Residential aged care or in-home care during the pandemic
by KinCare — 23 March 2022
Whether we like it or not, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way many of us live. For older Australians, this has meant delaying or – in some cases – ditching plans to move into residential aged care.
Whatever your situation, you’re not alone. A report by the Productivity Commission (released in January 2022) has now found that during the pandemic more older people chose to access in-home aged care services and supports, rather than move to residential aged care facilities.
Weighing up what’s right for you or your elderly loved one can be daunting – particularly with the ongoing uncertainty of COVID-19. KinCare can help you understand what might be best for your situation as we learn to live through the pandemic.
The options
In-home care involves living independently in your own home while receiving some support and services based on your individual needs. This could mean a few hours of help each week to keep your home clean and safe, or, if your needs are higher, support to get up and dressed in the mornings, take medication, go to appointments and prepare meals (to name just a few examples). The main benefit is that you remain in the comfort of your own home, with as much independence as you wish. At KinCare, this also means you’ll have the assurance that strict safety protocols and procedures mean you or your loved one are in safe hands.
Residential aged care involves moving out of your home into long-term accommodation such as a retirement village, assisted care facility or nursing home. These types of aged care facilities have been heavily impacted by the pandemic, with lockdowns and limitations on visits from family and friends.
Find out more about the differences between in-home care and residential care here.
Expert nursing care in your own home
Our aim is to ensure you remain healthy and safe at home for as long as you want. Whether it’s caring for you to reduce the risk of infection or prevent a hospital stay, providing nutritional advice so you eat well or offering support with medication, we will help you continue to remain in control while living independently in your own home.
What KinCare is doing to protect Customers
The health, safety and wellbeing of our Customers and staff is KinCare’s number one priority. Throughout the two years of the pandemic we have worked hard to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among our staff and Customers. We have put in place protocols and procedures to protect both Customers and our staff, including requiring all staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including gloves, gowns, disinfectant, wipes and other items are provided free of charge to staff. We also provide training in appropriate and safe donning and doffing of PPE, and complete in-field ‘spot checks’ on our staff to monitor their use of PPE in a safe and effective manner.
Every day, our Home Care Workers are required to screen themselves and Customers for COVID-19. This includes checking for symptoms, and confirming if anyone is isolating or waiting on test results inside the home. If a staff member is presenting symptoms they can complete a Rapid Antigen Test regime. These are supplied by KinCare at no extra cost to the staff member or Customer.
We also closely monitor the COVID-19 situation in each state and make necessary decisions regarding service delivery when required. We also ensure the correct PPE is used, as well as adhere to all Public Health Orders for vaccination requirements – alongside our own vaccination policy.
For detailed information about our COVID-19 policies and how we are keeping our Customers safe, read here.
During lockdowns, we introduced online services to ensure Customers could stay socially connected to their friends and families.
If the pandemic means you or your loved one are thinking differently about your aged care options, talk to KinCare about your situation. We can discuss how we can keep you safe during the pandemic and receive services from the comfort of your own home for as long as you wish, as there really is no place like home.
Speak to our team on 1300 702 319.