Here is an update to our visitor policy from 17th March 2021

Visits

• Hours: mornings from 9.30 to 12.00 and afternoons from 2.00 to 4.30 with no booking needed (yeah!).
• No time limit for each visit, but finish by 5.30 pm unless approved by management.
• No total visitor number limit, but visitors to remain in resident ‘s room (not in communal areas).
• Flu Vaccine not mandatory, but encouraged for all visitors.

Masks
No longer mandatory for both staff and visitors.

Restrictions
Certain restrictions will apply from time to time as directed by the Department of Health. Accordingly, we update the visiting page as necessary.

Outings
Continue current policy, family to call RN and book to arrange ( 24 hours in advance if possible)

Special Considerations and requests to be discussed with Harry Wu ( Clinical Manager)

Regards,
Sophia Markwell
General Manager

Dear Families & Friends,

Following our post on 19 February with information on the COVID-19 vaccine, we can now provide more information to families and friends about the rollout of the vaccination program. Please note, we have NOT been notified by the Primary Health Network when our residents will be vaccinated, however we have the documentation available to be prepared should it occur soon.

We are asking you, the person responsible, to provide your written consent to the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible, so that we can be ready for the vaccination program when we are notified.

As previously stated, the Australian Government and Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) strongly encourage our residents, families and staff to be vaccinated as vaccination will generate an immune response to COVID-19. Please refer to our 9 February email for further information about the vaccine. We also have copies of this information available at Reception.

Click on these links for information sheets about:

• The Pfizer (Comirnaty) Vaccine
• Preparing for COVID-19 vaccination
• What to expect on COVID-19 vaccination day at your residential aged care facility
• After your COVID-19 vaccination
• COVID-19 Vaccine and the Flu Vaccine

We also ask that you complete a Consent Form for the 2021 Influenza Vaccine which will take place at least the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Please select BOTH Influenza and Covid-19 Vaccine in the Abel Tasman Village consent form.

Completing the Consent Forms:

Below are the two Consent Forms for you to complete:

1. Consent Form for the Abel Tasman Village Annual Influenza Vaccine and the COVID-19 Vaccine. [download]
2. Australian Government Consent Form for the Covid-19 Vaccine. [download]

How to complete the two Consent Forms:

• Complete the Consent Forms electronically and email to us at admin@abeltasman.com.au;
  or
• Print the Consent Forms and return the completed forms to the Registered Nurse on duty
  or
• Pick up a copy of the Consent Forms from Reception or the Registered Nurse on duty and return the completed forms to Reception or the Registered Nurse on duty.

We ask that you do this as soon as possible, so that we can be ready for vaccination day. If there are fields you are not able to complete (eg. Medicare Number) you can leave them blank.

It is important to note that, despite the vaccination program being rolled out over the coming months, we will need to continue to be vigilant with our hand hygiene and social distancing. The screening requirements, masks and visitor restrictions will still be with us for some time. We will continue to keep you updated on the roll-out of the program when information becomes available.

Yours sincerely,

Sophia Markwell,
General Manager

We have received information on the COVID-19 vaccination program from the Federal Department of Health and NSW Health which we would like to share with you. As you may know, residential aged care workers and residents will be among the first people who can choose to receive the vaccine in the first roll out phase, which is expected to commence from late-February 2021. The Australian Government and Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) strongly encourage our residents, families and staff to be vaccinated as vaccination will generate an immune response to COVID-19.

The Federal Department of Health have put together an information sheet for residents in residential aged care and their families, representatives and carers, which you can find here. You can also read the Frequently Asked Questions document.

When researching COVID-19 vaccines, there is a lot of information available and we ask that you stick to reputable sources. There is a range of information available on Government websites, a cross section of which is linked below for your convenience.

You can obtain further information on the vaccine approval process and what is in the vaccine at the Therapeutical Goods Administration website.

The Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) have been delivering advocacy, information and education services to older people around Australia for over 25 years. They have an insightful webinar on COVID-19: Vaccine – What you need to know.

It is important to note that despite the vaccination program being rolled out over the coming months, we will need to continue to be vigilant with our hand hygiene and social distancing. The screening requirements, masks and visitor restrictions will still be with us for some time.

We are waiting for more information on consent and the roll out program. So far, we know that in NSW, the vaccination program for residential aged care facilities will be run by the Primary Health Networks. Residents and staff will be vaccinated at the residence. We expect our local Primary Health Network will be in contact with us in the coming weeks.

We will continue to keep you updated on the roll-out of the program as information becomes available.

Sophia Markwell
General Manager

The Department of Health will hold a free online seminar to discuss COVID-19 vaccinations for aged care workers, residents, volunteers and visitors. The webinar will be held on Thursday 4th February from 3.00 to 4.00 pm.

The webinar is free, but you will need to register here. Here is further information.