Villages differ on visitor policies. Photo / supplied
Villages differ on visitor policies. Photo / supplied
Bosses of Auckland and Waikato retirement villages in lockdown under the level 3 alert have indicated a degree of careful flexibility is being allowed for visitors.
Brien Cree, founder and chairman of Radius Residential Care, yesterday said Radius would allow vaccinated pre-approved visitors in from next week, addingthat was against Ministry of Health guidelines.
But bosses of other villages under level 3 alert said they were also trying to ensure residents were not isolated from families and visitors were being allowed.
Jeremy Nicoll, Arvida Group chief executive, said that business was innovative on the visitor front.
"I don't believe that we are defying any ministry guidelines, but we are being innovative to make sure that we are looking after our residents and their families in the best way we can," he said.
"Our approach is an extension of the picnic concept. We help facilitate family to visit loved ones in the village gardens in a safe manner," Nicoll said.
Jeremy Nicoll, CEO of Arvida Group. Photo / Dean Purcell
"It's been working very well and we've had some great feedback. I've heard a story of one of our Auckland residents being able to celebrate her 102nd birthday with her son in an outdoor setting and all rugged up against the weather," he said.
Earl Gasparich, Metlifecare chief executive, said that chain had also introduced a level of flexibility to help people.
"For our aged care homes, we are only allowing the family to visit residents under strict visiting protocols and in circumstances where the visit is required for the mental well-being of the resident.
"These visits are booked in advance, limited to two family members (both of whom must be fully vaccinated), take place in an outdoor setting and are supervised by one of our staff to ensure that physical distancing and mask-wearing is maintained at all times," Gasparich said.
"Under our current settings for retirement villages in level 3 regions, visitors cannot enter into the village other than in a vehicle to collect a resident for a gathering outside of the village, i.e. where the resident does not drive and is unable to walk to the gate of the village to meet family," Gasparich said.
Anyone entering the village must be double-vaccinated, have their temperature checked at the gate and wear a mask. They must also not get out of the car unless the resident that they are collecting needs assistance and then only briefly, Gasparich stressed.
Earl Gasparich of Metlifecare. Photo / Michael Craig
Eleanor Young, operations manager of New Zealand's second-largest chain, Summerset Group, indicated less flexibility.
"We look forward to our most vulnerable residents, those in our care centres, being able to have regular visitors again in the near future.
"Until then we are allowing fully vaccinated visitors into our care centres on compassionate grounds only, with each village managing the issue at a local level," Young said.
Ryman Healthcare did not respond to a media inquiry about its visitor policies.
Oceania Healthcare chief executive Brent Pattison said last week that the current restrictions were weighing heavily on the mental health of residents.
"We ask the Government to urgently consider our older citizens and its definition of 'compassionate grounds' for visitation, extending that to include what's necessary to support the positive mental health and well-being of aged-care residents," Pattison said.
Ministry guidelines actively discourage visitors under alert level 3 areas of Auckland and the Waikato.
"Under alert level 3, aged residential care facilities continue to operate with only essential and emergency entry to/exit from services being allowed, staff movement between facilities and visiting is limited and managed in a controlled way to minimise the risk of Covid-19 transmission to residents and staff," the ministry says.
Family and non-essential service visits are not allowed, the ministry says.
Family visits on compassionate grounds will be considered on a case-by-case basis, subject to public health advice, provider assessment and risk screening.
Family visits on compassionate grounds may include situations where the resident is dying, critically ill or has increased confusion or distress, the ministry says.
A response from the ministry on the Radius move was sought yesterday but not yet supplied.
