McLean Care’s Response to Coronavirus (COVID-19)

We value and thank everyone for their continued cooperation, respect and understanding of the changes and restrictions we have all experienced as we continue to implement a range of infection control measures and restrictions to help minimise the risk of COVID-19.

We are closely monitoring the situation and are regularly updating this page, as well as communicating any changes to all residents and their families, clients, customers, employees, volunteers and contractors.

McLean Care continues to have no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in any of our facilities throughout New South Wales and Queensland due to the careful management and strict adherence of our screening procedures of staff and visitors.

COVID-19 Vaccination

As you would be aware the Commonwealth Government has commenced roll out of the COVID 19 Vaccination on monday 22nd of February 2021. Residents and staff of Aged Care facilities will be part of the first groups in Australia to be vaccinated.

Having a COVID-19 vaccine is an important step to prevent getting sick with the COVID-19 disease. Having a vaccination will help protect your loved ones in our facilities who are at risk of severe illness from COVID-19.

We understand you may have questions about the vaccine
COVID-19 vaccines are being held to the same safety standards as all other vaccines. Side effects are possible, and these are normal signs that your body is building protection. These side effects tend to be mild to moderate and go away on their own within 1-2 days.

To help you understand the COVID 19 vaccination process and to make an informed decision, the Commonwealth Government website has information regarding COVID-19 vaccination at https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/covid-19-vaccines.

Thank you again for your support and working with McLean care to protect our residents, clients and staff.

Residential Aged Care

Further to previous advice issued (18 December 2020) for visits to Residential Aged Care and Home Care Facilities, the following updated advice is to be implemented immediately.

https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Pages/racf-latest-advice.aspx

Please note this website will be updated without notice.

Until at least 11.59 pm on Wednesday 23 December 2020:

• all residential aged care facilities across NSW must exclude visitors. Visitors performing essential caring functions may be exempted. Where there are exceptional circumstances (for example, a dying relative), seek advice from your local NSW Health public health unit on 1300 066 055
• all staff and exempted visitors must wear a surgical mask while in a residential aged care facility
• Further advice will be provided on the morning of Wednesday 23 December 2020 as we better understand the pattern of the current outbreak.
• Exclude staff who:

Have been in any of the locations:

• On the self-isolate and get tested immediately list, at the times and dates listed
• On the monitor for symptoms list, at the times and dates listed except where noted otherwise on the web page
• Have a fever (37.5C or higher) or symptoms of COVID-19 (acute blocked nose congestion has been added to the list of symptoms)
• 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 identified as a close contact of a person with confirmed COVID-19.

Regularly visit the NSW COVID-19 website on areas of active community transmission.

Legible records are to be kept of staff and visitor entry and exit into the facility for contact tracing purposes.

McLean Care continues to ensure that we are abreast of all advice and guidelines from both the Commonwealth government and the respective state health departments. We work closely with all government organisations to keep open lines of communication and keep up to date with our current procedures.

Our staff continue to receive training and education in Infection Prevention and since the beginning of the pandemic we have worked to ensure that our stores of PPE and other infection and prevention and control stock is increased.

We continue to screen all people entering our homes, by checking people’s temperature and asking people some questions about their health and where they may have travelled in the previous 14 days. We also show people how to keep their hands clean (with hand hygiene) and request that they clean their hands on entering and during their time in our homes.

McLean Care has implemented the applicable state public health legislation in regards to Aged Care. Whilst some elements of the guidelines for each state are different, for all of our residential homes this means that it is against the law for anyone to enter or remain in a Residential Aged Care facility if they have travelled from overseas or been to a COVID-19 Hot Spot in the previous 14 days, if they are unwell (with a temperature or symptoms of COVID-19) or have been around people who are unwell, if they are diagnosed with or suspected of having COVID-19 or have been identified as a close contact of someone who is diagnosed with or suspected of having COVID-19 and if they have not been immunised for the 2020 seasonal influenza and have provided us with immunisation evidence.

We thank all of you for your support for our staff and for these increased procedures during this time. By working together we are making sure our residents are safe and able to continue to catch up with their loved ones.

For additional information please refer to:

NSW Health Guidance for Aged Care Facilities

QLD Aged Care Direction