The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission has released a new comprehensive Guide, Outbreak Management Planning in Aged Care.
The Guide supports the expectation of the Commissioner, Janet Anderson that aged care providers will continue to focus on minimising the risks and impact of a potential COVID-19 outbreak in their services.
It is for use by residential aged care providers in supporting their workers, care recipients, family members and visitors to prevent, prepare for and manage an outbreak of COVID-19.
Ms Anderson said the aged care sector could not afford to be complacent and must do everything possible to prepare for any future COVID-19 outbreaks, even as Australians transitioned to a ‘COVID-normal’ way of living.
“As a sector, we have learned much from this pandemic to date and it is important that we continue to embed these learnings into our practice to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of older people receiving care, their families, staff and the broader community,” Ms Anderson said.
She said the experience of providers through the challenging months of 2020 highlighted how critical effective planning and preparation was.
The Guide provides advice for aged care operators in key areas, including infection prevention and control; screening, monitoring and testing; isolating residents and personal protective equipment (PPE) among others.
Ms Anderson said the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission would publish further resources over the coming months to support aged care providers to operate safely in a COVID-normal world.
The Commission’s 88-page Guide can be accessed at this PS News link.
