Updated Advice for Residential Aged Care Facilities.
As part of these changes, the Care Facilities Directions have been updated and the key changes are as follows:
Visitors are only permitted into aged care or other sensitive settings for the following reasons:
Permitted reasons
· To provide care and support for the resident’s physical and emotional wellbeing (including mental health supports and support for people living with dementia); Note: this may include a person who is visiting to prevent harm to a person’s mental or emotional health due to social isolation.
· As a nominated person under the Mental Health Act.
· As a nominated person providing support for a resident living with Dementia.
· To provide interpreter or informal language support.
· For learning to support the resident’s care upon discharge.
· To provide end of life support.
Requirements for visits
· Two visitors at one time (a group may exceed the “two visitors at a time” rule if dependents of a visitor are in the group and care for the dependents cannot be arranged).
· Do not have to be from the same household.
· No time limits.
· It is one of the permitted reasons.
· No more than two visitors per day except where providing end of life support.
There is no daily limit on the number of visitors for end of life care visits. (End of life means where a resident’s death is expected within 28 days or less.)