Previous COVID-19 Updates

The World Health Organisation declared the COVID-19 pandemic no longer an international public health emergency on 5 May 2023. The processes to manage outbreaks at our care homes, and care for home care clients who have COVID-19, have become part of our day to day care management. We remain vigilant with our hand hygiene, require visitors to complete a RAT before entry to our care homes, and effectively use PPE when required.

Any significant updates or changes in the global situation will be noted on this page, however we have moved to directly communicating with affected residents, home care clients, and families as outbreaks or cases occur.

Thank you for your support and cooperation during the past three unprecedented years.

SA Health has advised that reported cases of COVID-19 in the community have gone down over the past few weeks. They are also seeing the beginning of a downward trend in case numbers at residential care facilities that they expect will continue.

On this basis, SA Health has advised that mask wearing is no longer compulsory.

We will no longer require staff and visitors to wear a mask routinely unless there is a single positive COVID-19 case or a COVID-19 outbreak at a care home. Should an outbreak occur, you will be informed as usual and PFR masks will again be used for the duration of the outbreak as we do currently. SA Health advises to reinstate mask wearing when one resident tests positive to COVID-19, or when advised by SA Health. This may be just in one area of the home for a single case or the entire facility if more than one resident or staff member tests positive.

This change will take effect on Wednesday 25 January 2023.

We respect anyone’s preference to continue wearing a mask. Masks will always be available for this purpose and any other infection prevention and control requirement.

All check-in procedures have not changed and must still be followed.

Due to the increase of COVID-19 cases in the community, we are temporarily increasing general safeguards in our home to protect residents and staff.

Australia’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly, today recommended that all residential care home visitors and staff wear N95 masks due to the increasing cases in the community. These masks provide an extra level of protection in reducing the spread of COVID-19. All visitors are asked to please wear an N95 mask covering their nose and mouth for the duration of their visit.

We understand that families will want to take residents for Christmas/New Year outings. If you are attending a high risk area where there are lots of people, we encourage family members and residents to wear masks during the outing. We also ask that families let the care home know if they are visiting a high risk area, to enable them to monitor residents on their return.

All visitors are reminded to please:

• Do not enter any area of the care home if even mildly unwell
• Ensure you wear the supplied mask correctly at all times when visiting
• Complete a Rapid Antigen Test before all visits and follow the check in procedures
• Undertake frequent hand hygiene.

As of 12.01am Friday 23 September 2022, visitors entering an aged care facility are no longer required:

• To show evidence of current Influenza or COVID 19 vaccinations
• Undertake a COVID check in procedure.

Please note that wearing of masks is still mandatory.

From Friday 23 September visitors will see that COVID-19 check in pages have been removed from our care homes.

The Government is strongly encouraging visitors to undertake RAT tests prior to entry. Helping Hand has successfully relied on RATs to keep COVID-19 out of our care homes as much as possible. We therefore require visitors to continue to RAT test prior to entry and will maintain our RAT testing stations for visitors.

We ask that visitors do not visit when unwell and if in the event they return a positive RAT, that they leave immediately.

All previous mandates related to staff, contractors and volunteers are unchanged.

In the event of a COVID-19 outbreak, we will communicate as we have always done and we will continue to utilize our control and monitoring processes. This will include bookings for visitors and a sign in procedure simply asking for visitor names, date and time of visit and who they are visiting.

From today (6 July 2022), staff, families and contractors no longer need to wear goggles or face shields at all times. There will be occasions when it will still be a requirement that they are worn.

When do visitors and staff need to wear goggles or face shields?
All visitors and staff will be required to wear goggles or face shields when there is a Red Zone at a care home. A Red Zone is determined when one or more residents test positive to COVID-19. A Red Zone may be a single room, or a wing or section of a care home. We will ask all visitors and staff to wear goggles or face shields in these circumstances.

Can visitors and staff choose to continue to wear goggles or face shields even when there isn’t a Red Zone?
Yes. We expect that some staff, visitors and contractors will continue to wear goggles or face shields as a matter of personal choice.

Is it still a requirement to do a Rapid Antigen Test on arrival?
Yes. All visitors, contractors and staff need to do a RAT before entering a care home at least every 48 hours. On occasions, some care homes will ask that a RAT is done every day.

Do I still need to wear a mask in the care home?Yes. Masks are still required to be worn by anyone entering the care home and remain an effective control measure to stop the spread of COVID-19 in our care homes.

We are pleased that we have reached the stage at most homes where we can cautiously, and carefully, welcome visitors back, under our Open with Care program.

Open with Care is designed around principles of responsibility, maintaining wellbeing, safely balancing risks of harm, equitable access for all residents, individualised approach, equality/choice, flexibility, and respect for human rights. You can read more about our Open with Care guidelines on our COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions page.

As the rate of infections and close contacts has reduced significantly throughout our homes, we are moving to providing status updates twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays. We will continue to keep our main COVID-19 webpage updated with information and news as needed, and of course we will always directly keep in contact with our clients, residents and families if the situation changes at any of our homes or in our home care services.

Thank you again for your understanding over the past couple of months. We know that it has been incredibly difficult for you to be separated from your loved ones, or isolated at home. We will do everything we can to maintain care home visits and home care services while working within the protocols advised to us by health authorities, which we note, can change with limited notice, especially in the event of an outbreak.

It is with mixed emotions that we let you know that Ingle Farm will remain in lockdown for the time being, while Mawson Lakes restrictions are lifted effective immediately.

Regrettably, Ingle Farm will remain in lockdown with essential visitors only. While we have always prepared for this situation, the reality of a lockdown during the festive season feels very different and is something we hoped would never happen. Ingle Farm had a higher level of exposure, and therefore, is a higher risk situation. Testing will continue and several residents and staff remain in isolation.

Restrictions for Mawson Lakes have been lifted, effective immediately. The home is considered a low risk exposure and all tests to date have returned a negative result. Testing will continue. This is a very considered decision and we have followed all the safety protocols regarding testing and contact tracing. However, we are strongly advising residents and their families to limit or reconsider unnecessary outings, and to exercise caution if going out in during this period.

The current situation in South Australia is of real concern. Today, SA Health has reported 688 new positive cases in the community. Please continue to check the latest SA Health exposure sites and do not visit our homes if you have even the mildest of symptoms. Get tested and isolate at home, while you are waiting for the result.

Our entry requirements continue to be important – please check your temperature, sign in, use the SA Health check-in code and practice hand hygiene.

On 2 December 2021 Helping Hand regretfully paused volunteer visits to our Residential Care Homes. That step was taken as part of our regular reviews relating to COVID-19 and the safety of our residents.

We have recently reviewed this decision and are very pleased to let you know volunteer visits can now resume as of Monday 13 December 2021.

Our volunteers are an amazing part of the life of our communities at all times of the year. Suspending visits in the lead up to Christmas and New Year was done very reluctantly, and we could not be more pleased that they will now be able to see the people they care about and help so much.

Helping Hand will continue to monitor the situation with COVID-19, and we sincerely hope no future pause on volunteering will be necessary.

Due to the increasing number of community transmission cases of COVID-19, and our commitment to take all measures to ensure the safety of residents, clients, families, volunteers and staff, we have taken two decisions today.

• all Helping Hand corporate staff will work from home effective 12 noon today, 2 December 2021
• volunteers will cease entering residential care homes effective from today. We hope to reverse this decision for our valuable volunteers as soon as possible.

We remain compliant with the current Emergency Management Direction. At this stage, nothing has changed for residential care homes regarding staff, care needs, and visiting. However, as the situation regarding COVID-19 is rapidly changing, we may need to make changes around visits to care homes to further protect our residents from the possibility of COVID-19 in the community.

The State Government has mandated that from 6 December 2021 all visitors entering a residential care home must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, be under 12 years of age or have an approved medical exemption in place.

Due to the escalating risks associated with our State Borders opening the decision has been made by Helping Hand to bring this forward to 4pm today, 26 November.

So, from 4pm today (26 November) you must be fully vaccinated to enter one of our care homes. We understand that this has been a quick decision and we apologise for that. We need to ensure that we are mitigating risks where possible of COVID-19 coming into our care homes.

Further information, including details of the steps we’re taking to keep our community safe, are in a letter sent to all residents and their families today.

The Government has updated its Directions for residential aged care. In summary, these updated Directions state that from the 6 December 2021, no one can enter a residential care home unless they have been fully vaccinated (both doses) against COVID-19.

This does not apply to:

• people who have a medical exemption from receiving a COVID-19 vaccine either on a permanent or temporary basis (please see the attached template that you can provide your GP to complete)
• a child under the age of 12 years and 2 months
• residents of the care home.

Helping Hand has already met the legislative requirement for all residential care staff to be vaccinated by the 17 September 2021; and we have facilitated COVID-19 vaccination clinics for residents across all our homes. In the coming weeks COVID-19 booster clinics will also be rolled out. The latest Direction will provide an additional level of protection against the introduction of COVID-19 into our homes. It is also in keeping with the mandatory requirement for seasonal flu vaccination that is also in effect.

We are currently working through the process of how we can record evidence of vaccination, or medical exemption, so that families and regular visitors will not have to present their vaccination records every time they enter one of our homes. We will be sharing this information with you early next week.

Details for vaccination clinics are available from SA Health. Given the timeframe, and with Christmas fast approaching, we encourage everyone who has not been vaccinated, or who has not arranged proof of a medical exemption, to consider the implications of this updated Direction.

Given the increasing number of exposure sites and the highly infectious nature of the delta variant we are monitoring this situation closely. Please stay up to date with the latest news from SA Health (or other reliable news sources). SA Health is continuing to update the list of exposure sites on their website at www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/COVIDcontacttracing

Residential Care Homes
Anyone who has visited an exposure site, on the specified dates and times provided by SA Health, cannot enter our residential care homes. This information is updated daily and posted on the front doors of all our homes. This also applies to our staff, contractors and volunteers. Family and friends who provide regular and ongoing support and care can continue to do so. All visits must be booked by telephone to Reception beforehand and the wearing of masks is still mandatory for all visitors, over 12 years of age. Please continue to follow all the screening protocols, including scanning the new QR check-in code.

• During this lockdown period, residents are unable to leave the home, unless it is for medical reasons or essential health, dental or mental health services provided by hospital, GP, public health dentist or hospital radiology service. If a resident does to need to leave the home for one of these reasons, they will have a risk assessment to ensure their safety in the community.
• Allied health services and student placements will continue as normal.
• Volunteers will be able to continue selected activities onsite.
• The following activities and services will be suspended or modified during this period:
  • our cafes will be offering take-away services only
  • face to face Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care services will be suspended, online support may be available
  • hairdressing services will be suspended
  • lifestyle activities can continue where social distancing of 1.5 metres can be maintained. Group activities are limited to 20 people
  • events, such as concerts involving external entertainers, have been suspended.

Home Care Services
We will be calling our clients prior to visiting them at home, to ask them travel and health questions. This is to make sure it is safe for our staff to visit, and to make sure our clients are staying healthy as well. If clients are unwell, our staff will still visit, but will wear extra protective gear. All staff will be wearing masks while providing services. Some services have been adjusted for the duration of the lockdown – we are contacting all clients who are affected. The adjustments include:

• shopping – we will provide shopping to clients by list, rather than accompanying them to a shopping centre
• transport – only essential transport (for example to a medical appointment) will be provided
• social support – we will be adjusting services on a case-by-case basis, and will continue to provide essential support and assistance

We thank you for your understanding of the situation as we work to keep everyone COVID-19 safe.

The SA Government has announced some measures effective from 29 June 2021, in response to the outbreaks interstate.

Residential care homes directions from today:

• Given that all our residential care homes have reached a COVID-19 vaccination rate of 70% coverage, there are no restrictions on the number of visitors allowed. However all visitor bookings must be made in advance, to ensure the home can follow social distance guidelines.
• All staff and volunteers working in residential care homes in metropolitan Adelaide and regional South Australia will be required to wear masks. Volunteers and visitors (aged 12 years and over) will need to wear masks and keep them on throughout their visit. Masks will be available at the screening stations. Exceptions to wearing a mask apply if:
  • wearing a mask will impact the delivery of care or someone’s safety or wellbeing
  • someone has medical condition that makes wearing a mask inappropriate i.e. breathing issues
  • the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication, i.e. hearing issues
  • you are drinking or eating.
• Screening questions and hand hygiene is required and signing in protocols are required every time a visitor enters the home, including multiple visits on the same day.
• Proof of seasonal 2021 flu vaccination is a mandatory condition of entry (except in the case of exceptional circumstances). Visitors who have had their 2021 flu vaccination, will be issued a 2021 verification card from the site.

Home care services directions from today:

• Masks will be worn by staff when providing all home care services (except gardening when social distancing can be maintained and the staff member does not need to enter the client’s home), including shopping and transport services
• If clients would prefer to wear a mask as well when our staff are in their homes, we can provide a mask for them to wear for the duration of the service

Please make sure you continue to follow the guidelines in regard to checking in, hand hygiene, social distance and getting tested if you are experiencing  COVID-19 symptoms – no matter how mild they may seem.

If you require further information about COVID-19 you can call the SA COVID-19 Information Line on 1800 253 787 between the hours of 9am to 5pm, 7 days per week or get daily updates from SA Health.

Click here to subscribe to COVID-19 vaccine updates from the Australian Government Department of Health. A reminder that fact sheets from the Department of Health are translated in multiple languages.

SA Health has now made the Pfizer vaccine available to all people working in a Residential Aged Care Home, regardless of age. This includes all staff (nursing and personal care workers, allied health professionals, students on placement, kitchen, cleaning, laundry, garden and maintenance and administration/office staff), agency staff and contractors. Click here to download a factsheet from SA Health re residential care home workers.

Aged care staff not working in residential care are also eligible for the vaccine, as they are considered a priority group.

While COVID-19 vaccination is not mandatory, Helping Hand recommends it as the most effective protection against COVID-19.

Please click here to read an update from our CEO Chris Stewart and Board Director Dr Craig Whitehead, about the nationwide program of COVID-19 vaccination as it relates to our residential aged care homes.

As you are aware, the State Government updated its Directions on the 21st December 2020. From today, the wearing of masks is no longer mandatory for people working, or visiting, health care settings, including residential care homes.

While masks remain a line of defence in minimising the risk of COVID-19, this new Direction reflects the current situation in South Australia – something we should all be proud of. It is also important that we remember SA Health’s advice around celebrations – stay home if you are sick, sanitise hands regularly, keep 1.5m apart and avoid sharing utensils.

We will continue to monitor recommendations and advice from SA Health and ask that you assist us by regularly visiting SA Health’s contact tracing and health alert webpages for up-to-date information over Christmas. We will also endeavour to notify you as soon as we can if any situation changes and ask that you talk with managers if you have any questions or concerns.

In the lead up to Christmas, the State Government has announced the lifting of further COVID-19 restrictions. These came into effect on Monday 14 December and are expected to remain in place until Wednesday 23 December 2020. We will continue to maintain a COVID-19 safe environment and are asking everyone to follow our safety protocols and recommendations. As a result of yesterday’s announcement, day-to-day services and activities are returning to ‘COVID-19 normal’.

Effective from Monday 14 December 2020:

• Visits will continue to be by appointment, however visiting hours have been extended to: 9am-5pm and 6pm-8pm, Monday to Friday and 9am-5pm, weekends and public holidays.
• There are no restrictions on the number of care and support visits allowed per resident and no limits on the number of visitors.
• Residents can leave the home for any social outings and appointments and we are asking families sign the Resident Outings form, to encourage safe COVID-19 practices, including our recommendation to wear a mask for high-risk areas.
• Allied Health services are back to full delivery.
• Lifestyle programs, Chaplaincy and Church Services are continuing with social distancing and room venue capacity requirements.
• Cafés have reintroduced full table service, within the social distancing recommendations.

Masks
Helping Hand staff and contractors will continue to wear single use surgical masks at all times when they are around other people, including their colleagues, volunteers and visitors. Hairdressers in residential care will wear a mask, but their clients do not need to wear one. Visitors will have the option to wear a cloth mask if preferred. Masks must be worn at all times, including time spent outdoors in one of the garden areas, outdoor spaces or balconies. If you are having a drink or something to eat whilst you are on the premises, you will need to strictly observe a social distance of 1.5 metres from other people and then reapply the mask.

Christmas 2020
We are anticipating further announcements from the State Government on Wednesday 23 December 2020 and will notify you as soon as we can. I have also written to residents to share this information with them. In the meantime, we are planning for next week and Christmas Day.

Outings
Please let us know before the 18th December 2020, if you have plans for outings in the lead up, or on Christmas Day. This helps us keep our documentation up to date for SA Health if needed.

Visiting
If you are planning to visit on Christmas Day, could you please let us know before the 18th December 2020. We still need to limit the number of people on site at any one time and this will help us to allow enough time for everyone to enjoy a Christmas Day visit.

Holding a family event
Please speak to the Residential Services Manager if you would like to arrange a special family event in one of our dining rooms or family spaces in the lead up, or on Christmas Day. Please advise us before the 18th December 2020.

Thank you once again for your continuing support and understanding as we head towards the Festive Season.

Christmas plans
Like you, we are anticipating the new Residential Aged Care Directions from the State Government, which are expected to contain new information about visiting hours for aged care homes effective from 14 December. We will wait until the Directions are released, and understand the detail, before making any decisions about changes to our current visiting arrangements.

All of our care homes are currently holding pre-Christmas celebration lunches for residents. These events will remain as exclusive resident-only events so we can manage social distancing and provide safe celebrations.

We recognise the importance of you celebrating this special time of year with your family. We invite you to make plans in the lead up to Christmas, and for Christmas day, and we ask you to please let us know of your plans so we can safely ensure everyone has the opportunity to enjoy family celebrations.

Taking residents out
If you are planning to take your family member out for an event in the lead up to, or on Christmas day, can you please contact your care home and let them know of your plans. If you are able to let us know prior to 18 December, we would appreciate that. We will ask families to acknowledge and sign a form that it is important to maintain social distancing, hand hygiene, and that if you are in a high-risk area with a lot of people – that residents are strongly encouraged to wear a mask.

Visiting on Christmas day
If you are planning to visit your family member on Christmas day, can you please contact your care home and let them know of your plans. If you are able to let us know prior to 18 December, we would appreciate that. We may need to continue to limit the number of visitors per resident, and the total number of residents on site at any one time. We will communicate this to you.

Holding a family event at our care home
If you would like to arrange a special family event in one of our dining rooms or other family spaces in the lead up to or on Christmas day, can you please contact your care home and let them know of your plans. If you are able to let us know prior to 18 December, we would appreciate that.

Due to the potential high number of family arrangements, can we please ask that families email the Administration team at your care home to outline your plans.
Our goal is to ensure residents and families have the opportunity to connect and spend time with each other to celebrate Christmas.

We are hopeful that plans can be made under normal as possible circumstances. However, we remain mindful of our need to be vigilant and to prioritise the safety of our residents, families, staff and volunteers.

Thank you, again, for your ongoing patience, support and understanding.

On 1 December 2020 a new Direction from the Government came into effect for aged care homes, and as a result everyone in a residential care home is now required to wear a mask, except residents and children under the age of 12.

This means that all our staff and contractors will be wearing single use surgical masks at all times when they are around other people, including their colleagues, volunteers, and visitors. It also means that visitors will also need to wear a mask, which we will supply you when you visit. Thankfully, the Direction means that residents will not have to wear a mask at this stage.

Thank you for your continued patience. If you have any questions or concerns about wearing a mask while visiting, please call the Residential Services Manager before your visiting appointment.

Dear family and friends

Thank you very much for your continued understanding as we navigate our way through a challenging few weeks in South Australia.

Currently our residential homes have arrangements in place that allow for essential care and support visits to residents for compassionate reasons. If you are concerned about the mental or physical health of your loved one living with us, please speak with us so we can accommodate a visit.

As we have homes in the current COVID-19 hot spot areas, we are keeping this arrangement in place until the end of this week (Sunday 29 November). From Monday 30 November, we will be able to accommodate increased visitation at our homes; and we will begin to restart some services that we paused, including hairdressing, church services and all allied health services. Masks will continue to be worn to protect the health of our residents. All families and residents will be sent a letter with more details later today.

Our home care services have continued to be delivered in clients homes.

Thanks again for your empathy during this time, it has helped us travel through these difficult days knowing that we have the support of our community.

Today the government has announced a further change in Direction, based on new information that has come to light.

This means that from Monday 23 November, we will be easing restrictions in our residential care homes to the same level that they were on 17 November, allowing for essential care and support visits at our homes for compassionate reasons as well as support for those at end of life. Essential and care support visits must be approved in advance by the site Manager.

Our home care services will continue to be delivered in clients homes, in line with the current restrictions we have in place.

We will be reviewing this arrangement on a daily basis based on results and communication from SA Health.

If you have any concerns, please reach out to us. Thank you for being understanding and we look forward to being able to welcome all of you back to our homes, and reinstating community groups and activities, soon.

Please visit the SA Health COVID-19 website for more details of the current directions relating to aged care.

Despite our best efforts to accommodate some visitation for exceptional and compassionate reasons, we have had to cease this under the new State Government Stay at Home Directions.

After the South Australian Government announced a six day statewide ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown yesterday, it was followed up today with further information issued by SA Health regarding the Stay At Home Directions as they relate to Residential Aged Care. While difficult, we recognise that this is an important step in minimising the risk to those in residential care.

The Directions state that only essential workers, and immediate family members visiting relatives to provide end of life support, are allowed to enter aged care homes.

If you have any concerns, please reach out to site management. Thank you for being understanding and we look forward to being able to welcome you back to our homes soon.

Please click here to read the Stay at Home Directions in full

We want to reassure our Home Care clients and their families that we are not cancelling essential services during this time. However, there will be some changes to how we deliver these services to keep everyone safe during the following days of ‘circuit breaker.’ restrictions. In line with the new Government Directions:

• We will be supporting you in your home, rather than taking you out into the community. For example, we will do your shopping and deliver items to your home.
• All our social support and respite visits will take place in your home.
• Transport services will be restricted to urgent transport for medical appointments, however clients will be asked to sit in the back seat.
• All social support groups, centre-based respite and therapy groups are temporarily postponed for a minimum of 2 weeks.
• All staff who provide services will be wearing a mask.
• Staff will continue to ask screening questions before they begin the service. If you, or anyone you have spent time with, has visited a hotspot location listed by SA Health; or have symptoms of COVID-19, please call us on 1300 444 663. This will not mean services will be cancelled, however, we will assess the situation and put further safety measures in place if necessary.

We’ve written to all our Home Care clients and will keep everyone updated of further changes.

Please click here to read an update from Rob Heinjus, Executive Manager Home Care Services, about the measures we have put in place for our home care services.

Please be assured that Helping Hand is not cancelling services. Where necessary, we will modify the way we deliver these services to minimise the risk of infection and ensure our clients’ continued safety, as well as the safety of our staff.

At 12:30pm 18 November 2020, the South Australian Government announced a series of restrictions that will come into effect from midnight tonight, to be in place for the next six days (i.e. 19 – 24 November 2020). These precautions are being referred to as a ‘circuit breaker’ in efforts to contain a Covid-19 cluster.

Helping Hand is waiting for the updated State Emergency Management Directions, which we anticipate will be released later today, to understand the detailed Directions for aged care services and residential care homes.

When we are aware of the Directions, we will know whether we need to make any further changes to the current arrangements that we have had in place since 12noon on 17 November.

Current restrictions remain in place and we ask that you limit your exposure by staying home where ever possible. Stay safe and don’t hesitate to contact us if you need any support or information.

Dear family and friends

We are presented with new challenges as we carefully monitor the community outbreaks of Covid-19 across the northern suburbs and consider the advice and Directions from SA Health.

Helping Hand immediately took a number of proactive steps and we will continue to do this to ensure the safety of our residents and staff remains the highest priority.

As we have a high concentration of care homes and staff in the affected areas, we will be further restricting visitors to all of our care home from 12 noon on Tuesday 17th November. This means that visits will be restricted to exceptional circumstances only, which you can discuss with the Site Manager.
Please be assured that we will continue to facilitate compassionate visits. We will be reviewing this arrangement on a daily basis and looking to relax the restrictions as soon as possible.

I understand that this may cause concern and inconvenience however we would rather be cautious at this time, for the health and welfare of everyone across our broad community.

We have been advised that Covid-19 testers from the Department of Health will be on site at the Mawson Lakes and Parafield Gardens care homes on 17 November to do large scale testing of staff and residents. Please note that this is a precaution only and that Helping Hand has no positive Covid cases at any of our sites and services.

I thank you for your patience.
Chris Stewart
CEO

Dear family and friends

Today has presented us with new challenges as we carefully monitor the community outbreaks of COVID-19 across the northern suburbs and consider the advice and Directions from SA Health.

Helping Hand immediately took a number of proactive steps and we will continue to do this to ensure the safety of our residents and staff remains the highest priority.

As we have a high concentration of care homes and staff in the affected areas, we will be further restricting visitors to all of our care home from 12 noon on Tuesday 17th November.

This means that visits will be restricted to exceptional circumstances only, which you can discuss with the Site Manager.

Please be assured that we will continue to facilitate compassionate visits.

We will be reviewing this arrangement on a daily basis and looking to relax the restrictions as soon as possible.

I understand that this may cause concern and inconvenience however we would rather be cautious at this time, for the health and welfare of everyone across our broad community.

We have been advised that COVID-19 testers from the Department of Health will be on site at the Mawson Lakes and Parafield Gardens care homes tomorrow to do large scale testing of staff and residents.

Please note that this is a precaution only and that Helping Hand has no positive COVID-19 cases at any of our sites and services.

I thank you for your patience.

Chris Stewart
CEO

On 4 November 2020, SA Health released the revised Emergency Management Directions, effective from 5 November 2020. There are a number variations, including that the universal wearing of masks by staff is longer be required. We know this will be a positive for residents and staff who will now be able to see each other without a barrier.

There are also changes for visitors to residential care homes. These include:

• There are now no restrictions on the number of care and support visits a resident may receive (including volunteers). This includes visits by relatives and friends for social reasons.
• Cross-border community members, permitted to enter South Australia, are also permitted to enter the care homes.

To support these changes Helping Hand has removed the maximum length of visiting time, and will be extending visiting hours to:

• Monday to Friday 10am–8pm
• Saturday and Sunday 9am–5pm

We are continuing to maintain a policy of visiting hours due to the need to screen and record visitation to sites under the Emergency Management Directions.

Screening is required to ensure residents can receive visitors safely, and that a log is maintained of all visitors to site. Our care homes will also endeavour to accommodate visits out of these hours in unique circumstances. Please call the care home to discuss alternatives or to schedule a visit. We ask for your assistance and support.

Click here to read a letter that outlines the updates in full, including current travel restrictions and visiting our care homes.

There has been extensive media in the past few weeks around COVID-19 and the Aged Care sector, particularly in residential care homes. There has been a Senate enquiry into the COVID-19 outbreaks across Victoria, three days of COVID-19 sector response hearings at the Royal Commission into Aged Care Safety & Quality and a raft of new changes for aged care homes introduced by SA Health. Not all of it has been positive about Aged Care and has painted a picture that the sector is unprepared for COVID-19.

I want to take this opportunity to assure you that prior to all of this recent media attention, the team at Helping Hand had been working extremely diligently behind the scenes to prepare for the increasing threat of COVID-19 in our communities. We have been developing plans to mitigate the risk of infections and then to manage an outbreak at one (or more) of our care homes, in a worst-case scenario.

There are many lessons learned from the experiences of aged care homes from interstate and overseas and we have been closely monitoring those and implementing changes as appropriate. Click here to read a letter that provides some insights and assurances as to the steps we have taken. It also explains what you can expect if there was an outbreak at any one of our homes.

Update for residential care
The COVID-19 outbreaks happening in Victoria and New South Wales mean a significantly higher risk of COVID-19 cases in South Australia. The situation interstate, particularly what is occurring in aged care homes, is a daily reminder that we cannot afford to become complacent about COVID-19. South Australia does have a comprehensive plan in place. SA Health holds weekly aged care forums with CEOs from aged care providers (including Helping Hand’s CEO Chris Stewart) as well as peak bodies and advocacy groups. These forums provide a platform for consistent communications and information sharing.

Visiting our residential care homes
Thank you for your ongoing patience with the on arrival screening processes and visitor restrictions that we have in place in our residential care homes. Screening everyone who comes into our residential care homes remains our best line of defence in minimising the risk of an outbreak. As well as recording names and contact details, we are also recording phone numbers and email addresses every time you visit. If needed, this information will be shared with SA Health to help with contact tracing. Screening also helps us know how many people are in the home at the same time, so we can effectively follow social distancing guidelines.

When residents need to leave the home for an appointment or outing, please remember to let a member of staff know beforehand. We have a process in place to record who is leaving the home and we will work with residents and family members to keep them as safe as possible in the community. We continue to refine our screening processes and will keep you informed of any changes.

It is not too late for your flu shot
Spring may be around the corner, but you will still benefit from a 2020 seasonal influenza vaccination. This is also compulsory for anyone entering a residential aged care home in Australia. Please remember to bring your Helping Hand 2020 Flu Vaccination Card with you every time you visit one of our residential care homes and to keep it with you for the duration of your visit.

Need more support at home?
We can assist by:

• adding some extra visits or topping up your services
• delivering meals to our North Adelaide retirement living clients
• providing extra assistance with meals by calling our home care office on 1300 444 663
• offering respite in your home or ours
• providing assistance with setting up technology, eg Zoom or Skype.

Updated border restrictions
From Wednesday 29 July, only essential travellers will be able to enter South Australia from Victoria. South Australians will no longer be able to return to South Australia from Victoria until further notice. Travellers from the Northern Territory, Queensland, Tasmania and Western Australia are able to enter South Australia directly without restriction. Travellers from the ACT and New South Wales, other than essential travellers, will be required to:

• self-quarantine for 14 days after entering South Australia, and
• submit for COVID-19 testing on:
  • the day of arrival to South Australia, and
  • the twelfth day after arrival.

Stay in touch with latest government updates at SA Health

Let’s keep working together
Now more than ever before, we all need to work together and follow all the COVID-19 safety guidelines:

• practice good hand hygiene
• maintain 1.5 metres distance from others
• get tested for COVID-19, if you have any of the following symptoms, even if they are mild: fever, chills, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, loss of smell or a change in your sense of taste
• do not visit someone if you are unwell or awaiting the result of a COVID-19 test
• if you are waiting for COVID-19 test results – stay at home and self isolate
• if you are visiting from interstate (or have family from interstate staying with you), please follow all self-quarantine and testing requirements as detailed in this update.

On Friday 19 June 2020, the State Government amended its Emergency Management (Residential Aged Care Facilities No 6) (COVID 19) Direction. This has allowed us to ease further restrictions as follows:

• Residents can leave the home and return for any reason. On their return, temperature testing and screening processes will remain in place.
• Children under the age of 16 years are now able to visit, provided they have had their 2020 influenza vaccination. Babies under six months old are exempt from the vaccination requirement.
• Weekend visiting hours are extended from 9:00am to 5:00pm. To manage the number of people in our homes at one time, bookings will still be required.
• Care and support visits are generally limited to one visit per day and for up to two people per visit.
• Visitors can also use the cafés to catch up with family and friends. However, to maintain social distancing requirements, please remember to reserve a table when you are booking your visit.
• Visitors coming from the Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia or Tasmania are now permitted to visit our homes within 14 days of entering South Australia. Visitors coming from other States are only permitted to visit within 14 days if they are providing end of life support (and they will be required to self-quarantine at all other times).

Bookings will still be required for visits and social distancing, temperature testing, seasonal influenza vaccination requirements and hand hygiene practices, remain in place.

Please call the home directly to book your next visit.

On Monday 11 May 2020, an Industry Code for Visiting Residential Aged Care Homes During COVID-19 was released. The Code sets out an agreed nation-wide industry approach that balances the need for residents to continue having visitors during the COVID-19 pandemic, while minimising the risk of an outbreak in a residential care home. Please click here to read the Code.

Helping Hand was already compliant with the majority of the principles of the Code and where necessary we are making the appropriate amendments to our protocols to ensure full compliance. It also takes into consideration the capacity of our homes to safely manage the care home environment amidst the new regulatory and legal obligations associated with the COVID-19 situation.

From 20 May 2020 new visiting hours and services for all residents, including Memory Support Unit residents are as follows:

• Visiting hours expanded to 10:00am–2:00pm and 6:00pm–8:00pm Monday to Friday and 10:00am–2:00pm on Saturday and Sunday
• Visits will continue to be by appointment and visiting times increased from 30 to 60 minutes
• Bookings for visits to be made during business hours only (9:00am–5:00pm, Monday to Friday)
• Only one visitor, per day, per resident, as nominated by the resident or next of kin, unless there are special circumstances (please refer to note below)
• 15 minute breaks between bookings to allow time to screen incoming visitors (please arrive 15 minutes before your visiting appointment to complete screening)
• Additional cleaning of rooms between 10:00am–3:00pm and 6:00pm–8:00pm for residents who have had visitors
• Hairdressing services to recommence from 20 May 2020
• Pastoral services to recommence from 20 May 2020
• Volunteers will be invited to return to residential care homes in their own time and at their own discretion
• Access to the homes will be via the main entrance (for entry and exit)
• Visitors will be screened on arrival and have their temperature taken
• Social distancing and hand hygiene guidelines remain in place
• Visits to take place in resident’s room or designated outdoor area
• Social and health group activities remain suspended until further notice
• Each home will have its own quota for how many visitors allowed on site
• No one will be permitted to enter a residential care home without proof of 2020 seasonal influenza vaccination (please note this is a legal requirement outside of our authority and exemptions are permitted only in certain defined circumstances)
• Unless in the case of exceptional circumstances, anyone who meets the criteria below will not be permitted to enter any of our residential care homes:
  • They are 16 years of age or under
  • They have returned to South Australia in the previous 14 days
  • They are currently awaiting the result of a COVID-19 test
  • They have had contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or is also awaiting the result of a COVID-19 test

At Helping Hand, we understand that a 30 to 60 minute time limit, or the ‘one person per visit’ rule, may be a challenge for some residents and visitors. This is especially the case when the visit also involves providing some level of support, ie mealtimes; or relates to end-of-life or other special circumstances. Residential Services Managers and Executive Managers will work with you to develop a compassionate, workable and balanced solution that supports the resident’s particular needs for care and support and is also fair to other residents and the time they are able to spend with their visitors.

The news in South Australia is extremely encouraging, with no new COVID-19 cases reported for some time. While easing restrictions and reintroducing services can feel like a return to normal, we are asking everyone to remain vigilant and observe all the precautions we have in place and follow all directions from staff.

Thank you for your continued patience and understanding.

Thank you for your patience and support over the past few weeks as we continue to navigate through this challenging situation. Today’s update is to share with you the plan moving forward regarding the incremental lifting of visitation restrictions to our care homes. Many of you will be contacted directly by the site over the next day to talk through the process and answer any questions you may have.

It has been an emotional and tough time for many of us. Each of you has made many sacrifices over the past month in the effort of reducing the spread of the virus and keeping family and friends safe.

The aged care sector has been receiving new information on a daily basis. There are at times inconsistencies which we have tried to understand and navigate, while balancing the needs of residents and families. At all times Helping Hand has acted in the best interest of safeguarding those most vulnerable to the virus, the people in our care.

Our position to date comes from understanding how rapidly infection can spread through a care home and the significant effect this can have. From our experience effectively managing outbreaks requires a dedicated and planned risk management approach.

Having said this, with the encouraging recent infection rates across South Australia, we are confident in introducing visits and services back into our sites in a planned and staged manner.

Scheduled visits to our residential care homes will start from Monday 4 May. This gives us the opportunity to ensure all systems are in place and adequate staffing available to support the visits as well as continue with our existing activities and programs. There will be strict conditions around how this is managed, and we ask for your patience, understanding and cooperation. The State Government’s advice is still to restrict to essential visits only, so we ask that you limit visits at this stage to minimise risk.

In response to COVID-19, SAPOL introduced increased restrictions for entry into residential care homes under Section 25 of the Emergency Management Act 2004. These restrictions remain in place – most importantly, any resident who leaves the site, for any reason other than a scheduled medical or dental appointment or a medical emergency, will not be allowed to return to the residential care home.

New visiting arrangements

• Family and friends will need to call ahead to our administration team to book a time.
• A maximum of 20 visitors at a time will be allowed in our larger sites (Port Pirie, North Adelaide, Golden Grove, Lightsview, Mawson Lakes, Ingle Farm, Parafield Gardens) and 10 visitors at a time to our smaller sites (Jamestown and Clare).
• Visiting hours will be between 10am and 2pm, Monday to Friday.
• We encourage one visitor per resident at a time, however, we will accommodate a maximum of two visitors if essential.
• Visits must comply with all social distancing recommendations.
• Visits will be limited to 30 minutes, so that we can ensure that all families are given an opportunity to visit. This will allow us to undertake additional cleaning and preparation between visits.
• Visits will be restricted to the private room of the resident or in an outdoor designated space.
• All visitors will be temperature tested and asked to comply with hygiene and social distancing measures during their visit. They will be asked a range of screening questions before they enter and if they are unwell will be asked to reschedule their visitor.
• Every person entering a care home after the 1st of May must show evidence that they have received the 2020 seasonal flu vaccination. This is legislated by the State Government. They will be issued a verification card which they will need to keep with them for the duration of the visit.
• Other than an end of life situation, children under the aged of 16 are still not permitted to visit, as per State Government legislation. We are extending this restriction to pets at this stage, due to the unknown risk of cross infection.

On Mother’s Day, there will be additional hours available so that we can safely accommodate the expected demand. Under the new directions from SAPOL, residents will not be able to leave the site for a family visit or social outing.

From mid-May we plan to reopen hair salon services and we are working with contractors to ensure that appropriate measures are in place to reduce any risk.

Once our trial period is completed, and processes are in place and understood, we will be looking at creating additional visiting times in the evenings and weekends. This is a staged plan which will be constantly reviewed and reassessed. We have written to residents and families and friends to ensure they are aware of these new arrangements we have in place to incrementally lift visiting restriction.

During the last few weeks, we have all been asked to make changes to our daily lives and none more so than our residents and their families and friends. Not being able to visit loved ones has challenged everyone.

At a press briefing held on Tuesday 20 April 2020, both the Prime Minister and the Chief Medical Officer, expressed their concern that some aged care providers have gone ‘over and above’ the recommendations of the National Cabinet. The implication that these aged care providers are shutting people off and locking them away in their rooms does not reflect the intentions behind these decisions, or the way Helping Hand has responded to the challenges of visitor restrictions.

The fact remains that physical isolation remains the most effective way of minimising an outbreak of COVID-19 in aged care homes. Having seen what has happened interstate and overseas, this is a situation we want to avoid. We are acutely aware of stress and impact of physical distancing, particularly for older people in aged care.

Our motivation is solely the health and wellbeing of our residents and our staff. We have made considerable investment and tremendous efforts to ensure residents and families remain connected. I encourage you to keep taking advantage of window visits, FaceTime calls, special deliveries and connecting with family and staff on your community Facebook pages. We are here to help and support you.

Staff are continuing to deliver engaging and vibrant programs to ensure residents are stimulated and fulfilled. As always, in circumstances such as end of life, we will support families to be with their loved ones.

Visitation restrictions will remain in place until the end of the month, however I want to assure you that we are already planning and focusing on how we can support families to visit and services to recommence in our homes when it is safe to do so.

Despite the encouraging statistics over the past few days there is still much we do not know – including the impact of the 2020 flu season.

Flu Vaccinations
With peak flu season approaching, I want to take this opportunity to remind everyone to arrange their influenza vaccination.

Medical experts are advising that everyone aged six months and over needs to be vaccinated this year. While a flu vaccination cannot prevent COVID-19, it will eliminate a further potential health threat to the most vulnerable in our community.

From 1 May 2020 the Australian Government has placed a directive, under the Health Management Act, that all staff, visitors and contractors entering a residential aged care home must be vaccinated against seasonal influenza virus.

In response, Helping Hand has developed the following protocols for families and friends, which will be activated once visiting restrictions are lifted:

1. all visitors will be required to show written proof of their current vaccination prior to entering our care homes
2. once vaccination records have been sighted and copied, by Helping Hand staff, each visitor will be issued with a personalised verification card, linked to their record
3. visitors will be required to bring this card with them on subsequent visits and to have the card with them for the duration of the visit.

All visitors need to continue to sign in on entry and exit and following hand-hygiene instructions.

While I appreciate these additional protocols may seem restrictive, I assure you that all staff, contractors and medical practitioners will be following the same procedure. Our focus remains on ensuring a healthy environment for all our residents and this is critically important as we come into winter.

The Government has made exceptions for individuals, who as a result of medical circumstances are not able to have a seasonal influenza vaccination. This includes:

“a person who has a medical contraindication to the influenza vaccine (such as person who has a history of anaphaylaxis or has had Guillain-Barré Syndrome following vaccination, or who is taking check point inhibitor medication for cancer treatment).”

If you are exempt from vaccination, please contact the Residential Services Manager prior to your visit. You will be required to provide evidence of your exemption in the form of a medical note or certificate.

If you have any questions, please contact your care home directly.

Further information is available regarding the National Immunisation Program at: www.health.gov.au/health-topics/immunisation/immunisation-services/flu-influenza-immunisation-service

Thank you again for your patience, support and understanding at this time.

Chris Stewart
CEO

The Board and management have made a decision to extend visitor restrictions to all of our care homes to Thursday 30 April. This decision is not made lightly, and is made in the best interests of the health of our residents and staff.

Staff at our care homes are working creatively and tirelessly to help families and residents stay connected. People are doing ‘window visits’. There are delivery boxes for families to drop off letters and gifts. Families and residents are speaking over FaceTime, and Facebook groups for each home are enabling fantastic two-way exchanges between residents and their families. Thank you to all staff who are embracing new ways to communicate and keeping people connected.

All care homes are still accepting new respite and permanent admissions. Families are being supported to complete paperwork online or in their homes, and residents coming into homes are asked to stay apart from other residents for 14 days and monitored for changes in health.

South Australia Police (SAPOL) has introduced increased restrictions for entry into residential care homes across South Australia. These restrictions fall under the Emergency Management Act 2004 and apply to all residential aged care home operators and their residents.

SAPOL is restricting entry to aged care residential homes to:

• employees
• contractors and service providers
• medical / health / pharmaceutical professionals
• visits from families and friends relating to end of life care.

In accordance with Section 25 of the Act, no one, including staff, will be able to enter site if they:

• have returned to South Australia from interstate or overseas in the previous 14 days
• have had contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19
• have a temperature higher than 37.5 degrees (please note everyone entering the site will have their temperature taken on arrival)
• have an acute respiratory infection
• are aged 16 years of age or under
• from 1 May 2020 – have not been vaccinated against seasonal influenza

Most importantly, under these new directions from SAPOL, any resident who leaves the site, for any reason other than a scheduled medical or dental appointment or a medical emergency, will not be allowed to return to the residential care home.

Full details can be accessed from SAPOL’s website www.police.sa.gov.au

Like many aged care providers, Helping Hand has made the decision to also restrict care and support visits for a period of two weeks. We understand this may appear extreme, but we strongly believe that the intense shutdown will help prevent long term devastation for our community.

Many families will feel the impact of visiting restrictions. Please be reassured that our staff are doing their absolute best to create engaging environments for residents.

We encourage you to

• phone your family member
• use Facetime if you and your family member has access to this on mobile phones
• post a letter to your family member
• call the care home and arrange a ‘window visit’
• talk to us about any other ideas you may have of communicating.

We have recently created a community Facebook page for each of our care homes. If you have access to a computer and the internet, and use Facebook, we encourage you to join the group for your care home and stay connected. Please refer to a letter received Friday 4 April 2020 which contains the link, or call your home to ask for the link.

Following several Government updates over recent days, Helping Hand has made amendments to the precautionary measures we are taking to support the containment of the COVID-19 virus.

Effective from midday on Friday 27 March, we will put in place several strategies that restrict the movement into, and within Helping Hand’s residential aged care homes.

At this stage, this means:

• Stopping all external visitors to the site, including family and friends, and those attending allied health clinics on-site.
• The building will be secured, and all essential visitors will need to use the intercom to speak with a staff member before entering the home.
• Essential visits and services from external providers, including GPs and dentists, will be screened (asked travel and health questions and temperature tested) before entering the home.
• Restricting movement within the home including closing gift shops and only allowing take away from the cafes.
• Postponing visits from non-essential external providers
• Not holding church services or any group activities.

We are doing all we can to protect residents in our care and appreciate your ongoing support with this public health issue. These restrictions will be reviewed daily, and communication will be given when any changes occur.

We are staying in regular contact with everyone in our Helping Hand community.

This includes: people living in our residential care homes, people receiving services at home, as well as people in our retirement living communities. Where appropriate, we are also communicating regularly with carers, families and friends to keep them informed on our ongoing response to COVID-19, and to advise them of any changes.

Alerts and updates are changing rapidly so make sure you stay in touch or keep visiting our website.

We will be regularly posting latest updates that are specific to Helping Hand on this page. If you have any immediate concerns or questions call us on 1300 653 600. You can read previous updates that we’ve posted by clicking here

Click here to read the latest letter sent to residents and families and friends

Click here to download a flyer available to visitors to our residential care homes

To all our residential care home visitors.

A message from our Chief Executive regarding COVID-19

On the 16th March the federal government encouraged residential aged care homes to limit visits under advice from the Communicable Disease Network of Australia aimed at the prevention and control of coronavirus.

We understand how tough that can be when you want to check in on family or friends, but it’s an important step is reducing the risk to older people in our care. Older people are the most vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus and we want to make sure we are doing as much as possible to protect them.

So please, no unnecessary visitors. You can keep in touch over the phone or give us a call if you want us to set up a video chat.

If you do need to visit – please be vigilant in washing your hands, practice social distancing and sign-in/sign-out. And of course, please do not visit if you are unwell, have been travelling overseas in the last 14 days or live with someone who has recently travelled overseas.

Helping Hand hasn’t had any reports of COVID-19 at any of our residential care homes and we are working hard to do everything possible to protect those in our community that are most vulnerable. Thank you for supporting us keep our community safe and please contact us on 1300 653 600 if you have any concerns.

It is also important to remember to take care of yourself, both physical health and mental. Be kind and patient with each other and remember to check in with families and friends over the phone.

Alerts and updates are changing rapidly so make sure you stay in touch or keep visiting our website.

CLICK HERE to read the letter that has been sent to all families and friends of care home residents

CLICK HERE to read the letter that has been sent to all our home care clients

SA Health have opened dedicated COVID-19 clinics this week at:

• Royal Adelaide Hospital
• Flinders Medical Centre
• Lyell McEwin Hospital
• Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

These clinics are for people who have COVID-19 symptoms (especially fever or cough) AND have recently returned from overseas OR have had contact with a known COVID-19 case.

By triaging, assessing, testing and referring suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19, these clinics will help take pressure off Emergency Departments in the event of an outbreak and help to minimise the spread of infection. Regional hospitals are also making plans within their Local Health Networks to manage potential COVID-19 cases.

Read more about the Royal Adelaide Hospital clinic by clicking here, and the Women’s and Children’s Hospital clinic by clicking here.

On Wednesday 11 March the nation’s first drive-through COVID-19 collection centre at the reactivated Repat site was opened. Tests can be taken with the patient still in the vehicle, minimising the risk of spreading the infection. This will support GPs who may not be able to collect specimens in their own clinic and will help to reduce pressure on the COVID-19 Clinics.

The Prime Minister has announced a health package designed to protect all Australians, including vulnerable groups such as senior Australians, from the coronavirus (COVID-19). Importantly for the aged care sector, the package includes $101.2 million to:

• Educate and train aged care workers in infection control, and enable aged care providers to hire extra nurses and aged care workers for both residential and home care.
• Make available additional aged care staff for deployment to facilities as needed, where an urgent health response is required and to provide extra support for staff and training.
• Provide additional funding for the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission to work with providers on improving infection control.

Read more about this funding boost here.

To date, there are no cases of COVID-19 in any of Helping Hand’s metro or regional residential care homes.  We are advising staff and visitors who have the following symptoms not to come to work or visit our homes and to seek medical advice.

• sore throat
• shortness of breath
• fever
• cough
• runny nose
• headache
• nausea /diarrhoea or vomiting

If you’re visiting one of our residential care homes, please Click CLICK HERE for more information.

In addition, the Australian Government considers the following countries to be at higher risk for COVID-19:

• Mainland China
• Iran
• Italy
• Republic of Korea

If you are returning from these countries, you need to monitor your health for the next 14 days.

If you are returning from mainland China or Iran you should isolate yourself for 14 days after leaving mainland China or Iran.

If you are travelling from the Republic of Korea, you must isolate yourself for 14 days from the day you left the Republic of Korea.

If you arriving in Australia from Italy, unless you are instructed too, you do not need to isolate yourself but you cannot attend work for 14 days if you work as a health care worker or residential aged care worker.

If you are visiting a Helping Hand residential site, and either you or a close contact have visited Italy or Republic of Korea within the previous 14 days we ask you to not visit any of our residential facilities for 14 days.

If you receive Home Care services or attend any residential sites for community activities and either you or a close contact have visited Italy or Republic of Korea in the previous 14 days please contact us on 1300 444 663 to discuss.

If you or any of your close contacts have travelled overseas anywhere in the previous 14 days and you become unwell with respiratory symptoms, please contact your local GP for further advice.

• North Adelaide, Grivell Hall, Monday 16th March, 1:30pm – 2:30pm

• Ingle Farm, Gene Wenham Activities Room, Monday 16th March, 10:30am – 11:30am

• Carinya, Clare, Cottage 3, Tuesday 10th March, 11:00pm – 12:00pm

• Belalie lodge, Jamestown, Pioneer Room, Tuesday 10th March, 2:00pm – 3:00pm