New fact sheet: Australian Defence Force Support to Residential Aged Care Facilities
A fact sheet is now available to provide guidance to providers regarding the deployment of Australian Defence Force personnel to support residential aged care facilities impacted by COVID-19. This fact sheet includes information about medical teams and general duties teams, and general principles for working with ADF teams.
This advice will help residential aged care facilities to understand and feel comfortable with the role of ADF personnel to help fill critical workforce shortages, and provide safe and high quality care for senior Australians in residential aged care.
Providers are encouraged to read this resources and share with your colleagues and networks.
COVID-19 Grief and Trauma Resources for Aged Care
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the social isolation and mental health of aged care residents, their families, loved ones and carers.
The Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement (ACGB) offers COVID-19 grief and trauma resources for aged care residents, home care recipients, community workers, residential aged care staff, volunteers and external organisations associated with aged care.
These support services are free and includes written resources, bereavement counselling, support groups, webinars, and online courses. The resources share how the pandemic has affected aged care residents and staff, with many experiencing grief, loss or bereavement as well as old or new emotional trauma because of COVID-19’s impacts.
More COVID-19 grief and trauma resources are available on our website.
Updated Victorian Guidelines for Managing COVID-19 exposures and outbreaks: Actions for Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs)
Updated guidelines released by the Victorian Government, Managing COVID-19 exposures and outbreaks, have been developed to provide Victorian RACFs with guidance on what public health actions they can take following a RACF COVID-19 outbreak or exposure.
Whilst RACFs have increased experience in managing outbreaks, with the emergence of the Omicron variant, high vaccination coverage of residents and staff, and commencement of the third dose of vaccine, RACF outbreak preparedness continues to be paramount.
Key changes in this version of the Victorian guidelines relate to:
- A new definition of outbreak and exposure
- Changed requirements for managing exposures
- Updated quarantine and testing requirements for residents and staff
- Changes to requirements for notification to WorkSafe Victoria
The guidance is intended to be used in in conjunction with local COVID-19 Outbreak Management Plans at each RACF has developed and the recently released CDNA national guidelines for the prevention, control and public health management of COVID-19 outbreaks in residential aged care facilities.
This document replaces the Immediate public health actions recommended guidance following a Residential Aged Care Facility (RACF) COVID-19 Outbreak or exposure version 3.0 dated 29 November 2021.
Further information can be found on the Victorian Department of Health website