Update #92
08 February, 2022
Dear Residents and family members,
We continue to bring good news.
All residents in Waratah have now tested negative. We are awaiting clearance from Hunter New England Public Health Unit to hopefully de-isolate on Thursday.
Please remember when visiting
- Proof of a negative RAT test is required prior to visiting your loved one. If you need to purchase a RAT test from Maroba please ensure you arrive at least 20 minutes prior to your allocated 30 minute visiting time to allow the testing to be completed and to not to hold up a number of other residents appointments. If you do have a health care card/pension you are entitled to a free RAT kit via pharmacies. You can check online to see if you are eligible. Visit: https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/get-free-rapid-antigen-tests-rats-if-you-hold-concession-card
- Please ensure you have appropriate clothing with you for an outside undercover visit and be patient with our staff and volunteers who are trying to facilitate your visit.
- It might pay to discuss your visiting or excursion arrangements with other members of the family. Yesterday, we had a person come to visit their loved one at the same time another relative was taking the resident out, which was a little awkward for all concerned.
- As mentioned in Update #88, NSW Health protocol requires us to carry out a testing regime post outing, so that we can monitor your loved one for Covid -19 if they leave the facility. Residents who do not return the same day should be isolated until they have a negative PCR, (RAT if delays in PCR processing) the day of return with subsequent tests on day 3, 5 and 7 after they return.
To other news, bus trips resumed this week for residents and those residents that did go out yesterday had a lovely time. The hairdresser is back on site and the gym has opened again for individual exercise programs or 1-2 groups will attend from the same suburb. Small friendship groups across the facility are able to meet in the Junction Café for coffee and catch up.
We have been approached by a number of families who would like to show appreciation to staff for their work during the outbreak. This is a lovely gesture and one that has been on our mind too, as to how we could say thanks to all our staff who have gone above and beyond during this current outbreak. One idea we had was to donate to either our Scholarship Fund or general donations account. Donations are tax deductible. Whilst plans are not fixed, we hope to provide a special staff lunch or similar in the near future. If you would like to explore this option, then please email enquiries@maroba.com.au for our bank details and to let us know how you would like your donation to be directed.
At our Covid briefing today we continued to consider our future plans for further relaxation of restrictions, so please be assured we will be ready to change arrangements when the Covid risk changes within our community.
We are all looking forward to the day when all visits can be indoors or outdoors as per your choice.
Yours sincerely,
Viv Allanson, CEO