Residents News

7th September – Lockdown update

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Hello to you all.

In the interest of transparency, I wanted to let you know the following:

We have been advised that a delivery driver to ATV on Monday 30th August has tested positive to COVID 19. The delivery was to the kitchen very early in the morning. ATV has COVID safe delivery protocols in place and we do not anticipate any issue.

However, a staff member in the kitchen has been identified as a close contact and is now in isolation. Please note that the staff member has tested negative on all occasions and we will continue to follow the NSW Health advice.

If there is anything further for us to let you know we will immediately be in contact. If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Margaret Russell,
General Manager

3 September – Lockdown update

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Hello to everyone…

The warmer weather has brought some cheer to our residents, but of course the real celebration of opening for visiting seems to be out of our reach at the moment. The NSW Health advice still directs us to exclude visitors at this time. Please note that Abel Tasman Village is involved in discussions with our peak body and Government authorities weekly and as soon as we have any update we will communicate it immediately. Our residents are managing well and keeping busy with activities. If any resident shows any signs of emotional stress or anxiety we will of course contact family.

NSW Health has imposed a new public health order which requires all authorised workers who live in LGAs of concern to have received a first dose of vaccine by Monday 6th September. Our rate of immunisation for our staff is excellent and we will be totally compliant with this new requirement.

In anticipation of opening up for visiting, it would be useful for us to have a record of your vaccination status. If you have been vaccinated, please send through to us your immunization record or Digital COVID certificate (please send to the office on office.mgr@abeltasman.com.au).

You may have read in the most recent newsletter that Abel Tasman Village has achieved an A rating in the Food Authority Audit. Congratulations to Mark and his team on this great result.

As some of you may know, Janina recently retired. A great loss to ATV and when lockdown is over we will be inviting her back for a formal farewell. We have a new lifestyle officer commencing in mid October. An exciting addition to the team!

A number of families currently use the alternative methods of communication we have available. Please contact us if we can further assist you in this regard.

We hope you are all staying well and safe in these difficult times. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any concerns.

Margaret Russell,
General Manager

13 August – Update

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Hello to everyone,

I hope you are all staying safe and well. Of course, the 11am briefing today did not bring us the miracle we are all hoping for. Given our location in Chester Hill, I’m sure you can appreciate that we are right in the middle of the COVID hotstpot of Canterbury-Bankstown. We absolutely acknowledge the toll that the current restrictions are having on family members. I can reassure you that if we notice your loved one showing any signs of emotional distress, we will be contacting you immediately.

Unfortunately, the restrictions on visiting will need to be in place for some time longer. I am giving you a link to the NSW Health advice to residential aged care facilities:  https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Pages/racf-latest-advice.aspx.
The situation is changing every day and we will not stay closed for visiting for any moment longer than we are directed to. Please note in the advice the link to the Industry Code for Visiting Residential Aged Care Homes During COVID 19. I can also give you the number for the Seniors Rights Service 1800 700 600. If you feel that you would like to talk to them to advocate on your behalf, please feel free to call them. They are very helpful.

In the meantime, I can report that our vaccination rate is excellent – well over 93% for staff and residents. At the current time, there are 13 nursing homes with COVID outbreaks. Our hearts go out to the residents and staff of those homes. It is numbers like this that reinforce the difficult decisions we have to make in relation to visitation. The last thing we want is a COVID case at ATV.

Can I pass on our thanks to those families who have sent messages of support to us during this difficult time. The staff, management and Board of ATV are very appreciative.

Please take care of yourselves. We here at ATV are keeping a smile on our faces and hoping we can see you all again soon.

Margaret Russell,
General Manager

August 2021 Newsletter

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Sydney’s disruptive lock-down? Our residents are leading a pretty close to normal life. They follow the Olympic games and make up their own non-olympic games. Lots of excellent photos in our facebook feed and in the monthly newsletter, which you can download now.

And a quick reminder about Employee Day this week. Send a message to our staff. Encouragement goes a long way during this strange and unpredictable time.

What they’re doing…

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With Sydney in lock-down because of the COVID outbreak, here is a peek at what our residents are doing… 

Well… actually, life is pretty normal in the ATV ‘bubble”. While staff wear masks and observe strict protocols, residents experience an environment that is more “normal” than might be expected. Katja Jeffries manages an Activities team which doesn’t just entertain, but provides company and encourages fitness routines.

While, traditionally, resident activities were just held in the Main Hall, now the coffee shop and the media room in the new wing provide additional venues to engage residents, and special sessions are held for residents in dementia care where appropriate.

And one-on-one counselling for individual residents who can’t participate in broader activities is provided by Effie Burgoyne. Yes, we are missing our trusty band of volunteers who supplement our regular staff of Katja, Janina, Nadia & Effie.. However, for a modest size facility like Abel Tasman Village, resident activities are remarkably well resourced.

You can follow Abel Tasman Village on Facebook to connect with activities (or regularly check the Abel Tasman Village social media page for non-Facebook fans).

And as  for our residents… they’re putting COVID aside and are getting behind the Olympics!

And… it’s July!

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Just when you thought that everyone was focussed on vaccines, our activities department put out the usual monthly calendar of activities. Life goes on…

Please be sure to read Margaret’s message in the newsletter. Our residents might have some restrictiction in movement and visitors, but activities come together anyway!

Check out the July newsletter here.

As you know, in Sydney, Aged Care Facilities can’t admit visitors right now. Hopefully that won’t last long. Please read Margaret’s note in the newsletter and of course, you can book a phone or video call with a resident.

Lockdown announcement

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It is with a heavy heart that I need to advise all families/relatives and other visitors to Abel Tasman Village, that from 6pm today, Saturday 26th June visitors are not permitted under the NSW Government’s stay at home orders announced this afternoon.

We will be communicating to you all regarding alternative methods of keeping in touch with your loved ones, as soon as we can. Unfortunately, this latest outbreak has highlighted that the variant involved is extremely contagious and we cannot take the risk that our residents could be exposed.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding. Please be assured resident safety is our number 1 priority. We will provide updates here as soon as we are advised.

Click here for the latest advice from NSW Department of Health.

Update 28 June 2021: A letter to friends and relatives and a link to the booking system is now live on our Visiting Residents page.

Margaret Russell
Acting General Manager

June 2021 Newsletter

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We’ve just finished our June newsletter, which you can upload from here.

Apart from the Queen’s Birthday, an activity to highlight this month is our Malta Day on 24th. Lots of things to celebrate!

Oh, and a quick reminder that all visitors need to have had the 2021 Flu vaccination. I know we’ve had other things on our mind this year, but it’s an essential item in the care for our residents.

This category is for any individual who enters the aged care system under the full
regulations of the new program.

This category covers individuals who entered the system during the transition period after the initial announcement but before the new system fully begins.

This category is for those who were already engaged with the existing system prior
to the major legislative changes being announced.