Riverside Gardens visitation guidelines updated

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

While the home is not experiencing a respiratory virus outbreak*, there has been one resident who has sadly tested positive for 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, visitors and staff now need to wear personal protective equipment and attend to a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) before entering the home.

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

“To achieve this aim, from today, all staff who work at Riverside Gardens residential aged care facility (RACF) and all community members wishing to visit their loved one inside the home need to take extra precautions and prove their wellness before entry.”

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

Staff and visitors are required to wear a mask when inside the RACF.

• 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.

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

*A respiratory virus outbreak is defined by NSW Health as when more than one person experiences a respiratory virus.

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