Riverside Gardens visitation guidelines updated

NVC Group has today changed its visitation guidelines for Riverside Gardens aged care home in Nambucca Heads.

There are now three aged care home residents confirmed to have COVID-19.

NVC Group Executive Care Manager Moriah Resurreccion said in the interests of keeping both Riverside Gardens residents, staff and the local community safe, further restrictions have been placed on visitation because the home is now in outbreak.

“Our key goal is always keeping residents as safe and healthy as possible,” she said.

“To achieve this aim, we have strengthened our rules around wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) when people are on Level 2 of Riverside Gardens residential aged care facility (RACF).

“All staff and visitors need to continue attending to a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) before entering the home and provide evidence of its negative result.”

Visitation guidelines* for Riverside Gardens RACF from today are:

• COVID-19 RAT testing

Staff and visitors are required to provide a negative COVID-19 RAT before entering the RACF. Visitors can either attend to a RAT at home and date and photograph it and bring it along to the home, or get a RAT outside reception.

• Masks and PPE

Staff and visitors are required to wear a mask when inside the RACF. If attending to a resident confirmed to have COVID-19 or if interacting on Level 2 of the facility, complete PPE including P2, N95 mask, face shield, gown and gloves, must be worn. PPE will be available at reception.

• Visitation for Riverside Gardens

Visitation can still occur in the safest possible way:

– phone to book in a visit by calling (02) 6598 5000

– visiting times are: Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm. Weekends and public holidays: 10am-3pm.

The number of people visiting a Riverside Gardens resident needs to be two people or less at one time, unless otherwise directed by the RACF’s Service Manager. And visits need to occur either in the resident’s room or, where possible, outdoors or in well-ventilated areas away from other residents.

Due to the home being in outbreak, from today, if visitors are visiting their loved one on Level 2 of the facility, only one person may visit at any one time.

Neither staff or visitors should attend a RACF is they are experiencing respiratory symptoms.

*Visitation and entry processes to Residential Aged Care Facilities are subject to change with advice received and elevation of potential risks.