[Luci Rodda]

Hi Nikki

Im sure if you check a few aged care provider websites they might give you an overview of their actions and visiting requirements.

My organisation is frequently reviewing its visiting criteria particularly relating to compassionate grounds.

Compassionate visits inclusive of the following conditions, but not limited to:
– End stages palliative residents who are actively on the end of life trajectory

– Residents who are visibly distressed by not having visitors including any noticeable changes in biopsychosocial health (ie unintentional weight loss, increased adverse behaviours, change in depression status (including any reports from staff, Cornell Scale Measurements for those deemed at risk)) that is attributable to the changes in visitors.

– Where the visit is considered mutually emotionally beneficial for the resident and their visitor, with particular focus on those visitors who previously visited on a regular basis and of which the visits were a part of their routine as much as the residents. For example, a residents husband or wife, where that relationship connection is significantly relied up for those parties.

– Residents who have specifically requested visitors and the arrangement is agreed to who these visitors are to minimise the risk of large numbers of people attending at anyone time.

These have been in place since the implementation of the restrictions and continue to be working for us.

We have made it a priority to ensure each case is reviewed individually and so far there have been very tiny numbers of visit requests not being supported, of which many are because the visitor doesnt fit the visiting criteria (ie no flu vax, under 16, has been feeling unwell, recent travel).

For visitors who are COVID positive, there will not be opportunity to visit any of our RACFs until they are deemed clear of the virus.

We havent had the following scenario, but are preparing for it – though hoping we will not need to enact it. For residents who are COVID positive and regardless of their palliative status (ie actively end of life, palliative or not palliative) we will review visits for compassionate grounds on a case by case basis.

But at this time, when there are active COVID cases within a RACF, visits wont be allowed as a blanket rule and this is for both resident and workforce safety. It will also be dependent on our local Public Health Unit advice as obviously there is a population health risk that we need to manage as well through minimising the risk of transmission outside of the facility etc.

Weve also had a lot of input from staff about concerns having additional visitors within our RACFs that have been heavily considered in our decision making. At the moment we are managing visitors on a booking basis, this provides all residents with equal opportunity to have visits throughout the week as well.

The main issues weve had with visitor restrictions are predominantly relating to the mandatory influenza vaccination and the earlier advice from the federal government about not restricting visits, but with the new Visitor Access Code coming in this has pretty much demonstrated that what we have implemented so far have been an accepted level response.

Hope this helps

Luci Rodda
Clinical and Infection Control Consultant

Aegis Aged Care – Western Australia

>
> Hi ACIPC members,
>
> Does anyone have a protocol/policy they’ve developed for allowing visitors to see residents in aged care homes that they’d be willing to share? This could be a summary of the guidance, not a formal protocol/policy.
>
> Specifically, I’m interested in what others are doing related to the following scenarios (for both compassionate care/end of life and for general visits):
> – family visiting COVID-19 positive resident
> – COVID-19 positive family member visiting resident
> – family visiting resident (no COVID-19)
>
>
> Thanks in advance!
>
> Kindest regards,
>
> Nikki Grae
> Health Quality & Safety Commission, New Zealand
>
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MESSAGES POSTED TO THIS LIST ARE SOLELY THE OPINION OF THE AUTHOR, AND DO NOT REPRESENT THE OPINION OF ACIPC.

The use of trade/product/commercial brand names through the list is discouraged by ACIPC. If you wish to discuss specific reference to products or services by brand or commercial names, please do this outside the list.

Archive of all messages are available at http://aicalist.org.au/archives – registration and login required.

Replies to this message will be directed back to the list. To create a new message send an email to acipclist@acipc.org.au

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