As New Zealand eases into Health Alert Level Three today, this is just a reminder that the Care Facility at Kerikeri Retirement Village will remain in full lock-down for the protection of our most vulnerable residents. Relatives still cannot visit at the windows of the Care Facility.
Reception will not be open until we are at Level 2. Likewise, all our social congregating areas, events and day programmes will be closed, at least until New Zealand is back at Level 2 (and even then, there may be some restrictions in place).
Of course, all our Independent Living residents will have all the freedoms (and restrictions) of over-70s outside the Village.
If our Village residents expand their bubble, then this can include a neighbour or friend from the Village, or the community, or a relative, but the government instruction is that it is a situation of either/or. Residents cannot visit a friend and have a family member come to visit them. Those people who you do visit with must not be expanding their bubble to other people either. These are exclusive expanded bubbles.
However if a Village resident does wish to invite a relative in, or go to their house, then this is permissible at Level 3. This means people can drive into the Village to visit the one person within their expanded bubble.
For residents who do not yet feel comfortable going to the shops, our voluntary ‘buddy shopping’ system for residents will continue.
It is still best to access services without leaving your homes if possible, things like internet shopping and deliveries should continue. When we do go out, we need to practice social distancing (keeping 2 metres apart) and good hygiene (avoid touching surfaces, hand washing, cough etiquette).
Please take the warnings, guidance, and basic rules under Level Three seriously. The COVID-19 virus can be deadly, as we have seen in other aged-care facilities around the country. Level Three is basically the same as Level Four, with a slight expansion of our bubbles. Please continue to live with the ‘bubble’ concept and help us protect your friends and neighbours in the Care Facility.
Our plan remains as per below:
KERIKERI RETIREMENT VILLAGE - ISOLATION PLAN
There will be no visitors to the Care Facility, and external activities will be curtailed, as will all activities that bring people into the Village area. We will facilitate help with shopping and supplies as much as possible for those Village residents who don’t have support in place.
Care Facility lock-down
- Friends and Family access suspended
- Village resident access suspended
- Private healthcare and support service staff access suspended
- Village Support staff access to the Care Facility suspended
Services and programmes suspended
- Podiatry
- Day Care programme
- Wellness Activities; eg, Yogalates
Services and Facilities closed
- Social Centre closed
- Chapel Services suspended
- External meetings in Social Centre and HH Murray room suspended
- Hairdresser closed
Services and Facilities curtailed/restricted
- Village Support provided with PPE
- Separate transportation for Independent Living and Care Facility residents
- Outings will be restricted to drives only, with all visits cancelled
At this stage we are unable to advise on the duration of this status. We will be guided by health authorities and central government.
INDEPENDENT LIVING RESIDENTS
The Isolation Plan affects our Independent Living residents only in so far as they do not have visiting access to the Care Facility, and restricted from using Village services and facilities, as outlined above. In all other respects our Independent Living residents are able to live their lives as if they lived anywhere else in town.
We have advised and requested all our Independent Living residents to abide by the self-isolation requirements for over-70s announced by the government. We have also made them aware of the updated requirements of Public Health Alert Level 3 announced on April 27.
STAFF
Our Care Facility is deemed an Essential Service. We are asking all staff to continue coming to work if they are healthy. We are investigating ways to help with childcare.
All staff who return from overseas travel will, of course, be subject to the 14-day self-isolation period introduced by the government recently. We are asking staff to consider cancelling all plans for overseas travel in the short term.
FRIENDS AND FAMILY
We are acutely aware of the impact, stresses and strains these measures will place on friends and family. We will bear this in mind with every decision we are forced to take. We ask for peoples’ patience and trust as we manage our way through these difficult times for the benefit of our Village community; our residents and our staff alike.
