictions have been difficult and challenging for you all and we appreciate your patience and understanding. As always, our residents’ safety is our first priority. Thank you again for your cooperation.

ATV Management

Renewed Visitor Restrictions

Update: 6 January 2021 – Management are waiting for the latest update from NSW Health and thank everyone for their patience. We will announce any resulting changes to the visiting and phone call schedule as soon as we get word from the NSW Health Department.

As you may have seen in the news this morning, the NSW Department of Health has re-imposed visitor limitations to aged care facilities in the greater Sydney area such as Abel Tasman Village from today (30th December) until at least 6 January 2021.

Unfortunately, we therefore have had to cancel all existing visitor bookings and suspend any further reservations for the time being.

We regret having to impose these new limitations and hope that you’ll appreciate the situation which all Sydney area aged care facilities find themselves in.

To in some small way compensate for this, we will be re-activating phone and video call reservations.

Sincerely,
ATV management

Reference: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Pages/racf-latest-advice.aspx

Visitor Update – the latest…

In line with the latest information from the Dept of Health, here is our up to date visitor information.
Until at least 11.59pm on Wednesday 30 December 2020:

  • Up to two visitors per day are permitted to visit residents at the Abel Tasman Village.
  • Visits will be strictly 1 hours per resident.
  • Masks must be strictly worn throughout your visit, even if you’re in the room with the resident.
  • Residents cannot leave the facility to attend family gatherings and group excursions. Essential travel is permitted (such as for a medical appointment).
  • Please arrive at your allocated time, as early arrivals may be asked to wait.
  • If a visit is not essential and can be substituted by a later festive gathering, that would be much appreciated and allow us to focus on supervised visits for essential reasons.

Abel Tasman Village apologies for any inconvenience caused. We hope you can make the best out of a very bad situation. Thank you for your support and your understanding.

Have a very Merry Christmas and safe New Year.

Sophia Markwell
General Manager.

Visiting Update

This post has been updated – please check later updates

As expected, we closely follow NSW Government Health advice. This is being updated regularly, including visitation arrangements. At the time of writing, the directions (until at least 11.59pm on Wednesday 23 December 2020) state:

  • all residential aged care facilities across NSW must exclude visitors. Visitors performing essential caring functions may be exempted. Where there are exceptional circumstances (for example, a dying relative), seek advice from your local NSW Health public health unit on 1300 066 055
  • all staff and exempted visitors must wear a surgical mask while in a residential aged care facility.
  • While Abel Tasman is scheduled to open for visitors during Christmas and New Year period, our industry bodies ACSA has been advised that NSW Health will be issuing advice to Aged Care providers following this morning’s press conference. They have asked that the advice is clear and definitive and is sent as a matter of urgency. As yet, we have not received answers to those questions and are following up.
  • There has been influx of phone calls the facility regarding the updates, Please wait until the update from ATV to make plans for the next few days.

Please be assured that we will keep you updated via all the usual channels.

Sophia Markwell,
General Manager

December Visits

[18 Dec 2020: Please check our Book-A-Visit page for the latest information.]

Here is our December visitor calendar. As you can see above, we’re open in the afternoons of: December 1, 2, 5, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27, 30 and January 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 9.

Visitors from Melbourne are now welcome at Abel Tasman Village, yeah!

COVID-19 fragments continue to be detected in sewage, so visitors from the following areas should take extra precaution when visiting. Please monitor for symptoms.

  • Western Sydney treatment plants

The area served by two sewage pumping stations includes the suburbs of North Kellyville, Rouse Hill, Box Hill, The Ponds, Kellyville Ridge, Parklea, Quakers Hill and Acacia Gardens.

  • Rouse Hill treatment plant

The area served by the Rouse Hill treatment plant includes the suburbs of Quakers Hill, Castle Hill, Annangrove, Kellyville, Box Hill, Kenthurst, Glenhaven, The Ponds, Rouse Hill, North Kellyville, Kellyville Ridge, Beaumont Hills, Stanhope Gardens, Baulkham Hills, Glenwood, Bella Vista, Parklea, Acacia Gardens and Norwest.

  • Liverpool treatment plant

The area served by the Liverpool treatment plant includes the suburbs of Bardia, Hinchinbrook, Hoxton Park, Abbotsbury, Ingleburn, Prestons, Holsworthy, Edmondson Park, Austral, Cecil Park, Cecil Hills, Elizabeth Hills, Bonnyrigg Heights, Edensor Park, Green Valley, Pleasure Point, Casula, Hammondville, Liverpool, Moorebank, Wattle Grove, Miller, Cartwright, Lurnea, Warwick Farm, Chipping Norton, Voyager Point, Macquarie Links, Glenfield, Catherine Field, Gledswood Hills, Varroville, Leppington, West Hoxton, Horningsea Park, Middleton Grange, Len Waters Estate, Carnes Hill, Denham Court.

Stay well,
Sophia Markwell,
General Manager

Visits and Outings

It’s good to be able to announce a further relaxation of the way we manage visits to and for our residents. Here are a few ways we propose a gradual return to “normal”:

Outside visits
Residents can once again attend small family gatherings away from Abel Tasman Village. Please book such outings ahead of time as per the usual booking process.

Resident outings
We are resuming regular outings for residents to outside venues. The first is a visit to the botanical gardens next week.

We have updated the calendar with visiting days for the rest of the month. Dates are 14, 15, 17,20.21, 22, 23, 26, 28, 29 November and 1st December. As before, we’re open for visits between 1.00 and 5.00 pm.

As before, to book, call any day on (0401) 472 926 between 2.00 pm and 5.00 pm only. Alternatively send an SMS to this number.
Please only use this number and only at the assigned times for bookings to help us manage visits.

Stay Safe,

Sophia Markwell,
General Manager

Visitor Screening Update

The NSW government has updated its guidance for visitors, so we have implemented its new guidelines. These no longer are based on your suburb, but on a range of common sense factors. Read them here.

As before, to book, call any day on (0401) 472 926 between 2.00 pm and 5.00 pm only and tell us your preferred date and time. Alternatively, send an SMS to this number.

As you can see from the calendar below, we’re open to visitors on Saturday 31st October and then on the 1st, 2nd, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 12th, 14th and 15th of November.

See you soon!