We are grateful to Victorians, and our community’s response to self-isolation and compliance to social distancing rules that has seen promising news of reduced community transmission and infection rates.
As a residential aged care provider, Belvedere Aged Care first and foremost thanks those on the frontline including all essential workers.
The health system has worked tirelessly to contain and care for COVID-19 patients and we, in the aged care sector have also made unprecedented changes to our normal operations, but we remain stocked and supplied to protect the most vulnerable members of the community, the elderly.
Belvedere Aged Care has introduced safer measures in line with social distancing guidelines from the Department of Health.
With the encouragement and endorsement of our residents and their families, we must first and foremost enact to protect every resident against this virus.
We therefore extend our thanks to all families and loved ones for entrusting us during this fraught time.
Belvedere Aged Care director of nursing, Carmel Drobnik, explains reasons for restricted access to the facility at this time:
“The safety and wellbeing of our residents is our priority. Residents must feel free to go about their daily activities within their home, such as enjoying their meals in the main dining area and also to feel a sense of connection with other residents at this time.”
Karin Blavo, Belvedere Aged Care’s lifestyle manager, has seen first hand that the implementation of our social distancing measures has not stifled resident’s interests.
“Residents are showing great independent interests, participating enthusiastically in cooking experiences and facilitating spiritual activities for themselves in the absence of the usual ministers and priests due to restrictions,” she says.
Technology has played a big part in keeping families connected. Residents are provided access to Ipads to video chat and read emails.
Karin and her team support virtual connections, reading emails out loud and where possible, assist families to use popular platforms such as Zoom, Messenger, WhatsApp and FaceTime.
Non-contact visits are essential for many families to bridge that gap of physical connection.
As families enter our courtyard, through large glass windows they wave in delight reassured to see their loved ones safe and receiving the care they deserve.
Belvedere staff are the essential workforce on the frontline of this pandemic.
We have taken strict measures to ensure our staff lower their risk of infection and transmission also.
Staff temperatures are taken at the commencement of each shift, PPE worn and protocols are in place requiring anyone with a cold and flu-like symptoms to stay home.
We have mandatory and ongoing education on infection control, compulsory flu vaccinations and offer telehealth consultations with GPs and Allied Health professionals.
For Belvedere Aged Care, its life as normal as can be for residents and staff. We are deeply grateful for the commitment shown by our staff in keeping residents safe.
We urge all members of the community to please do your part and stay at home, check on your elderly and vulnerable neighbours and always wash your hands thoroughly.
We are all in this together and must all play our part to see the threat of this virus eradicated and we look forward to a time in the future when we can welcome all visitors back.
To find out more and enquire about Belvedere Aged Care services, visit our website or call us on (03) 9574 1355.
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