2020

COVID-19, declared a global pandemic in March 2020, had a significant influence on Resthaven’s operations. The coordination of Resthaven’s response to the pandemic was a high priority, to ensure the ongoing safety of residents, clients, staff, and volunteers.

There was the need to immediately respond to successive emergency directions, continued visitor restrictions, single-site worker requirements, cessation of services and the coordination of influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations. The focus on resident safety, health and wellbeing was maintained during the year as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded. This was achieved through proactive changes to delivery of care and services informed by best practice COVID-19 prevention and preparedness.

In the first year of COVID, staff rose to the challenge of ongoing restrictions throughout the year, including the state government ‘circuit-breaker’ lockdown in November 2020. As part of the response to the pandemic, the government required that each residential aged care provider nominate an Infection Prevention and Control lead, who had to complete significant online government training by February 2021. Mandatory and ongoing Infection Control refresher training was also required for all nursing and care staff in residential services.

In residential aged care, visitors were restricted and strict quarantine rules prevailed. These restrictions, paired with the cancellation of external activities, meant that residents were at risk of social isolation. A range of creative ways were implemented to stay virtually ‘in touch’, whilst physically apart, including iPads for ‘Facetime’ calls, ‘waving window’ visits, and increased staff one-on-one support.

For Community Services, sites adapted service provision to adjust to ever-changing needs, introducing remote health check ins, online services, ‘mobile’ staff teams, and social activity packs to keep clients healthy and connected in their own homes. Centre-based group classes were replaced by one-on-one home visits and virtual classes, where possible. Essential care services in people’s homes continued uninterrupted, with extra hygiene measures in place. A considerable challenge was to provide confidence to clients that it remained safe to receive services in their homes. As the years progressed, client confidence returned, with many taking up the option of vaccination.

With the state’s borders lifted after Christmas in 2021, the ongoing pandemic and increase in active cases of COVID-19 in the community challenged the aged care sector. Resthaven's residential services experienced exposures and outbreaks at every home.

Into 2022, to ensure that residents of aged care homes continued to have regular access to visitors in this ‘COVID-normal’ world, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission increased its regulatory activity in this area, with more visits across all homes to observe infection control procedures.

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