Dear Resident or Family Member,

Important Update for Families: Positive COVID-19 cases identified at Calvary Kelaston

I am writing to inform you that through our testing regime, the Home now has a total of four (4) staff and four (4) residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 at Calvary Kelaston. We are pleased to advise that testing undertaken today, 11 January 2022, has returned all negative results.

We understand that this may be worrying for you and your loved one in our care. We want to assure you that we are doing everything possible to continue to look after the health and wellbeing of all our residents while keeping them safe during this difficult time.

You are receiving this notification as the designated Person Responsible. You can help us ease the anxiety of other family members by sharing this information with your relatives.

What is Calvary doing?

The Home’s COVID-19 Outbreak Management Plan (OMP) has been enacted and we have taken immediate action to contain transmission and keep residents and staff safe. We have:

• Physically separated the affected person, including any close contacts;
• Notified and are working with the State and Commonwealth agencies;
• Immediately closed the home to visitors (except for end of life, compassionate visits);
• Ensured all residents are being safely cared for in their rooms, including meals and activities;
• Commenced COVID-19 testing of residents and staff; and
• Provided full outbreak personal protective equipment (PPE - gloves, masks, face shields, gowns) to required areas.

Are residents safe?

All residents are being kept safe in their rooms where they are being provided with their usual care, with some changes under exposure conditions. For resident safety, group activities and group dining have been suspended. Residents will be provided with their meals and hydration, medication, exercise, medical care and phone/video call contact with families in their rooms.

In addition to these first actions, our Care Continuity Plan ensures we have the clinical and non-clinical staff and other support services necessary to meet the individual care needs of our residents during an exposure.

The team will be calling you, the listed Person Responsible of each resident, with a situation update during the exposure period. The Home will need to remain closed to visitors until the relevant public health authority deems it safe to re-open. Compassionate visits for residents receiving end-of-life care are an exception and can be arranged with permission of the Home Manager.

Where can I get more information?

Calvary will continue to keep you informed of the situation. We kindly request that you limit your contact with the Home due to the increased workload and while staff are focused on caring for the residents.

Please visit Calvary’s COVID-19 updates site at: www.calvarycoronavirusupdates.org.au.

Please be assured that our staff have prepared for situations such as these. Our staff are trained in strict infection control procedures and are focusing all of their attention on the individual care needs of residents.

You can help us to ease anxiety by sharing this information with other family and friends.

Thank you for you continued understanding and patience at this time.

Yours sincerely,

Sherryn McMahon, General Manager Aged Care