Our priorities are:
Information correct as of 15 February 2021.
In accordance with the directive from SA Government, ACH Group’s Pandemic Team has implemented the following measures to help control the spread of COVID-19:
Watch to hear how ACH Group is prepared in the event of a COVID-19 outbreak in one of its eight residential care homes.
In accordance with the Emergency Management (Residential Aged Care Facilities) (COVID-19) Direction it is a requirement that all visitors provide evidence of an up-to-date (2020) flu vaccination.
Please do not enter if you have been to any of the locations in the current Health Alerts, at the specific date and times mentioned.
Due to the COVID-19 screening that remains necessary, visiting hours are 1- 4pm every day and 6-8pm on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Each visitor must continue to sign in and out individually (not as a couple) for each visit for contact tracing purposes.
We continue to encourage families to use alternative means of communication, such as FaceTime, Skype, SMS, and email to keep connected to residents.
We continue to maintain essential services (with social distancing instructions and strict contractor declarations), including:
Health Services groups and clinics are now open.
1:1 clinic based Podiatry, Physiotherapy, Exercise Physiology and Massage appointments are back on offer.
COVID-19 screening and declaration are applied upon entry to all community sites as well as at off-site groups.
Social groups are now running. Strict hygiene practices are applied.
People can also remain connected at home by joining our Virtual Choir, Let’s Chat Group and Get Connected Program.
Please visit the SA Health COVID-19 website for the latest COVID-19 news. Click here to visit the contact tracing web page.
This line is available to South Australians and provides local information on COVID-19 to the general public from 8.00am to 8.00pm 7 days per week.
The Australian Government Department of Health has released a COVID-19 app to help you stay informed during these uncertain times. The app provides the latest information on COVID-19 and available both in the Apple App Store and on Google Play Store.
Let’s help stop the spread and stay healthy. Visit australia.gov.au for more information.
For general information about Coronavirus (COVID-19), visit the Australian Government Department of Health website https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov
Or you can phone the National Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080. This service runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Join the official government WhatsApp channel to get daily updates on COVID-19.
The Australian Government Department of Health has published an information sheet about home care guideline during COVID-19. Click here to view or download the info sheet.
This is a difficult and unsettling time, and if you need mental health support you can call the Beyond Blue Support Service. The free and confidential service is available every day to all Australians online from 3pm to midnight AEST or 24 hours a day by phone on 1300 22 4636.
The Beyond Blue Online Forums have a dedicated ‘Coping with the Coronavirus outbreak’ section for anyone seeking a safe and anonymous place to discuss their mental health and wellbeing. For practical information and tips, please visit Beyond Blue – looking after you mental health during the coronavirus outbreak.
For mental health support by phone and video in relation to COVID-19, contact the SA COVID-19 Mental Health Support Line by calling 1800 632 753, available 8.00 am to 8.00 pm, 7 days a week). This service can also provide follow-up calls.
For assistance in a mental health emergency, contact the mental health triage service – telephone 13 14 65 available 24 hours, seven days a week.
If you require translating or interpreting services, call 131 450.
How do I wash my hands properly? Follow this guide provided by WHO (World Health Organisation) to learn how to wash your hands thoroughly to help fight against COVID-19.
Social distancing helps slow the spread of COVID-19. Here’s a quick guideline on social distancing.
Please visit Australian Government Department of Health for more info.
COVID-19 is most likely to spread from person-to-person through:
Practising good hand and sneeze/cough hygiene and social distancing is the best defence against most viruses. You should:
If you develop symptoms (fever, a cough, sore throat, tiredness or shortness of breath), you should arrange to see your doctor for urgent assessment. It may be possible for this to happen by phone. Please call your doctor’s surgery in advance for instructions. When you telephone your doctor’s surgery (or health+ clinic or hospital if it is not possible to contact your doctor), you should tell them your travel history and if you may have been in contact with a potential or confirmed case of coronavirus. If you are severely unwell, such as having difficulty breathing, call 000 (triple Zero)
If you are a customer of ACH Group’s we ask that you advise us immediately if you are being tested or diagnosed with COVID-19 so we can ensure your safety and that of our workforce.
Some people who are infected may not get sick at all, some will get mild symptoms from which they will recover easily, and others may become very ill, very quickly. From previous experience with other coronaviruses, the people at most risk of serious infection are:
In accordance with the directive from SA Government, ACH Group’s Pandemic Team has implemented the following measures to help control the spread of COVID-19:
You can visit your loved ones in residential care.
Due to the COVID-19 screening that remains necessary, visiting hours are 1- 4pm every day and 6-8pm on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Each visitor must continue to sign in and out individually (not as a couple) for each visit for contact tracing purposes.
We continue to encourage families to use alternative means of communication, such as FaceTime, Skype, SMS, and email to keep connected to residents.
We continue to maintain essential services (with social distancing instructions and strict contractor declarations), including:
Victoria
New Zealand
Queensland – Greater Brisbane
Anyone entering South Australia from Greater Brisbane is prohibited from entering a Residential Aged Care Facility in South Australia within 14 days of arrival.
NSW
Visit the contact tracing page or SA Health page to keep updated with the latest health alerts.
Consider what is essential to your care and reduce the amount of people coming in and out of your home where you can. Talk to us about what you consider essential and what can be put on hold for now.
Be assured all our workers understand the necessity for good infection prevention controls when providing services.
As part of our normal service, if your regular Support Worker is currently unable to attend for any reason, ACH Group will organise a replacement worker to provide your services.
The risk of serious illness from COVID-19 increases with age. The highest rate of fatalities is among older people, particularly those with other serious health conditions or a weakened immune system. There is currently no cure or vaccine for COVID-19, or immunity in the community.
For people living with dementia or some form of cognitive impairment, the ability to follow instruction or to alert others about potential symptoms may be a challenge. This is especially so where there is a limited capacity to communicate verbally or express pain and discomfort. In this situation, observation by someone who knows the person with dementia may assist in identifying changes in their health.
It is very important that you reduce your risk of getting other illnesses while COVID-19 remains in our community. There is no vaccine for COVID-19. However, it is important that you get the 2020 flu vaccination as soon as possible.
Discuss with your doctor whether you should have a pneumococcal vaccination against pneumonia, which is recommended for everyone over 65. You should also discuss having a shingles vaccination.
Please note – as of 1 May anyone entering or working at an Aged Care Home must have had an up to date flu vaccination.
Customers with Home Care Packages have flexibility with how they spend their funds over a wide range of care and services to support to stay safe, healthy and independent in their home.
With support from the Australian Government, ACH Group is working hard to meet people’s needs during this crisis.
The services you currently receive through your Home Care Package will continue. However, there may be some changes to the way service is delivered. For example, home care staff may change the way that personal care is done to limit person-to-person touch where possible, or wear masks and gloves where they may not have previously.
If you are concerned about the way your current services are being delivered or would like to make changes to your services because of the COVID-19 outbreak, please contact ACH Group. You can also speak with us about changes to your usual services, such as arranging help to go to the shops or arranging your carer to shop on your behalf.
If we need to make changes to your package due to developing restrictions, we will let all customers affected by any changes know, if and when these changes occur.
The Australian Government Department of Health has published an information sheet about home care guideline during COVID-19. Click here to view or download the info sheet.
As part of the COVID-19 National Health Plan the Australian Government has increased access to bulk billed MBS telehealth and telephone services and fast tracked electronic prescribing of medicines.
The Australian Government’s Telehealth scheme allows doctors, nurses and mental health professionals to deliver services via telehealth (video link) or by telephone, provided those services are bulk billed, to those people who are 70+ years of age (or 50+ for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people); people self-isolating at home; or those with chronic health conditions or are immunocompromised.
Patients are encouraged to contact their health service providers to ask about the availability of telehealth and telephone services. Examples of possible video applications include FaceTime and Skype, noting that medical practitioners must be satisfied that their chosen options for telehealth and telephone services meet current standards and laws regarding privacy and information security.
The Australian Government is creating measures to allow prescriptions remotely and have their medicines home delivered to reduce their potential exposure to COVID-19. This measure complements the expanded use of telehealth under Medicare, and is available to those people who are 70+ years of age (or 50+ for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people); people self-isolating at home; or those with chronic health conditions or are immunocompromised. The Australian Government will fast track the implementation of electronic prescribing (ePrescribing) to help protect people most at-risk in our community from exposure to COVID-19. This will allow a doctor to prepare an electronic prescription that patients will then be able to electronically share with their pharmacy, where the pharmacy is able to support the home delivery of medicines.
More information on the COVID-19 National Health Plan is available at https://www.health.gov.au/resources/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-national-health-plan-resources
If English is your second language, you may prefer to access translated information on COVID-19 prevention and support from the Australian Government Department of Health in a range of different languages. Visit: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/translated
Further COVID-19 Information
The Australian Government Department of Health website provides general information on coronavirus (COVID-19).
Please visit the SA Health COVID-19 website for the latest news on the SA cluster. Click here to visit the contact tracing web page.
For general information about Coronavirus (COVID-19), visit the Australian Government Department of Health website, https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov
Or you can phone the National Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080. This service runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you require translating or interpreting services, call 131 450.