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!

Steady as she goes…

Updated – please see our latest post here…

We’re continuing to keep a watchful eye on the “State of the Virus”, while we carefully open up to visitors. As you can see from the calendar, 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.

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’ll understand, we need to comply with NSW Health  Advice, as per this notice [ link] , which unfortunately excludes visitors from some suburbs, such as Lakemba, Liverpool, Bayside, Randwick and Camden Local Government Areas (full list of excluded suburbs here). Use of public transport is not recommended.

Book a Visit

We’re excited to further increase our visitor hours. This coming week, we’re open for visits on Sunday 18th, Thursday 22nd and Saturday 24th of October.
In the following week, the days are Sunday 25th, Tuesday 27th, Wednesday 28th and Saturday 31st as well as Sunday 1st of November.

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.

Now that physical visits are practical once more, we’re phasing out our managed phone/video calls and booking them will cease on 23 October. However, if you live out of the area or are a vulneral person yourself and cannot leave the house to visit ATV, please call us with a special request for a phone or video call.

As you’ll understand, we need to comply with NSW Health  Advice, as per this notice [ link] , which unfortunately excludes visitors from some suburbs, such as Lakemba, Liverpool, Bayside, Randwick and Camden Local Government Areas (full list of excluded suburbs here). Use of public transport is not recommended.

Stay Safe,

Sophia Markwell,
General Manager

Visitor Update

As COVID restrictions are being carefully relaxed, it is now possible to visit residents on selected days.

Next days available: Saturday 10th and Wednesday 14th October between 1.00 pm and 5.00pm.

To book: call 0401 472 926 between 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm only on any day with your preferred time, alternatively send an SMS to this number. We will respond in a timely fashion to confirm or offer an alternative time.

Subject to NSW Health Dept advice, next week’s visiting will be on Sunday 18th and Thursday 22nd October.

Visitors!

As you know, Abel Tasman has been reviewing a limited opening of our facility to visitors on a weekly basis. 

This week, we can announce some changes! This is great news… but we are still restricted according to Local Government Area hot-spots after advice from the NSW Dept of Health and our peak advisory body ACSA

So unfortunately family and friends who have visited selected Local Government Areas in the last 14 days are still restricted from visiting the Abel Tasman Village (see listing below).

But we are happy to announce that for eligible visitors, we are implementing the following schedule starting this week:

  • Opening 2 days per week, on rotating days on weekdays and weekends between the hours of  1.00 and 5.00 pm. This week, those days will be Sunday 4th and Tuesday 6th of October.
  • We can accommodate a maximum of 2 people for a one hour visit in the Resident’s room only.
  • In order to reduce congestion visitors will need to book their visit online with arrivals staggered at 10 minute intervals in order to allow staff to conduct the necessary screening process and escorting. [update: for this week ( 4,6 October), we will operate on 15 minute intervals]
  • Booking must be made at the latest by 12pm on the requested day of visit. The last appointment available is at 4:10 for a visit finishing at 5.00PM.
  • Please be aware of social distancing whilst waiting to access the facility outside the gate and remember hand hygiene and mask etiquette for your visit. Of course we would appreciate your timely arrival according to your booking to help us facilitate your visit.

Our Book a Visit page will go live tomorrow (Saturday 3/10/2020).

You will appreciate that the above limitations are imposed on us by the NSW Department of Health.

Stay Safe,
Sophia Markwell,
General Manager.

Restricted Areas (click for map): Campbelltown LGA, Liverpool LGA and Parramatta LGA

Another week

Another week where staff went out of their way to assist our residents at an extraordinary time. I want to especially recognise those staff today. Many have close relatives overseas or interstate. While at the Village, the lock-down has meant going out of their way to keep our residents safe, healthy and entertained despite many challenges. Thank you!

Another week of looking forward to a gradual opening up of visits to Abel Tasman. Thankfully the signs are good, but we’ll need to wait for clearance from the authorities to open to visitors again. As we said last week, there is always the opportunity to allow visits in hardship cases. Talk to us where necessary.

Another week where our electronic communication facilities have improved. Our recent connection to the NBN has settled down and now offers a better connection for those of you connecting via old or new technologies. We have also begun a project to further improve communication facilities at the Village.

Stay Safe,

Sophia Markwell,
General Manager

Heading towards opening up

Stacey and Edith enjoying a walk in the ATV garden

As we head towards the end of September, our hopes are high that we will be able to welcome visitors to the Village soon. This has been a difficult period for friends and relatives, as well as the residents in our care. While the final decision is not in our hands, we now expect that we will be able to welcome visitors by early October, in time for the long weekend.

When we are ready to receive visitors, we will initially only be able to accommodate a maximum of two visitors at the same time. You’ll understand that we will require visitors to have masks and observe hygiene measures (yes, wash your hands!).

As most of our friends and relatives have found out, we post regular updates of goings on at the Village on our Facebook page. If you’re not already following us there, check out our Facebook feed when you get a chance.

Finally, should any urgent need arise, we can accommodate visitors by special request. Please contact me on the usual phone number.

Sincerely,

Sophia Markwell,
General Manager

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.