Media releases

The ‘Industry Code for Visiting Residential Aged Care Homes during COVID-19’ has been released by 13 aged care peak bodies and consumer advocacy organisations. The Code creates a nationally consistent approach that ensures residents can receive visitors while minimising the risk of spreading COVID-19. The Code was finalised after public consultation with both consumers and aged care providers. It cements a human rights approach to care that both protects and respects aged care residents and their visitors. The Code acknowledges the work that providers and staff are doing to keep people safe during the pandemic.

A Visitor Access Code to ensure a nationally consistent visitation policy to residential aged care homes during the COVID-19 crisis has today been released by aged care peaks and consumer advocacy organisations for consultation with the public. The Code aims to apply a compassionate and consistent visitor policy that continues to minimise the risk of COVID-19 while providing innovative on-site visiting solutions to maintain the mental health of residents.

Dementia Australia has welcomed an announcement by the federal government to provide $1 million in grants for community organisations to provide digital devices to older Australians through the Be Connected program. Dementia Australia CEO Maree McCabe said these grants will provide devices such as a laptop or iPad to up to 3500 older Australians who would otherwise be at risk of disconnecting during the pandemic.

Dementia Australia has called on the community, including health and aged care staff, to work together to maintain engagement with people impacted by dementia during this unprecedented time of enforced isolation. Maree McCabe, CEO Dementia Australia said people living with dementia are some of the most vulnerable people in our community right now.

A new COVID-19 hotline will help older Australians get the critical information they need to stay healthy and safe during the pandemic, providing an accessible one-stop source for personal support, questions and up-to-date guidelines. Council on the Ageing (COTA) Australia, National Seniors Australia, Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) and Dementia Australia have banded together, supported by the Commonwealth Government, to create the National COVID Older Persons Information Line. Older people and carers are encouraged to call 1800 171 866 to speak to friendly, specially trained staff from a senior’s advocacy organisation.

Today’s National Cabinet’s reaffirmation that residential aged care providers should not restrict family visit access to residential aged care beyond the existing advice of National Cabinet has been strongly welcomed by the peak consumer organisations representing older Australians. The announcement must pave the way for rolling back the excessive, inflexible and inhumane lockdown measures that a minority of aged care facilities have implemented which have been harmful to the health and wellbeing of aged care residents and their families.

Dementia Australia calls on the federal government to provide dementia-specific education to staff and volunteers as part of the announcement of $10 million to the Community Visitors Scheme. The funding, part of a $1.1 billion package to assist the devastating impacts of coronavirus (COVID-19), will help to ensure that older Australians in aged care are not socially isolated despite visiting restrictions.

At this unprecedented time, Dementia Australia is encouraging all people impacted by dementia to reach out for support and information when they need it. Dementia Australia Acting CEO Anthony Boffa said as the health, social and economic consequences of coronavirus (COVID-19) play out, it is important to stay connected.