Revised code for visiting aged care homes
A sixth revision of the Industry Code for Visiting Residential Aged Care Homes During COVID-19, developed by 12 aged care consumer and provider organisations led by Council on the Ageing (COTA) Australia, was launched on 22 December 2021.
The latest revision includes that during a local outbreak, aged care homes be classified into one of three categories of Visitor status – ranging from Green when there is no COVID-19 threat to Red when there is an outbreak in or adjacent to the facility – each with its own infection prevention and control measures.
COTA Australia is also calling on all State and Territory governments to ensure that their public health orders and directions relating to COVID-19 and nursing homes include a provision that all aged care residents have access to at least one ‘Essential Visitor’ who can see them in person, even during a COVID-19 outbreak (with appropriate infection control measures). The sixth version of the Code includes the Essential Visitor system.
COTA Chief Executive Ian Yates says it is “deeply concerning” that some aged care providers are still not following the Industry Code.
The Code, including the Essential Visitor system, is freely available to download from COTA’s website.
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