A CRESWICK aged care leader says the pandemic has felt like running a marathon with no end in sight in a bid to stay ahead of the virus.
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John Curtin Aged Care chief executive Mary Pearson said the general feeling among staff, while tired, was "determined, committed, prepared and protective of all residents".
Aged care home across the state have continued to tighten restrictions, most in Ballarat barring all but compassionate case visitors, as COVID-19 cases soar across the sector.
More than 380 positive COVID-19 cases were linked to 45 Victorian aged care facilities, by mid-week. In the Ballarat region, only two active cases have been linked to Ballarat Health Services' Bill Crawford Lodge via a staff member who self-isolated at the first sign of symptoms.
BHS has maintained what it says is a conservative approach to aged care, having already tightened visitor restrictions across all sites - including nine aged care facilities - days before case outbreak.
While BHS confirmed initial testing for staff and residents was complete, and residents would continue to be tested, the health service is yet to clarify whether there have been changes to staffing so staff were not working across multiple sites.
City of Ballarat councillor Mark Harris, who is also an emergency doctor, said outbreak planning for aged care homes was deficient across the city. Cr Harris, speaking in a council meeting on Wednesday night, said there lacked a universal approach from the state.
There are still issues about state and privately run nursing facilities, which should have the same levels of protection.
- Cr Mark Harris
"The (health) department should have had an overview and had a simple management outbreak plan available for all those institutions - which they have not, " Cr Harris said. "There are still issues about state and privately run nursing facilities, which should have the same levels of protection."
A Bupa spokesperson said its aged care staff, including for its Delacombe staff, were actively encouraged to limit their work to one care home at this stage. Bupa staff were also being rostered to a single wing to prevent people movement in facilities as a precautionary move on top of temperature checks, hygiene and infection control measures.
John Curtin is an independent not-for-profit aged care community that does not employ agency staff with the aim for the team to better know residents and for continuity in care.
Ms Pearson said there were a number of staff who did work in other workplaces but the centre was working closely with these team members to manage risk and offer additional shifts to encourage a sole focus on John Curtin.
"Our approach has been to stay ahead of the virus and work closely with our wonderful residents, families and staff to prevent it from getting into John Curtin," she said. "We also have contingency plans, which will kick-in immediately if our thorough screening and monitoring flags a suspected case."
Ms Pearson said it was residents who advocated for visitor and volunteer restrictions in a bid to better protect themselves, vulnerable older residents and the wider community.
And the Creswick community has rallied in response.
John Curtin has a system for residents to order goods from Creswick businesses that staff can deliver to residents doors. There were also home-cooked meals for residents in retirement units.
Premier Andrews flagged last Friday asymptomatic testing could become more likely in sectors such as aged care where staff were increasingly and unknowingly introducing the virus.
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