25 May 2021

Dear Residents, Families and Friends,

In the past 24 hours, positive cases of community transmission of COVID-19 have been identified in the northern and western suburbs of Melbourne.

A number of exposure sites have been listed on the Department of Health and Human Services website.  For your information a link to the exposure sites is listed here.  Please stay away from all aged care homes if you are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, or have been to any of the exposure sites, and observe the requirements of the Victoria Department of Health.

Given the vulnerability of our residents and the close proximity of our aged care facilities to many of the listed exposure sites, we are strongly encouraging families and friends to think carefully before they visit loved ones in Doutta Galla Homes. Our focus, is and will continue to be, taking care of your loved one, our staff on the frontline and our Doutta Galla community as a whole.

However, if the need to visit is critical, enhanced visitor restrictions will apply from 6pm today 25 May 2021.

The additional precautions which Doutta Galla is taking for visits to our residential aged care homes are outlined below:

General visits

• Two visitors will be permitted at one time.
• Time limits of 30 minutes will apply.
• Visits will only take place in a resident’s room.
• Visits will only be able to occur between 9am and 5pm.
• A total of no more than five visitors per day.
• A phone call to the residential aged care home prior to a visit is required to ensure the visitor limits are not exceeded.
• A change of entry code has been made (please use doorbell upon arrival).
• No resident social outings will be permitted.

End of life care visits will be facilitated by the home to ensure compassion, safety and dignity for all concerned.

All visitors to the Home will be required to:

• complete the entry and attestation process.
• wear face masks and sanitise hands as required.

A full review of the visitor restrictions will be undertaken by Doutta Galla on Friday 28 May 2021. These restrictions may change sooner as more information is available or further Government Directions are released.

Please contact the Home if you have any questions or concerns.  In addition, you are welcome to contact us via the email address covid19questions@dgas.org.au.

As you are aware, communications from Doutta Galla are sent directly to the resident and to the nominated resident representative.  If there are additional people in your family who would like to receive communications directly, can you please let the Home know their details and we can add them to the email list for you.  As a reminder, all my general communications, including previous letters from me, are available on the Doutta Galla website at https://www.dgas.org.au/coronavirus-updates/ and can be accessed at any time.

If you or your family would like more support during this time, please reach out to OPAN (Older Persons Advisory Network) on 1800 237 981.  They are available 6am-10pm, 7 days a week.  The other organisation that can assist you is Elder Rights Advocacy Victoria who can be reached on 1800 171 866 for support and advice.

Yours sincerely,

Vanda Iaconese

CEO