Update for Mercy Health Residential Aged Care residents and families

Dear Mercy Health residents and families,

Visitors under five years of age

I am writing to advise you of some changes to the Mercy Health guidelines for visitors under the age of five years.

As you may already know, Mercy Health welcomes all visitors into our homes that are fully vaccinated (both doses), including children five years of age or older. While we recognise that vaccination is not yet available to children under five years of age, we also believe that relationships are important at every stage of life. Having regular visitors provides much needed comfort and encouragement for our aged care residents during uncertain times.

After careful consideration, we are broadening the visiting guidelines for all our residential aged care homes so that younger family and friends will be able to visit our homes. From Friday 25 February, the following will apply to younger visitors in our homes:

• Children over five years of age may visit by providing proof that they are fully vaccinated (both doses).
• Children under five years of age may visit subject to the following:
  • Visits must occur in an outdoor area. If the resident is unable to leave their room the visit can occur in the resident’s room.
  • Children must be under parental or guardian control at all times. This means they must be in a pram, a stroller or being held by the parent or guardian.
  • Physical contact with the resident should be avoided.
• Children who have any symptoms, including runny eyes, nose, cough, fever, signs of sore throat (crying when swallowing; not wanting to eat or drink) and gastric symptoms are not permitted to visit.
• Parents or guardians need to complete visitor screening on the child’s behalf. Please refer to screening times and requirements for our homes.

There are no other changes to visiting arrangements. I do ask that you please take care to maintain a physical distance from others while you are in our homes.

We hope with the broadening of our guidelines we will have younger visitors spend valuable time with our residents in our homes.

We thank you for your cooperation in minimising COVID-19 exposure and risk to residents and staff and for helping to keep our homes open safely.

Yours sincerely,

Adj Assoc Prof Felix Pintado
Chief Executive
Residential Aged Care, Home Care and Seniors Living