The Industry Code on Visiting Residential Aged Care Homes has been reviewed for the second time to reflect the new Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) advice plus feedback from residents, families, providers and the peaks – and there are a few changes this time around.

You can download the new version here.

As we reported here, the AHPPC had already changed its advice two-and-a-half weeks ago to say that:

• spouses, close relatives and social supports are not limited in the number of hours they spend with relatives
• children under 16 can visit aged care homes
• staff are required to screen visitors, educate visitors about social distancing and hygiene during their visit, but not supervise visits
• residents are able to leave to attend small family gatherings (with providers undertaking a risk assessment prior to the outing and a screening process following the outing).

The updated version incorporates this advice, as well as recognising that aged care homes may need to return to tighter visitor restrictions in the event of a coronavirus outbreak or local cluster in the community.

“In accordance with this advice, it is appropriate for aged care facilities in the identified ‘hot spots’ in Victoria to adopt increased visitor restrictions,” the Department says.

The Code also states that other homes across the country may apply additional restrictions – consistent with the Code – on visitors who have been in these “hotspots” over the past 14 days.

This could be a challenge as the media reports on Victorians travelling to NSW from the hotpots, in some cases while awaiting coronavirus test results, have shown.

Can staff screening visitors demand to see proof of address – and how do they deal with family members who want to see loved ones but live in one of these areas? Will visitors be happy to turn around and leave?