Melbourne: Jewish Care residential aged care homes in lockdown
The Board of Jewish Care Victoria has today made the difficult decision to implement additional visitation limitations across all of its residential aged care homes.
As of 12:01am on Wednesday 25 March 2020 and until further notice, visitors will not be permitted entry into any Jewish Care residential aged care home. This action follows careful consideration and evaluation of all available information, including the presence of COVID-19 within the Victorian Jewish community.
Staff, AHPRA registered health professionals, and contractors required to maintain services to Elders will continue to be granted access so long as they are compliant with conditions of entry.
Compassionate visits in the context of palliative support will also be allowed by arrangement with Facility Managers, as will rare instances of NDIS assessments requiring specialist supports.
Jewish Care understands that this may cause some concern for Elders and their loved ones. However, limiting access is one way to delay the spread of COVID-19 to Elders, protecting vulnerable members of our community.
President of Jewish Care, Susie Ivany said, “the Board of Jewish Care understands how traumatic this announcement will be for many Elders and families. We are however unified in the view that we must do everything we can to prevent exposure of our Elders to this virus.”
Families are encouraged to maintain regular communications with their loved ones via phone and technological channels, and Elders will be supported in continuing to engage with their families.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jewish Care has also bolstered resources at all three residential aged care homes in order to maintain a rich and nourishing lifestyle program and ensure Elders continue to receive the highest standards of quality care.
Elders continue to be free to move around their homes, but social distancing practices will remain in place in all common areas. Jewish Care will also continue to support Elders to leave the homes for medical requirements only.
It is important to note that at the time of publishing this update, Jewish Care does not have any staff or Elders with confirmed COVID-19 diagnoses.
