Oct 11, 2021

Rapid COVID testing reuniting families at Victorian aged care homes

Eleven residential aged care homes spanning Melbourne and Geelong have seen a successful rapid antigen testing program introduced, according to The Geelong Advertiser.

TLC Healthcare has become Australia’s first aged care provider to make rapid antigen tests for every contractor, staff member and visitor to their aged care homes mandatory. 

The program is currently operating at Warralily Gardens in Armstrong Creek, The Belmont in Belmont and Wallington’s Homestead Estate, which means that all visitors entering these homes must take a rapid antigen test.

A novel program, the rapid antigen tests were implemented in September.

Approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), the rapid antigen test utilised by TLC has proven to be 95% effective so far, with two positive results having been returned in Melbourne since the rapid antigen testing program was introduced a month ago.

Speaking of the success of the rapid antigen tests, TLC Chief Executive Officer, Lou Pascuzzi, praised its proven effectiveness.

Outlining aged care home provider’s established protocol, Mr Pascuzzi detailed how both participants took a PCR test and one was confirmed as positive. 

“As vaccination rates increase, restrictions ease and contract tracing winds down, there is an increased likelihood that a person can be infected with COVID-19 and not know.”

Mr Pascuzzi added, “This situation proves that rapid antigen testing is the most effective way to protect vulnerable aged care residents.”

Core to the TLC COVID-19 management approach, as the community in Victoria begins to reopen, will be following the protocols of vaccination, rapid antigen testing and infection-control.

Mr Pascuzzi explained that TLC’s plan has enabled its homes to receive visitors for a large portion of the COVID-19 outbreak.

He advocates that TLC’s strong COVID-19 management strategy was and will continue to be integral to all their homes being free of COVID-19 for the duration of the pandemic. 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

“Everyday I go to work I make it my mission to give the residents the best experience”

Submitted by Anonymous Earlier on in my career I have to say I probably wasn’t as acutely aware of the distress some older people no doubt went through when transitioning from their own home into aged care. I am now. This realisation has made me a better nurse, a better listener and a better carer. Now... Read More

Will the COVID vaccine make me test positive for the coronavirus? 5 questions about vaccines and COVID testing answered

The short answer is “no”. That’s because the vaccines approved for use so far in Australia and elsewhere don’t contain live COVID virus. Read More

Staffing “inadequate” in half all nursing homes: royal commission

This week the royal commission is focussing on staffing in aged care, a topic that has emerged as the sector’s largest and most insidious problem. Monday’s sombre opening marked the passing of the chair of the commission, Richard Tracey. Commissioner Lynelle Briggs said Commissioner Tracey used the words “cruel” and “unkind” to describe aspects of... Read More
Advertisement
Exit mobile version