Excellent care, respite & independent living for older people. Dedicated to enhancing the wellbeing of people in our care.
You are welcome to visit – Please call us for a personalised tour of our facilities.
The residents and staff at Hawthorn Village and Snug Village are continuing to make the best of the current Covid-19 crisis. Activities, while modified, are still underway and being enjoyed by all.
Christian Homes Tasmania would like to reassure our community that we do not currently have any cases of Covid-19 and are continuing to take all necessary steps to maintain that status.
We would like to thank our community and family members for their ongoing support and understanding while we continue to care for and protect those entrusted in our care.
Our Leadership and Executive Teams continue to meet regularly to monitor Department of Health and Government advisories to ensure the ongoing protection of our residents and clients during the current COVID-19 crisis, and to report on operational management on a daily basis.
We would like to thank our residents, clients, and the family and friends of our residents and clients while our staff continue with precautionary measures in keeping everyone safe.
Our Leisure and Lifestyle staff are hard at work ensuring our residents can make the most of the current situation, with many activities underway and alternative communication options in place to stay in touch with loved ones.
Our residents at Snug Village have messages that they wish to share with our community while they continue to be cared for and supported during the visitor restrictions currently in place to protect all from COVID-19.
***COVID-19 Communication Update***
CHT COVID-19 Risk Minimisation Strategy
Christian Homes Tasmania (CHT) recognise that we are in unprecedented times. We are carefully monitoring all official information being released and are committed to continuing to offer safe and quality care for our residents and clients. CHT are also committed to providing a safe workplace for our staff members.
In order to protect older people the Australian Federal Government (the Government) have introduced new restrictions for aged care. Following this announcement CHT have made a decision to implement a COVID-19 Risk Minimisation Strategy.
The CHT COVID-19 Risk Minimisation Strategy will come into effect from midnight Thursday 19 March 2020.
The CHT COVID-19 Risk Minimisation Strategy includes all of the restrictions introduced by the Federal Government, State Government plus additional restrictions that CHT have carefully considered and have deemed necessary to ensure the protection of our residents, clients and staff.
Details of the CHT COVID-19 Risk Minimisation Strategy are outlined below:
Residents and Clients
As we are all aware older people are more at risk of both contracting COVID-19, and having a serious illness as a result. Residents, staff, visitors (including family and friends) and visiting health professionals need to work together to protect our most vulnerable community members.
Like all members of the community, people who live in residential aged care services such as CHT have an important role to play in protecting their own health. In addition to practising good hygiene and social distancing, there will be restrictions on visits to CHT. External excursions will no longer occur.
Residents will be supported to stay connected with family and friends by phone and video calls and further communication about this will occur at the earliest opportunity. In addition our Leisure and Lifestyle program will be reviewed, with a view to continuing to offer person centred options that allow social distancing to be observed.
If a resident develops symptoms of COVID-19, they will be kept separate from other residents and will not be able to see visitors. Health care and residential care workers will continue to provide support and care while the resident is isolated. If a resident needs to leave their room, such as for medical care, they will be required to wear a surgical mask, which will be provided by staff.
There is no need for any healthy residents to wear a mask.
Visitors
Effective from midnight Thursday 19 March 2020 all visitation to CHT facilities will cease.
This decision had not been taken lightly and is being made in the best interest of our residents and staff.
If exceptional circumstance exist the Manager of the site will liaise with the registered Next of Kin to discuss visitation.
Staff
As required by the Government and supported by CHT, all staff are required to provide details of their health status prior to commencing work.
CHT have implemented additional precautionary measures that staff are required to adhere to on arrival at work, during work and when finishing work.
CHT staff who have returned from anywhere overseas, interstate or have been in close contact with someone confirmed to have COVID-19, are required to self-isolate for 14 days.
As required by the Government, from 1 May 2020, residential aged care staff must have had an Influenza Vaccination. As required by the Government staff will not be allowed to attend work if they are not vaccinated against influenza by 1 May 2020.
Prior to the Government’s announcement regarding Influenza Vaccinations, CHT had already scheduled several Flu Vaccination Clinics for 2020 as per our regular practice. Communication has been provided to all staff this week regarding these clinics and how to make bookings.
The Government is relaxing international student visa work conditions for aged care facilities and home care providers. This will allow international student nurses and other aged care workers to work more than the 40 hours a fortnight. This adjustment is welcomed by CHT.
A freeze on Annual Leave is now in place. This means that in these unprecedented circumstances CHT have made this difficult decision to ensure that we are able to continue to deliver safe and quality care to our residents and clients. This means that no applications for Annual Leave will be considered for the foreseeable future.
To ensure that our workforce is informed about important information associated with COVID-19 all staff will be required to undertake an online training module that has been released by the Department of Health for workers in residential aged care and home care. The education covers the fundamentals of infection prevention and control for COVID-19. A further email communication will be sent to all staff in the near future outlining how this online training module will be completed.
ILU/Rentals
CHT ask that all ILU and rental residents continue to be vigilant in relation to social distancing and hand hygiene. We encourage residents to consider limiting social gatherings.
Volunteers
CHT have made the difficult decision to cease Volunteers attending sites until further advice.
The contribution that volunteers make at CHT is very much recognised and valued and we look forward to welcoming volunteers back when appropriate to do so.
Contractors and Delivery Staff
CHT engage a variety of contractors throughout the organisation to enable us to deliver safe and quality care to residents.
Communication with contractors and delivery staff is underway.
All contractors and delivery staff are required to report to reception on arrival and again on departure.
All contractors and delivery staff will be required to utilise hand sanitiser on entry through the front door of a facility.
All contractors and delivery staff are then required to immediately report to Reception to complete our revised sign-in procedure, after which they will be directed to a hand wash station to complete recommended hand washing.
All contractors and delivery staff are required to report back to Reception to complete our revised sign out procedure prior to leaving CHT.
Cleaning at CHT
Infection control is an absolute priority for CHT at all times and our high standards of cleaning are ongoing, with additional measures currently in place.
CHT have requested staff to minimise their risk of being infected with COVID-19 by wearing gloves when cleaning and using alcohol-based hand sanitiser before and after wearing gloves.
Food at CHT
With good food preparation and good hand hygiene, it is highly unlikely that any person would become infected with COVID-19 through food.
Thank you from CHT
The Leadership Team would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the CHT community for their understanding and patience during these challenging times.
Please be assured that the implementation of the CHT COVID-19 Risk Minimisation Strategy is in the best interests of our residents/clients and staff members. We are confident that this approach will reduce the risk of COVID-19 at CHT.
CHT currently do not have any residents, clients or staff with suspected or diagnosed COVID-19 and these measures are being implemented to maintain this position.
These decisions are not taken lightly but CHT will not place any of our residents/clients or staff at risk through failure to take appropriate and precautionary measures.
Kind Regards
Glenn Hardwick
Chief Executive Officer
Sources:
• Australian Government, Department of Health, Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Information for residents of residential aged care services, their family members and visitors.
• Australian Government, Department of Health, Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Information for healthcare and residential care workers.
www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/publichealth/communicable_diseases_prevention_unit/infectious_diseases/corona...
www.dhhs.tas.gov.au
The Department of Health is preparing for further cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Tasmania, and healthcare workers are on high alert for potential cases.KEEPING YOU INFORMED
Information / Advice to Residents, Clients, Carers and Families – Coronavirus (Covid-19) update
Dear Residents, Clients, Carers & Families,
We understand you may be concerned about our readiness to cope with the Coronavirus. You probably are aware of media reports generally about the virus and have heard reports about an aged care worker in NSW being diagnosed with the virus.
Christian Homes Tasmania (CHT) want to assure you that we monitor the situation daily and receive continuous updates and advice from the Federal Department of Health and other state governmental advisories.
During this time our focus remains on the health and wellbeing of our residents / clients, our volunteers, and our staff – this is our number one priority.
Every year we prepare to manage any outbreak of infectious diseases such as the flu or gastro. We continue to utilise the same procedures now to try and prevent the virus (Covid-19) from entering our facility and containing it if and as needed. We have established a Covid-19 Management Team, this team will meet regularly to ensure the effective management of prevention strategies at CHT.
CHT has an Outbreak Management Plan in place and will continue to implement Department of Health recommendations as they are issued. We are actively monitoring the situation, preparing and implementing additional precautionary actions, and closely following the advice from the health authorities. Our focus is on ensuring the health and wellbeing of all within our care and those who deliver care.
One way families can assist is to be careful when visiting your loved one and to stay away if you are unwell. Where you are unsure you should seek medical advice. There are many ways to stay connected through phone and social media and these can be used if you find you are unable to visit.
In addition to all the normal things you do to stay healthy, the preventive measures are the same as for colds, ‘flu, and other viruses:
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at
least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom;
before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing or
sneezing.
• If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitiser.
• Avoid close contact with anyone who is sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Book in your regular flu shots (usually around April / May).
• Cover a cough or sneeze with a tissue, then put the tissue in
the bin.
• Clean frequently touched objects and surfaces using a
regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
We will continue to share information with you as it becomes available and do our best to keep you informed about what we are doing as an organisation.
If you would like further factual advice about the virus you may be interested in the information published on the Department of Health website:
www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-what-you-need-to-know
Alternatively, contact the 24-hour National Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080.
We are doing all we can to protect our residents, clients, staff / volunteers and are keen for your support with this public health issue as this is our absolute priority.
Kind Regards
Glenn Hardwick
Chief Executive Officer
Coronavirus (COVID-19) – what you need to know
www.health.gov.au
This information sheet tells you what you need to know about coronavirus (COVID-19) — what it is, how it spreads, who is most at risk, and what you can do to help stop it spreading.