COVID-19 Visitor Policy

1. A visitor should not be anyone who:
• is unwell;
• has returned from overseas in the last 14 days;
• has had contact with a person with COVID-19 in the last 14 days or waiting on COVID-19 test results.• has travelled to a COVID-19 hot spot in the last 14 days;
• has a fever (37.5 degrees or more)
• has a cough, runny nose, sore throat or breathing difficulties
• after 1 May 2020, has not had the 2020 flu vaccination (unless it is unavailable to you).

2. It is critical that visitors stay away if you’re unwell or have been in contact with someone with COVID-19. Visitors should also:
• visit a resident in the resident’s room, outdoors or a specified area in the aged care facility
• avoid communal spaces
• make sure the resident has no more than two visitors at a time, including doctors
• wash your hands before entering and leaving the facility
• stay 1.5 metres away from residents where possible
• stay away when unwell

3. Aged care visiting and outing times are preferred between 9.00am and 5.00pm Monday to Friday and 9.00am to 1.30pm on Saturdays when we have a receptionist on site. We understand that visits and outings outside of these core hours will be necessary but ask visitors to report to reception and complete the entry screening process.

4. If you arrive for a visit outside of the core hours you will need to use the intercom to speak with one of our care staff on the floor who will let into the reception area to complete the sign in procedure. Please be patient, however, as our staff are busy looking after your loved ones and may take some time to respond to the intercom.

5. On arrival at the village we ask all visitors to report to reception for mandatory screening and sign in. This will now include the requirement to record and enter your own temperature as part of the process. During the sign in you will be prompted to confirm the floor you wish to visit, once this is done you will be provided a four (4) digit lift passcode which will allow you to access the desired aged care floor and a printed visitor pass. Please wear the visitor pass at all times for benefit or our staff. Please note the lift codes will be changed from time to time.

6. Visitors must produce valid confirmation of flu vaccination as part of the screening process. This can be kept on file after the first visit. From May 1 2020, this requirement is law in QLD and includes children.

7. At all times 1.5 metres social distancing is to be maintained.

8. Once you have signed in and received your lift passcode, sanitise your hands thoroughly and make your way to the main lift and enter the code.

9. A maximum of four (4) people can travel in a lift at any time provided 1.5m distancing is practiced.

10. Upon arriving on the floor, all visitors are to sanitise their hands again then make their way directly to the resident’s room on the agreed path of travel. All visitors are to remain in the resident’s room.

11. If, during the visit, you wish to go outside or make an outing please use the main lift and avoid passing though ground floor common areas wherever possible. This means leaving the building via the lower ground lobby to access the Church forecourt, exiting via the main reception doors and into village green via the timber gate or via the basement car park.

12. At the end of your visit please return to reception and sign out. If you have elected to make an outing, involving taking a resident off site, we ask that before leaving the village you sign out at reception and when you return complete the sign in process again.

Flu Vaccination Requirement
After 1 May 2020, a person must not enter a residential aged care facility if they do not have a 2020 vaccination against influenza, if the vaccination is available to the person. We recognise there may be individuals who, for medical reasons, cannot be vaccinated against influenza, there are some limited exemptions to this requirement. These exemptions follow the recommendations and clinical advice provided in The Australian Immunisation Handbook. If a vaccine is unavailable at the time of vaccination, the person is exempt from the requirements until the vaccine becomes available.