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

Please note this website will be updated without notice.

McLean Care Inverell – Visitor Restrictions in place. Please contact the facility prior to visiting for more details.

McLean Care continues careful management and strict adherence to screening procedures for any person wishing to enter our facilities. This includes staff, visitors, and contractors throughout QLD or NSW.

Regardless of the easing of aged care restrictions across NSW, McLean Care will not be changing any of our current processes.
Our focus is and will always be on ensure our residents and staff are kept as safe as possible and therefore we will continue to mitigate the risks of COVID-19 community transmission into our homes.
We remain committed to ensuring that our residents are able to accept visits from their loved ones, in a safe way, regardless of their vaccination status.

McLean Care will continue to screen all people entering our homes, vaccinated or unvaccinated, which includes rapid antigen testing, wellness screening and providing all visitors with N95 masks to wear throughout their visitation.

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

McLean Care has implemented the applicable state public health legislation in regard to Aged Care.
Please see this link for the latest advice.
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Pages/racf-latest-advice.aspx

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, and will request a negative RAT or PCR result and also by checking people’s temperature and asking people some questions about their health and wellbeing. We do 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.

Follow our Facebook page for updates. We are looking forward to seeing you!

Important Update; New South Wales Residential Care Facilities:

NEW SOUTH WALES
This update is in response to the evolving situation with COVID-19 and will impact our Killean, Kolora, Mackellar – Apex Road and Mackellar – Alkira facilities in NSW.

Our NSW residential care facilities Killean, Kolora and Mackellar visiting hours may differ from below and we suggest you use this as a guide only. Please contact the facility you wish to visit first to confirm their visiting hours for that day:

Monday: 9am-12midday
Tuesday: 2pm – 5pm
Wednesday: 9am-12midday
Thursday: 2pm – 5pm
Friday: 9am – 12midday
Saturday: 2pm – 5pm
Sunday: 9am – 12midday

Visitors must not enter our facilities at all if they:

• Have COVID-19 symptoms
• Have been exposed to COVID-19 unless they have completed their self-isolation and testing requirements.
• People who have had high risk exposures should not enter high risk settings for at least 14 days since their exposure to a COVID-positive person.
• Are waiting for a COVID-19 test result.

Important Update; Queensland Residential Care Facilities

QUEENSLAND
For our McLean Care QLD Residential facilities in Oakey (McLean Care® at CWA House) and Millmerran (Yallambee), our policies will align with the QLD Government directives announced. This means:

A few requirements to keep us all safe:

• Residents are able to have 2 fully vaccinated visitors aged 16 years and over PER DAY.
• There are some special requirements for persons under 16 to join us, please call ahead if you would like to arrange this.
• Visits must be either outside or in resident rooms
• Visitors must be fully vacationed against COVID and provide evidence on entry.
• Visitors must wear personal protective equipment (which we will supply) and bring evidence that you have had a negative RAT/PCR prior to coming to the facility that day (Visitors to supply their own)
• Visitors should not carry the negative RAT with them as the results will deteriorate throughout the day.

Evidence could include:

• a time stamped photo of their negative RAT result for that day
• a system generated SMS indicating a negative test for that day

If you are unable to obtain a RAT, you may be able to obtain one from the facility, however we have a very limited supply, call in advance to avoid disappointment.
Remember we will continue to offer video chats and window of love.

Please contact your QLD facility directly to make a booking or to confirm visiting hours at your facility.

Thank you so much for your support and continue to stay safe

Visitors must not enter the facility at all if they:

• Have COVID-19 symptoms – fever (37. 5°C or higher), cough or cold, runny nose.
• Are a close contact of a person with confirmed COVID-19 and are within their self-isolation period or live in a household with a person who is currently self-isolating.
• Are waiting for a COVID-19 test result.

Please note, visitors are not permitted to enter an aged care facility if they have not received a dose of the 2021 influenza vaccine, unless they meet the specific criteria under the exceptional and special circumstances rule.

Residents

• Residents may leave the facility to attend social outings but must comply with QLD Government movement directives.

For further information please refer to:
QLD Government COVID-19 Updates.
QLD Government Contact Tracing Alerts.

Important Update; Home and Community Care Services NSW

Home and Community Care Services staff has the same level of infection prevention and control practices as residential facilities. As such our Home and Community Care staff are vital in ensuring COVID does not spread to vulnerable clients in the community. Our staff in Home and Community Care will wear face masks when delivering care in our client’s homes. We undertake screening health checks on all of our clients before each service to check that they are well.

In response to the COVID-19 Lockdowns services are restricted until further notice

Staff must wear a mask whilst providing care.

Vaccine rollout

As you would be aware the Commonwealth Government commenced roll out of the COVID 19 Vaccination on Monday 22nd of February 2021. Residents of Aged Care facilities were part of the first groups in Australia to be vaccinated. All residents that requested a COVID-19 Vaccination within McLean Care Aged Care facilities have received both required doses. Staff continue to access vaccination from local GP’s. These current restrictions will not affect the staff access to vaccines.

COVID-19 Vaccination

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. 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.