Fortress Allambie at 80 days. Defence lines strong!

aged care coronavirus updates northern beaches

No colds, no flu and no Covid-19 over the past 80 days among residents at Allambie Heights Village Residential Aged Care Facility! That’s an excellent record of staff adherence to Infection Controls and Hygiene Practices across the entire Company of Allambie Heights Village Ltd.

We started counting the days after the evening of 31 March 2020 when we went into a status of Elevated Restricted Access. Since then, we have de-elevated back to Restricted Access with an increasing number of scheduled visits by relatives and friends to residents. These visits have been extended and flexible where needed on compassionate grounds. And SKYPE has been available daily. During the course of the 80 days, we have received immense support from relatives who completed a survey in May which resulted in 98% choosing to stay away during the Elevated Restricted Access period. Some expressed clearly that they did not want to be the person to bring in a cold, flu or Covid-19 to their loved one, to other residents or to our staff.

Our staff kept residents busy, engaged and stimulated with a full range of recreational activities and our staff were particularly aware of keeping morale levels high. Care, resident nutrition and hydration and the range of beautiful meals have all been of the highest standard as have the services from housekeeping, maintenance, front and back of office, management, our GPs and our allied health professionals. And it continues daily.

I am so proud of the staff team and appreciative of our residents’ and relatives’ support and understanding. We are welcoming back our volunteers and we look forward to notice of greater ease of restrictions by Government soon.

Of course, we can never be complacent and the Winter threat of influenza/flu is ever present. Please stay well everyone and do not come near us if you have any concern or actual presentation of symptoms of a cold, flu or Covid-19.

To my staff, you have demonstrated the highest level of skill, warmth, empathy and compassion to our residents. To my Management Team and to our COVID-19 Action Team, thank you sincerely for your leadership.

Together, we have saved lives and we are saving lives! Always remember what we have achieved over the past 80 days! The photo of ‘Fortress Allambie’ with our staff demonstrates the strong lines of defence and our commitment to protection!

‘Our Business is Protection’.

Ciarán Foley
Chief Executive Officer
Allambie Heights Village Ltd.
Email: CFoley@alhvillage.com.au

19 June 2020.