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23 August 2021- Participants, Carers and Guardians, COVID-19 Update To all Participants, Carers and Guardians, I would like to present you some new information that keeps you safe. This information includes restrictions, closures, services information, and vaccination information. These are worrying times for everyone and we will continue to do all we can to support participants, families and staff. We continue to follow Health advice and Public Health Orders to protect participants, our families, colleagues, and the wider community. In our aim to support you during this time, we are providing online/remote servicing. You can always reach us at 1300 422 454 if you have any questions or concerns. It has been announced that, as we understand it, support workers who live and/or work in an LGA of concern must have had at least one vaccination by 30 August. We have not yet received further details. We have been strongly encouraging all of our lovely employees to take up a vaccine and we have provided vaccine hubs and in reach clinics to support this. We are now contacting those who have not shared a vaccine certificate with us to ask them to do so or to get a vaccine as required. Should you have concerns about vaccination status of support staff please let your usual Ability Options contact know or email us at info@abilityoptions.org.au Stay at home restrictions ALL areas of NSW are under stay-at-home orders. - Greater Sydney: in-place until the end of September. (LGAs of concern will be under curfew after Monday, 23rd August between the hours of 9pm-5am) - Regional NSW: in-place until 28 August. Information/Updates
COVID-19 tests, Self-Isolation If you are deemed a close or casual contact, or have symptoms of COVID-19, you must get tested. You must self-isolate until you receive your test results. Cases spread in any community, through those who are out and active with the virus. Self-isolation means: • Not leaving your home/accommodation. Only leaving for medical treatment/emergency. • Not allowing someone to into your home unless they live there. • Obeying NSW Health COVID-19 self-isolation guidelines. Hunter Restrictions Restrictions are in-place until 28 August across:
Note: All offices in the Hunter, are closed to visitors. Hunter - Facility Rules
Services/Programs Day Programs - running online The temporary suspension of disability day programs has been extended in all NSW LGAs with current stay-at-home restrictions. This lasts until 28 August 2021. Under Community Activity rules, no programs in a group setting can operate. This means that Day Programs are being delivered remotely, online. Other Services Short-term accommodation outside of Greater Sydney – Operating in our facilities. We are taking all safety measures i.e., masks and social distancing. Direct supports – Services are running. We are taking all safety measures i.e., masks and social distancing. Co-ordination of supports - Services are running. Contact your CoS practitioner for support. Therapists – Running with remote/online servicing. Contact your therapist if you need face-to-face therapy. WorkReady – Running with online/remote servicing. Contact your WorkReady consultant if you need face-to-face. Vaccine Information We continue with our in-reach vaccination in accommodation services in Sydney and are working hard to secure vaccination hubs and in-reach vaccination opportunities and vaccination hubs on the Mid North Coast and Hunter Region, as soon as we have more information, we will share with you. To access your vaccination sooner, consider the AstraZeneca vaccine, available from participating GPs and pharmacies, and NSW Health clinics. Book your vaccination here: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/apps-and-tools/covid-19-vaccine-eligibility-checker Priority Vaccinations – Sydney LGAs of concern. NSW Health are running two Priority vaccination hubs for all people aged 18-39 living in the local government areas of concern: Bayside, Blacktown, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool, Parramatta, Penrith and Strathfield You must book for two doses of the vaccine with the same clinic when you make your booking. Book your appointment now on the NSW Government website. If you would like any further information, please contact your usual Ability Options contact, or me. Stay safe. Be calm, be kind. Kind regards, Julia Squire CEO Ability Options 28 July 2021- Participants, Carers and Guardians, COVID-19 Update To all Participants, Carers and Guardians,
As always, the safety and protection of participants, customers, ourselves, families, colleagues, and the wider community is paramount, so I would like to the recap the Stay-at-Home orders, how they may affect our services and provide you with information on our new Pfizer Vaccination Hubs: Anyone who lives and/or works in Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast or Wollongong, can only leave home for four main reasons. For information on reasonable excuses to leave home, please visit: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/rules/greater-sydney#reasonable-excuse-to-leave-home Easy English advice can be read here: https://cid.org.au/our-stories/nsw-government-coronavirus-rules-for-sydney/ Note: You can leave home to receive your COVID-19 Vaccine.
All Community activities in a group setting – Sydney only NSW Health has updated their advice on Community Activities in a group setting operating in the Greater Sydney area. From 6.00pm 27 July until 10 August 2021 (inclusive), all activities in group settings will temporarily cease. Online service delivery is already in place with direct support available and we will be delivering day program activities in our accommodation settings.
Unfortunately, no visitors are allowed into group homes unless there’s an exceptional compassionate reason or those providing essential caring functions. If you need to visit a Group Home or Casuarina Grove for exceptional reasons (compassionate or essential care) please contact your Team Leader to explain this and we will make a decision according to the NSW Health requirements Any residents who receive supports from a non-Ability Options staff member, can still continue to receive their supports, as long as the visiting staff member adheres to public health orders, wears a mask, and checks in using both GOV NSW and our QR code. Mask Wearing is required by staff and visitors with very few exceptions, click here to read them. Staff who give supports in Accommodation and live in the Local Government Areas of Cumberland, Blacktown, Fairfield, Canterbury/Bankstown, Parramatta, Campbelltown and Georges Hall will undergo mandatory testing every three days. For Hunter, Newcastle and Mid North Coast, NO visitors are allowed from Greater Sydney, Wollongong, Central Coast, Blue Mountains, or any other affected area
Working alongside our health/immunisation provider, we have secured some amazing vaccination hubs in various locations across Sydney and the Central Coast. These hubs have been secured for participants and staff who are eligible for the vaccine. Check your eligibility, here: https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/eligibility?lang=en
Please click on the following link to schedule your appointment at your nearest Ability Options Vaccination Hub: https://67402.covidhub.com.au You will need to book and confirm your First Dose and then Click on the same link again to book your Second Dose. Please ensure your doses are a minimum of 21 days apart. This booking tool requires those receiving the vaccination to be booked in under their own name. If you encounter any issues during the booking process, please ring the HCA Client Relations Team on 1300 542 444 who will be able to guide you through the booking tool. Spaces in these hubs will fill quickly, so get in fast! We can all do our part to protect each other and the community. If you would like any further information, please contact your usual Ability Options contact, or me. Stay safe. Be calm, be kind. Kind regards, Julia Squire CEO Ability Options
Posted 9 July 2021- Participants, Carers and Guardians, COVID-19 Update To all Participants, Carers and Guardians,
We write to update you in relation to the NSW Government’s announcement of an extension and tightening of restrictions for another week, which will be in-place until Friday July 16, but are likely to be extended. As always, the protection of our participants, customers, ourselves, our families, colleagues, and the wider community is paramount, so we would like to take this opportunity to outline the new rules and how this will continue to impact our services:
The general rules announced two weeks ago, have been tightened. Anyone who lives and/or works in Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast or Wollongong, can only leave home for four main reasons:
1. Essential shopping – only one member of the household at a time (no browsing) 2. Medical care or compassionate needs. There are no restrictions to getting a vaccination. 3. Exercise outdoors for 2 people together and only within 10KM of where you live 4. Essential work or Education.
Easy English advice can be read here: https://cid.org.au/our-stories/nsw-government-coronavirus-rules-for-sydney/ For further information on reasonable excuses to leave home, please visit: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/rules/greater-sydney#reasonable-excuse-to-leave-home
Areas of concern
There are new close and casual contact locations in Greater Sydney.
Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and Northern Territory are considered affected areas and there are new close and casual contact places of high concern. To view locations please click here
Disability Care services are all operating including Day Programs, direct supports, therapy and respite. Activities will be Covid- safe which might mean some changes for participants at this time. In Group Homes, all visitors have to be excluded and only allowed to visit on exceptional grounds, and surgical masks must be worn. As with the wider Greater Sydney community, people receiving supports must only leave home if they have a reasonable excuse. Group homes including the homes located at Casuarina Grove - Participants may still leave home for groups and day programs (following COVID-safe rules) and any of the four reasons given above.
Our day programs are operating under COVIDSafe rules, including:
Everyone to check in with both the GOV NSW and Ability Options QR code
Temperature Testing will take place prior to entering the premises
Unfortunately, no visitors are allowed into group homes unless there’s an exceptional compassionate reason or those providing essential caring functions. If you need to visit a Group Home or Casuarina Grove for exceptional reasons (compassionate or essential care) please contact your Team Leader to explain this and we will take a decision according to the NSW Health requirements
Any residents who receive supports from a non-Ability Options staff member, can still continue to receive their supports as long as the visiting staff member adheres to public health orders, wears a mask and checks in using our QR code.
Mask Wearing is required by staff and visitors with very few exceptions, click here to read them.
All other services Day Programs and Group Programs– Are still operating but will take place in our own facilities rather than being out and about. We will take necessary precautions including masks and social distancing.
Respite services – Are operating in our own facilities. We will take necessary precautions including masks and social distancing.
Direct supports – Are operating. We will take necessary precautions including masks and social distancing and adhere to the restrictions
Co-ordination of supports services are operating. Our wonderful CoS practitioners are working and contactable as usual.
Therapists – Are working. They are providing essential face to face with Covid safe plans and also remote servicing mainly. If you require urgent face to face therapy support, this can occur but with masks and social distancing at 4sqm. Just contact your Therapist if you need face to face.
WorkReady – This is still operating with remote servicing. We understand there are a small number of participants with genuine urgent face to face needs. This can continue but with masks and social distancing at 4sqm. Just contact your WorkReady consultant if you need face to face.
Hunter/Newcastle and Mid North Coast
Mask wearing continues for staff and visitors in all Disability services including Group Homes In Group Homes:
GOV NSW and Ability Options QR Code sign in is required
No visitors are allowed from Greater Sydney, Wollongong, Central Coast, Blue Mountains or any other affected area
Temperature testing will take place when entering the facility
We expect these arrangements to be in place until midnight Friday 16 July, but we will keep you updated on any changes.
COVID-19 Vaccination Program
You are allowed to leave home for a COVID-19 Vaccine. We have been working with participants, families, guardians and employees to support everyone to get a vaccine. There are many ways to get a vaccine and our participants can be supported to use any of them. These include:
GPs who have plenty of Astra Zeneca for over 60s and who will discuss Astra Zeneca for other age groups if you want to explore that, on a case by case.
Some GPs also now have Pfizer.
There are also NSW Government vaccine hubs and
We had two Ability Options vaccine hubs; at Charlestown where two clinics vaccinated over 120 people and Seven Hills. These clinics have been very successful and were fully booked. We are asking the Provider to give us more dates for Ability Options vaccination hubs. We’ll keep you updated on this
We are also waiting on dates for in-reach vaccinations for group home participants who haven’t been able to get their vaccine outside of their home.
Mid North Coast
The Local Health District has contacted us about administering Pfizer & AstraZeneca (AZ) at group homes in that region. Vaccinations will be held on different days for the different vaccines to avoid confusion. You will be contacted as soon as we hear any further information. We are looking for Pfizer for anyone under 60. Over 60s may be offered the Astra Zeneca. If anyone under 60 wants to book Astra Zeneca they should talk with their GP first before they make a final decision.
We’d like to thank you for your continued usage of our services, as we aim to be as understanding and accommodating as possible during this difficult time. If you would like any further information, please contact either your usual Ability Options contact, or me. Stay safe. Kind regards, Julia Squire CEO Ability Options Posted 1 July 2021
To all Participants, Carers and Guardians,
We write to update you in relation to the NSW Government announced strict restrictions for the next two weeks from 6pm Saturday, 26th June to Midnight, Friday 9th July. As always, the protection of our participants, customers, ourselves, our families, colleagues, and the wider community is paramount so we would like to take this opportunity to outline the new rules and how it will impact on our services:
The general rules are that anyone who lives and/or works in Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Wollongong can only leave home for four reasons:
1. Essential shopping
2. Medical care or compassionate needs. There are no restrictions to getting a vaccination.
3. Exercise outdoors less than 10 people
4. Essential work or education
Easy English advice can be read here: https://cid.org.au/our-stories/nsw-government-coronavirus-rules-for-sydney/
We acknowledge there are Regional differences with advice on staying safe during this time. We will continue to update you with the latest information, when it is made available.
Service users in Greater Sydney (this includes Greater Sydney, Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Illawarra, Shellharbour)
Disability Care facilities are exempt from the limits of 10 people, and our services are operating. As with the wider Greater Sydney community, people receiving supports must only leave home if you have a reasonable excuse.
For further information on reasonable excuses to leave home, please visit: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/rules/greater-sydney#reasonable-excuse-to-leave-home
• Group homes including the homes located at Casuarina Grove - Participants may leave home for groups and day programs and any of the four reasons given above.
Our day programs are operating under COVIDSafe rules, including.
- Everyone to check in with the QR code
- Temperature Testing will take place prior to entering the premises
- Unfortunately, no visitors are allowed to group homes unless there’s an exceptional compassionate reason or those providing essential caring functions. Any concerns please contact the Team Leader.
- Any residents who receive supports from a non-Ability Options staff member, can still continue to receive their supports given the visiting staff member adheres to public health orders, wears a mask and checks in using our QR code.
• Day Programs and Group Programs– Are still operating but will take place in our own facilities. We will take necessary precautions including masks and social distancing.
• Respite services – Are operating in our own facilities. We will take necessary precautions including masks and social distancing.
• Direct supports – Are operating. We will take necessary precautions including masks and social distancing.
• Holiday programs- Are operating within our facilities, with a more limited activity schedule which will meet the restrictions and keep everyone safe. We will take necessary precautions including masks and social distancing.
• Co-ordination of supports services are operating. Our wonderful CoS practitioners will work from home if they are able to. If your CoS is unable to work from home, they will have access their usual office.
• Therapists – Will work from home and move to remote servicing. If you require urgent face to face therapy support, this can occur but with masks and social distancing at 4sqm.
• WorkReady – This is still operating with remote servicing. We understand there are a small number of participants with genuine urgent face to face needs. This can continue but with masks and social distancing at 4sqm.
All services in these regions are operating with necessary changes to visiting Group Homes, these changes are:
Group homes
• Mask wearing is mandatory for all staff and visitors
• QR Code sign is required
• No visitors are allowed from Greater Sydney area
• Temperature testing will take place when entering the facility
We expect these arrangements to be in place until Friday 9 July, but we will keep you updated on any changes.
We continue to work alongside a government contracted provider as the States have now taken over coordination of vaccinations for people in residential disability care facilities over 50. They are keen to get as many people through clinics as possible, with alternatives of local GPs for over 50s.
Our provider has offered us workplace vaccinations for both participants and Ability Options employees. These two vaccination hubs will be located at Seven Hills and Charlestown. Only the Pfizer vaccine will be offered.
The hub locations are:
• Charlestown - Level 1/6 Chapman St, Charlestown NSW 2290 on Tuesday 6 July and Wednesday 7 July 2021
• Seven Hills – 7/11 Rowley St, Seven Hills NSW 2147 on Tuesday 13 July and Wednesday 14 July 2021
(BOOKINGS FOR DOSE 2 WILL BE MADE FOR YOU ON THE DAY YOU GET YOUR FIRST DOSE)
Second Doses will occur at the same location you visited for your first dose.
Dates for DOSE 2 are:
Tuesday 27 July and Wednesday 28 July 2021 at Charlestown
Tuesday 3 August and Wednesday 4 August 2021 at Seven Hills
On the Day:
You will need to provide:
• Identification (Drivers Licence, Passport etc)
• Medicare Card
CHARLESTOWN HUB DOSE 1
Tuesday 6 July - https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/hca-disability-covid-19-vaccination-dose-1-clinic-charlestown-day-1-tickets-160707663949
Wednesday 7 July - https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/hca-disability-covid-19-vaccination-dose-1-clinic-charlestown-day-2-tickets-160708356019
SEVEN HILLS HUB DOSE 1
Tuesday 13 July - https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/hca-disability-covid-19-vaccination-dose-1-clinic-seven-hills-day-1-tickets-160709529529
Wednesday 14 July - https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/hca-disability-covid-19-vaccination-dose-1-clinic-seven-hills-day-2-tickets-160710494415
These sites will operate under the relevant COVID restrictions in place at the time and we will keep you updated as information comes to hand. MID NORTH COAST Local Health has contacted us about administering Pfizer & AstraZeneca (AZ) at group homes in that region. Vaccinations will be held on different days for the different vaccines to avoid confusion. You will be contacted as soon as we hear any further information. We’d like to thank you for your continued usage of our services, as we aim to be as understanding and accommodating as possible during this difficult time. Kind regards, Julia Squire CEO Ability Options
Posted 28 August 2020
Dear Families and Participants,
I’m writing to update you again on the things we are doing to keep participants, families, employees and our communities safe. During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. I hope you are all staying safe and well. Thank you for your patience and support during these uncertain times.
We continue to do everything we can to help eliminate community transmission of coronavirus. We have had no confirmed cases of coronavirus in participants or employees which we are thankful for. This is in no small part a consequence of the support we get from our participants, families and
employees.
Our Incident Management Team (IMT) continues to follow Government advice and directives. The current advice from NSW Health changes regularly and we comply with those changes. NSW Health updates its guidelines and requirements for Disability Service Providers and Residential Care Facilities regularly and is currently requiring that all residential disability care staff who reside in, or have visited in the last 14 days, the local government areas listed here, wear a mask at work. We will keep this under close review.
We provide the necessary training and personal protective equipment (PPE) including masks to everyone who needs it. Our frontline staff have all completed COVID-19 infection control training including the correct use of PPE and each home or community program has a designated infection lead who has completed additional training in workplace infection control.
Other actions we are taking to keep everyone safe include
Ensuring employees stay home if they are showing even the mildest of symptoms and get tested
Asking participants, families and visitors to do the same
Minimising employee movement across homes and services
Using a QR code for anyone to sign into our buildings, sites and homes. You will have seen these in use – just point your phone camera at the code and follow instructions.
Following NSW Health advice restricting visiting to our homes to essential only
Investigating ways for people to stay connected with family and friends through the use of alternative digital media platforms
Please, if you need to visit for essential reasons call your Team Leader first.
Lastly, we would like to share with you some helpful resources and information on COVID-19 for people with disability that NSW Health recently published on their website. https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/disability/covid-19/Pages/default.aspx
If you have any questions or concerns please contact us info@abilityoptions.org.au for assistance.
Best wishes
Julia Squire
CEO Ability Options
Localised NSW COVID-19 Outbreaks
Posted 23 July 2020 Dear Participants, Families and Guardians, As you will be aware there has been an increase in diagnosed cases of COVID-19 in NSW recently. These are currently occurring in a number of locations across NSW, particularly in South West Sydney. We are all focused on reducing and stopping community transmission to contain the spread. Our priority is the safety of our customers, participants, employees, families and the wider community. We continue to follow Government advice and Directives. With this in mind NSW Health has released new Guidelines and requirements for Disability Service Providers. Providers are required to make immediate changes to the way we operate until further notice to keep everyone safe. These changes mean that all staff currently living or working in Liverpool, Campbelltown, Fairfield, Camden, Wingecarribee, and Wollondilly Local Government Areas (LGAs) MUST wear surgical masks at all times when in Ability Options’ Group homes or Day Programs. We do not have employees who live in these LGA and work in our Day Programs. Therefore these requirements currently affect our group homes at:
Rossmore
Ellis Lane and
Catherine Fields
The requirements also mean that, unfortunately, family visits to loved ones in Rossmore, Ellis Lane and Catherine Fields Group homes will need to be restricted until further notice. If you require a visit to one of these Group Homes and feel your reason is essential, please contact one of our managers to discuss prior to attending. In addition all visitors to Ability Options group homes in Sydney, Hunter and the Mid North Coast will be screened prior to access, to ensure they have not recently been in any of the COVID-19 ‘Sydney Hot Spots’ which can be found here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/latest-news-and-updates Ability Options provide supports to, and employs, a number of people with medical vulnerabilities across many of our group homes and Disability Services. We anticipate that NSW Health will continue to update this advice as we progress through the current COVID-19 outbreaks and community transmission and we will provide further updates as we receive them. If you have any questions or concerns please contact us info@abilityoptions.org.au for assistance. Thank you for your support during these challenging times. Best wishes Julia Squire CEO Ability Options
Service Changes
Posted 26 March 2020
Dear Participants, Families and Guardians,
As you know, there is ongoing and growing concern about the spread of COVID-19 also known as Coronavirus. Our priority is the health and safety of our participants and their families, and our wonderful employees.
Ability Options is complying with Australian Government Department of Health advice and requirements which you can find at www.health.gov.au and all legislation, whether State or Commonwealth. We appreciate that not all Government advice has been consistent in this fast moving event.
Service Suspensions
COVID-19 will continue to have an impact on our services here at Ability Options, as it is everywhere else. Due to the recent announcements made by our Prime Minister, we have no other choice but to suspend until further notice the following services:
Day Program services in Western Sydney (Seven Hills)
NBI Group Programs, including School Holiday Program (TAG & Seagulls), After School Care, Saturday Club (Junior and Senior), PEER Group, Leisure Options, Bowling Group
Group Programs and Day Programs services across the Hunter, including Newcastle Temporary Care Day Program, School Holiday Program
Group Programs, Day Programs and Holiday Programs across the Mid North Coast, including those provided About Inclusion, Kempsey Regional Support, Nambucca Valley disAbility Services
Two respite facilities (Bonville and Seabreezes) on the Mid North Coast
These changes are scheduled to occur formally from Monday 30 March 2020 until further notice. However, most of these have already ceased operating as participants have already chosen to stay at home.
There are currently no changes scheduled for the following services
Sydney, Hunter, Central Coast and Mid North Coast Group Homes
Respite Services in Hunter
In home Activities of Daily living, Coordination, Therapy Services in all regions
WorkReady - which is using remote servicing
We are working to keep everyone safe at Ability Options – our staff, participants, families and carers, contractors and suppliers, business customers, and all others who use our services and sites. NDIA Announcements
With recent positive announcements made by the NDIA in response to COVID-19, all participants will have their plans extended by 12 – 24 months from the expiry date. In addition to this, all participants will now have access to Support Coordination through CORE funding to ensure participants and their families have additional supports in this time. This will help us coordinate essential supports that will assist you and/or your family whilst these requirements are enforced by our Australian Government to keep us all as safe as possible.
The NDIA have also increased some prices to assist organisations to continue supporting vulnerable people in this difficult time. Ability Options will claim all services in line with the updated price guide as outlined within out service user agreement.
Additional Supports
If you haven’t spoken to an Ability Options team member yet (this includes people accessing services through Mid North Coast Disability Services) you will be contacted soon to discuss safe alternatives for services for your loved ones. We do want to walk beside you throughout this very difficult time.
Ability Options employees affected by these changes are being offered redeployment opportunities within the organisation, including options to support you or your loved one at home over the coming weeks and months if that is suitable for you.
Support Coordination
If you would like to discuss Support Coordination, please contact Intake
Heather in the Sydney are on - 0438 728 772
Caitlin in the Hunter area on - 0428 432 125
Rachel in the Mid North Coast area on - 0417 856 095
For more information and up to date messages from Ability Options, please go to our website www.abilityoptions.org.au and click on the COVID-19 button.
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact us via info@abilityoptions.org.au
Yours sincerely
Julia Squire CEO Ability Options
____________________________________________________________________________
ABILITY OPTIONS response to COVID-19
Posted 17 March 2020
As you know, there is ongoing and growing concern about the spread of COVID-19, also known as Coronavirus. Our priority is the health and safety of our participants, service users and our employees during this time. We wanted to let you know how we are addressing this health event.
The COVID-19 will have an impact on us here at Ability Options as it will everywhere else and as a disability support service, we have people who use our service who have very specific vulnerabilities including:
We support many people with suppressed or vulnerable immune systems
Some of our services happen in group settings
Participants support needs make social distancing harder to implement
Participants may have multiple visitors in their home
Participants may not understand the risks and additional hygiene measures required
Participants may be dependent on others for basic activities of daily living
We want you to be confident that we are planning and acting calmly. We have robust Emergency Plans which we updated recently and they are in place and operating well to ensure that everyone’s safety and the quality of our services are our priority. We are acting responsibly our actions are consistent with government and medical advice. We are taking a cautious and careful approach and are planning now so that we are prepared as the situation is expected to worsen. We strongly recommend that you take the same advice regarding hand hygiene and social distancing. Please do not attend our sites, services or Group Homes if you are unwell or showing flu like symptoms including a sore throat, cough, fever or difficulty breathing or have recently returned from overseas. Please wash your hands thoroughly when you enter one of our sites.
What is Ability Options doing to create a safe environment?
We are further educating our employees on the importance of good hygiene and will increase our supervision in this regard.
Where possible, we have reduced overlap between our services – limiting where possible the possibility of employees moving between sites. This not only reduces transmission, but also ensures that if one of our sites is directed to close, we will still be able to provide support at other sites.
We will continue to provide support in the community (unless advice changes).
We will avoid any activities that place people in close and still proximity to others for extended periods such as clubs, movies or theatres this is in line with the government advice for Aged Care Providers. Where participants are particularly vulnerable we’ll speak to them and you about activities like shopping which are likely to be interactive but not static. We think that this event will go on for some time and we are conscious of the need for choice as far as the Government allows and the benefits of activity and social interaction.
We will be implementing similar restrictions in our residential homes to those currently mandated in aged care facilities, these are:
making sure visits are kept short
allowing no more than two visitors, including doctors, at a time
making sure visits occur in a resident’s room, outdoors, or in a specific area they designate there should be no visiting in communal area
ensuring there are no large group visits or gatherings, including social activities or entertainment in the home
Employees who have returned from any overseas travel are required to self-isolate for 14 days
Employees or people we support displaying any symptoms of Coronavirus, are also required to stay away from work and can only return when they are medically cleared to do so
Below is a link to some easy read information on Coronavirus which may be of use
https://cid.org.au/resource/staying-safe-from-coronavirus/
Useful contacts
If you are concerned that you or your loved one may be infected:
The national 24/7 hotline triages people with respiratory symptoms and those who are concerned about contact with a possible Coronavirus case. If you think you may be infected you can call the triage hotline on 1800 020 080.
Suspected Coronavirus patients can present in person to a GP clinic, a dedicated respiratory clinic or to a hospital ED if they call ahead. Please notify us ASAP by contacting your key contact at Ability Options 1300 422 454
Telehealth Services Available
Telehealth services will be available for people who:
are self-isolating according to medical advice
have chronic health conditions or who are immunocompromised
are parents with new babies
are pregnant.
over 70 or are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and over 50
People in isolation or quarantine for Coronavirus can see any eligible health provider through new telehealth items.
Patients in vulnerable groups can also see a health provider via telehealth for a non-Coronavirus matter if they have seen that provider face-to-face at least once in the previous 12 months.
Telehealth Hotline: 1800 022 222 What are the next steps? We have created an Emergency Management Committee who meet regularly to discuss the current health advice and the impact on our service. For Accommodation Services we are following the guidelines released from the Ministers Department of Health for COVID-19 prevention guidelines issued to Aged Care providers.
Full Fact Sheet can be found here:
https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2020/03/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-families-and-residents-on-restricted-visits-to-residential-aged-care-facilities.pdf
This includes information that providers will be encouraged to limit visits under national guidelines aimed at the prevention and control of coronavirus.
As always, you should feel free to call your key contact person at Ability Options if you have any concerns about your family member or the service.
We will be continuing to monitor the information provided by the government to ensure the best response in keeping people safe and infection free.
We will be continuing to monitor the information provided by the government on the Department of Health website to ensure the best response in keeping people safe and infection free.
https://www.health.gov.au/ We need to acknowledge that at some point, this may mean that non-essential services may need to cease or be limited for a while. We are working on contingency planning to reduce the impact on our participants and employees. We will keep you informed and provide as much lead-time possible if this is looking likely.
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