COVID 19 HOW THE RULES HAVE CHANGED! An Arcare Community approach to the first 2021 residential care COVID 19 outbreak. New processes, new challenges with a ‘Yes We Can Attitude’.
Ms Carrie Spinks1, Mrs Juanita Kirby1, Mrs Sally Marshall1, Ms Jennifer Henare1, Mrs Rivka Adelist1, Ms Vanessa Lane1
1Arcare, Melbourne, Australia
Background:
It is known that the COVID-19 global pandemic (2020-21) has significantly affected those in residential aged care. With new knowledge, management processes and challenges, an aged care COVID 19 outbreak in 2021 looks very different to 2020.
Arcare Maidstone experienced a COVID-19 outbreak in August-September 2020, and devastatingly again in May-June 2021.
Actions:
As the first aged care home in Australia to experience a 2021 COVID-19 outbreak, Arcare Maidstone were the Guinea Pigs of a new outbreak process. Flexibility, communications and a ‘Yes we can’ attitude drove the Arcare Outbreak Team both onsite and off, to meet the demands of the outbreak.
Maidstone saw the attention and resources of the Commonwealth, State and Local Health Services to guide the implementation of the learnings and new processes.
Key change highlights include: move of positive cases offsite; broadening ‘Close Contact’ definitions; intense contact tracing; work force furloughing; daily staff and clients COVID 19 swabbing; PPE spotters 24/7; staff N95/P2 mask fit testing onsite; fast-tracked onsite COVID 19 vaccinations for clients and staff; air scrubbers; stringent zoning including building access, way-finding and breakout rooms; management to client wellbeing; heightened communications and crisis media management.
Results:
- Cases: 3 clients, 5 staff, 4 associated
- Duration: 29-May-21 to 21-Jun-21 = 23 days
- No mortality
- Anecdotally (to date) less Post Traumatic Stress identified to 2020
Conclusion:
There is experience and learnings to share in process changes and impact on clients and staff.
Arcare Maidstone demonstrated commitment to client and staff welfare.
Biography:
Carrie is an experienced Infection Control Nurse Consultant, specialising in developing infection control programs within the aged care setting.
She has obtained experience in Australia and the UK in multiple clinical and academic settings.
Carrie has a Science Degree – Nursing, Master of Advanced Nurse Practitioner and Master of Advanced Practice – Infection Control; along with further post graduate qualifications in Chemotherapy, Gastroenterology/Endoscopy, Genetics, Immunisation, Cert IC Training and Assessment.
Carrie has presenting locally, nationally and overseas and enjoys collaborating with ACIPC presenting on aged care courses, the master course and facilitating on the aged care Infection Control Lead courses.