Government restricts visits to aged care homes – many providers ban visitors outright ​

Visits are now limited to two people per resident at one time each day, restricted to rooms, outdoor or specific areas designated by providers after the Government cracked down on aged care visits as part of its measures to combat the spread of coronavirus. 

“If you don’t absolutely have to go to support a resident in care, please don’t,” Aged Care Senator Richard Colbeck said.

Parents have also been advised to not bring children aged under 16 at all, while large group visits or gatherings, including social activities or entertainment have also been canned until further notice.

Exceptions are being made for residents receiving palliative care.

Many providers – including BaptistCare (which had the first outbreak in an aged care home at its Dorothy Henderson Lodge in Macquarie Park in Sydney, pictured), Regis, Arcare, Catholic Healthcare, Hall and Prior and St Basil’s – have taken this one step further and completely banned visitors – in some cases, at the request of family members. 

Advocacy groups including COTA have raised concerns about the effects this will have on residents’ wellbeing – but given the choice between no visitors and calling families to tell them their loved one has passed away because a visitor brought in the illness, we understand the decision-making.