Aged care providers in the Shoalhaven have largely moved to restrict all visitors to their nursing homes, except on compassionate grounds.
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On Thursday, March 27 Uniting, who manages aged care homes in Nowra and Gerringong, announced it had stopped visitors to its sites and would only allow visitors if a resident was at the end of life.
Uniting said it would still continue dining routines and other opportunities for residents to engage with each other.
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Bupa, who operate an aged care centre in Berry, made the decision on Friday to stop all visitors.
"While we know this is difficult for our residents and their loved ones, we have set up an initiative, Visits by Mail, to help keep residents connected with the community, and will continue to develop new ideas that support their wellbeing," Bupa managing director Suzanne Dvorak said.
"There will continue to be compassionate exceptions for visits to residents, such as for those who are receiving palliative care."
The moves by Bupa and Uniting follow decisions by Opal Aged Care and IRT (Illawarra Retirement Trust) to restrict all visitors to their sites.
Opal said it would only allow visitors under 'exceptional circumstances' and IRT is still allowing visits to family in palliative care, with restricted hours and only two visitors at a time.
IRT has also implemented temperature checks.
"We are now temperature checking all employees, essential visitors and contractors that enter our aged care centres," an IRT spokesperson said.
"We understand this may be upsetting for some families, but we are implementing these measures for the health and wellbeing of our residents, as older people are most at risk from COVID-19."