We have received an update from NSW Health in relation to visitors to residential aged care services who have recently returned from overseas. Visitors will not be able to enter any aged care service if they have been to an overseas country of concern in the past 14 days. Furthermore, visitors will not be able to enter if they have been to other overseas countries (not of concern) unless they are fully vaccinated and have received a negative PCR test at least 7 days after their arrival into NSW. 

 The below outlines the current restrictions. 

Visitors will be welcomed to Fresh Hope Care Residential Care Services provided: 

• they are over 12 years and have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to their visit and provide suitable evidence of this (unless they can provide a COVID-19 medical contraindication certificate) OR they are under 12 years and are accompanied by a fully vaccinated visitor 
• they have not returned from an overseas country of concern in the past 14 days 

• they have not returned from any other country (not of concern) in the past 7 days (they must have had a negative PCR test taken on or after day 7 following their arrival, otherwise they will need to wait 14 days before visiting) 
• they do not have a fever (37.5 degrees or higher) or any symptoms consistent with COVID-19 infection, even if mild. These include, fever, cough, headache, fatigue, sore throat, runny nose, shortness of breath, and loss of taste or loss of smell. Other reported symptoms of COVID-19 include muscle pain, joint pain, diarrhoea, nausea/vomiting and loss of appetite 
• they are not a close contact of a person with confirmed COVID-19 and are not within their isolation period 
• they do not live in a household with a person who is currently isolating 
• they are not waiting for a COVID-19 test result 

Visits must be: 

• no more than four visitors per resident, per day (equating to two fully vaccinated visitors and two visitors aged under 12 years) 
• in the resident’s room, in a designated outdoor area or alternative room where the resident and their visitors can keep apart from other residents 

Visitors must: 

• Check in using the Service NSW QR code (or manually record your contact number)  

• Answer screening questions If you have any symptoms, have been asked to self-isolate or have been to any areas of concern, entry will not be permitted.  
• Provide evidence of COVID-19 Vaccination 
• Submit to a temperature check 
• Wear a surgical mask.  

Where visits include a child under 12 it is strongly recommended, where possible: 

• the visit is in an outdoor area 
• the child wear a surgical mask 
• arrange Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) prior to a visit 

Doing the right thing is as important as always:  

• Practice hand hygiene using sanitiser and/or hand washing  

• Exercise personal responsibility for physical distancing measures 
• Self-isolate if you are unwell or have recently returned from overseas or interstate  
• Follow Government guidelines if you are diagnosed with COVID-19 

Resident outings: 

Residents are permitted to leave the Fresh Hope Care Residential Care Service and attend small family gatherings or for other reasons, but they must abide by the current Public Health (COVID-19 General) Order 2021.
 

We endeavour to keep information up to date on the Fresh Hope Care Website, or for further details about restrictions or entry process, please take a look at the COVID-19 news page on the Fresh Hope Care Website. However, as situations can change rapidly, we suggest checking for updates on the NSW Health website before visiting a Fresh Hope Care Residential Care Service. 

Should you have any questions about visitor access or need to discuss visiting under exceptional circumstances, such as end of life, please contact the Service directly. 

The letter which will be provided to all residents today detailing the changes is attached for your reference. 

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. 

We have received an update from NSW Health today in relation to visitors to residential aged care services and resident outings. We are pleased to share all stay at home orders across NSW have now been lifted. Restrictions have now been eased to allow visitors in all NSW residential aged care services and to allow residents to leave. The below outlines the update to restrictions.

Visitors will be welcomed to Fresh Hope Care Residential Care Services provided:

• they have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to their visit and provide suitable evidence of this (unless they can provide a COVID-19 medical contraindication certificate)

• they are aged 12 or over
• they have not been to any close, casual or monitor for symptoms locations in NSW OR Victoria, Queensland, and the Australian Capital Territory OR New Zealand in the last 14 days
• they do not a fever (37.5 degrees or higher) or any symptoms consistent with COVID-19 infection, even if mild. These include, fever, cough, headache, fatigue, sore throat, runny nose, shortness of breath, and loss of taste or loss of smell. Other reported symptoms of COVID-19 include muscle pain, joint pain, diarrhoea, nausea/vomiting and loss of appetite
• they are not a close contact of a person with confirmed COVID-19 and are within their isolation period
• they do not live in a household with a person who is currently isolating
• they are not waiting for a COVID-19 test result

Visits must be:

• no more than two visitors per resident, per day
• in the resident’s room, in a designated outdoor area or alternative room where the resident and their visitors can keep apart from other residents

Visitors must:

• Check in using the Service NSW QR code (or manually record your contact number)
• Answer screening questions If you have any symptoms, have been asked to self-isolate or have been to any areas of concern, entry will not be permitted
• Provide evidence of two COVID-19 vaccination doses (the second dose must be at least 14 days prior to entry)
• Submit to a temperature check
• Wear a surgical mask

Doing the right thing is as important as always:

• Practice hand hygiene using sanitiser and/or hand washing
• Exercise personal responsibility for physical distancing measures
• Self-isolate if you are unwell or have recently returned from overseas or interstate
• Follow Government guidelines if you are diagnosed with COVID-19

Resident outings:

Residents are permitted to leave the Fresh Hope Care Residential Care Service and attend small family gatherings or for other reasons, but they must abide by the current Public Health (COVID-19 General) Order 2021.

Future changes:

• Further lifting of restrictions is expected to occur when NSW reaches the 80% vaccination target and again on the 1 December. The latest updates are available on the Roadmap for easing COVID-19 restrictions
• By 31 October 2021 any health practitioners attending a residential aged care service under arrangement by the resident must have at least 1 dose of a COVID-19 vaccination

We endeavour to keep information up to date here. However, as situations can change rapidly, we suggest checking for updates on the NSW Health website before visiting a Fresh Hope Care Residential Care Service.

Should you have any questions about visitor access or need to discuss visiting under exceptional circumstances, such as end of life, please contact the Service directly.

Thank you for your cooperation and we look forward to welcoming you back to visit your loved one.

We have received an update from NSW Health. All residential services in NSW must exclude visitors until further notice.

This means that all Fresh Hope Care Residential Care Services must now exclude visitors. 

Residents should only leave the Residential Care Service for essential reasons (e.g. medical appointments). If they do need to leave the Service, staff will provide appropriate PPE and infection control advice. 

Visitors performing essential caring functions may be allowed to visit, providing they wear a surgical mask while onsite, only see the resident in their room and have met all other screening requirements. Please contact the Manager of Residential Services to discuss and to seek approval.  

Support and contact options:
Fresh Hope Care has arrangements in place to support families to stay in touch with your loved ones, especially when you are unable to see them in person. We can offer video calling devices to residents and encourage you to take advantage of this option to maintain relationships while visit restrictions are in place. 

We endeavour to keep information up to date on the Fresh Hope Care Website, for further details about restrictions, please take a look at the COVID-19 news page on the Fresh Hope Care Website. However, as situations can change rapidly, we suggest checking for updates on the NSW Health website. 

Should you have any questions about visitor access, please contact the facility directly or call our Customer Enquiries Team on 1800 005 484.   

Thank you for everything you’re doing to help us in protecting the health and wellbeing of everyone in the Fresh Hope Care family at this challenging time. 

We have received an update from NSW Health. All Local Government Areas of Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Port Stephens, Cessnock, Dungog, Singleton and Muswellbrook must exclude visitors from 5pm 5 August 2021 until 12:01am Friday 13 August 2021. This includes Green Hills Residential Care Service.

Residents should only leave the Residential Care Service for essential reasons (e.g. medical appointments). If they do need to leave the Service, staff will provide appropriate PPE and infection control advice.

Visitors performing essential caring functions may be allowed to visit, providing they wear a surgical mask while onsite, only see the resident in their room and have met all other screening requirements. Please contact the Stephanie Elliot, Manager of Residential Services to discuss.

Support and contact options:
Fresh Hope Care has arrangements in place to support families to stay in touch with your loved ones, especially when you are unable to see them in person. We can offer video calling devices to residents and encourage you to take advantage of this option to maintain relationships while visit restrictions are in place.

We endeavour to keep information up to date on the Fresh Hope Care Website, for further details about restrictions, please take a look at the COVID-19 news page on the Fresh Hope Care Website. However, as situations can change rapidly, we suggest checking for updates on the NSW Health website.

Should you have any questions about visitor access, please contact the facility directly or call our Customer Enquiries Team on 1800 005 484.

Thank you for everything you’re doing to help us in protecting the health and wellbeing of everyone in the Fresh Hope Care family at this challenging time.

We have received new advice from NSW Health regarding visitor restrictions. There are new areas of concern in Regional NSW, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia.

If you plan to visit any of the Fresh Hope Care Residential Care services, we encourage you to check the list of sites via the links below.

Visitors will not be permitted entry to any residential aged care facility who:

• have been to any close, casual or monitor for symptoms locationsin NSW in the last 14 days
• live or have been to Greater Sydney in the last 14 days unless providing essential caring functionsor end of life visits
• have been to the Local Government areas of Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan City, Moreton Bay, Redlands, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Noosa, Somerset, Lockyer Valley and Scenic since 21 July 2021 unless providing essential caring functionsor for end of life visits.
• have been to any close and casual contact places of high concernin Victoria, Queensland or South Australia
• have a fever (37.5 degrees or higher) or any symptoms consistent with COVID-19 infection, even if mild. These include, fever, cough, headache, fatigue, sore throat, runny nose, shortness of breath, and loss of taste or loss of smell. Other reported symptoms of COVID-19 include muscle pain, joint pain, diarrhoea, nausea/vomiting and loss of appetite.
• are a close contact of a person with confirmed COVID-19 and are within their self-isolation period
• live in a household with a person who is currently self-isolating
• are waiting for a COVID-19 test result

Resident Outings:

• Residents should not attend a gathering with anyone present who has been in the Greater Sydney, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Port Stephens, Cessnock, Dungog, Singleton, and Muswellbrook and Armidale Local Government Areas.

These restrictions are in addition to the entry requirements, which have been previously communicated. This includes:

• Visits must be
  • in the resident’s room, in a designated outdoor area or alternative room where the resident and their visitors can keep apart from other residents
  • no more than two visitors at a time to ensure that distancing requirements can be met, so please coordinate your visits with other family / friends to comply with this limit
• Visitors must:
  • Check in using the Service NSW QR code (or manually record your contact number)
  • Answer screening questions to help us understand if it is safe for you to visit. Fresh Hope Care require that visitors only enter through the main entrance and report to staff at the concierge/ reception desk to confirm their details. If you have any symptoms, have been asked to self-isolate or have been to any areas of concern, you will be asked to delay your visit.
• Submit to a temperature check

Please note: Individual restrictions may be in place in facilities where there is an outbreak of other illness, and local conditions set by the Public Health Unit should be adhered to.

Other support and contact options
Fresh Hope Care has arrangements in place to support families to stay in touch with your loved ones, especially when you are unable to see them in person. We can offer video calling devices to residents and encourage you to take advantage of this option to maintain relationships while visit restrictions are in place.

To arrange this and book a time, please contact the Manager at your relevant site to make the necessary arrangements.

Doing the right thing is as important as always:

• Practice hand hygiene using sanitiser and/or hand washing
• Exercise personal responsibility for physical distancing measures
• Self-isolate if you are unwell or have recently returned from overseas or interstate
• Follow Government guidelines if you are diagnosed with COVID-19

We endeavour to keep information up to date on the Fresh Hope Care Website, for further details about restrictions or entry process, please take a look at the COVID-19 news page on the Fresh Hope Care Website. However, as situations can change rapidly, we suggest checking for updates on the NSW Health website before visiting a Fresh Hope Care Residential Care facility.

Should you have any questions about visitor access, please contact the service directly or call our Customer Enquiries Team on 1800 005 484.

Thank you for everything you’re doing to help us in protecting the health and wellbeing of everyone in the Fresh Hope Care family.