Dear residents, families and friends

As announced by the Prime Minister yesterday afternoon, Auckland will finally come out of lockdown (level 3.2) and enter the new Covid Protection Framework from Friday 3rd December 2021 under the red traffic light system.

After over 100 days of level 3 lockdown, we are delighted to announce that we will be reopening our facility tomorrow to fully vaccinated visitors only from 8.30am Wednesday 1st December 2021.

Although there is still “medium risk” of community spread, our residents and staff are still deemed to be at “high risk” of contracting viruses even being fully vaccinated, so we’ll proceed with caution.
We know and understand how frustrating this lockdown has been on you all, but we feel due to our very high facility vaccination status it is safe for us to move to the next phase.

Please be prepared for very strict protocols and limited visits, which will remain in force until we move to orange traffic light system.
We are anticipating a high number of visitors making appointments, so hopefully we can accommodate your chosen day and time.
As such, we ask for your patience while my staff follow the set process due to the mandatory visitor entry requirements.

Visits for Family or Friends:
Our visiting procedures for RED are as follows:

The Villa

Visiting hours will be between 8.30am and 3pm by appointment only. Please ring the Nurse Manager and book a suitable time.

• The allocated visit time is 15 minutes per visit.
• All visits will be conducted outside in the presence of a staff member, held on the front deck. You will not be allowed to enter the building or any other resident area.

The Cottage

Visiting hours will be between 8.30am and 3pm by appointment only. Please ring the Facility Manager and book a suitable time.

• The allocated visit time is 15 minutes per visit.
• All visits will be conducted outside in the presence of a staff member, held in the front courtyard. You will not be allowed to enter the building or any other resident area.

The Manor

Limited visiting hours will be between 8.30am and 11.30am and 12.30pm to 3.30pm.

• The allocated visit time is 15 minutes per visit.
• There will be a limit on the number of visitors allowed in the premises at any one time, as set by the Clinical Manager daily. When we have reached this threshold, we will operate on a “one out, one in” basis.

Visiting all Ambridge Rose homes

All visitors under the age of 12 will require prior approval from the Manager and must wear a mask.

Visitors will be asked to scan in using the NZ Covid Tracer app, complete a mandatory visitor log on our tablet and be given a health check.

• You will be held at the front gate/door and health screened by a staff member.
• You will be asked to provide proof of your fully vaccinated status by providing your My Vaccine Pass which will be scanned using the NZ Pass Verifier app upon arrival.
• You will then be asked to sanitise, have your temperature taken and wear appropriate supplied Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) that is, masks, etc, as determined by the Manager.
• Masks and other PPE must remain in place for the duration of your visit.

Visitors must always maintain physical distancing of one metre, where possible.

• All visitors must abide by our Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) procedures.
• Goods brought into the facility will be checked and if required sanitised.
• All visitors must follow the directions of staff and we reserve the right to deny entry if you fail our health check or fail to comply with our set procedures.

Staffing:
There will be a continuation of the current process and procedures we implemented, and which are currently in place for all staff.
These include:

• Sanitising, temperature checks and completion of a staff log upon entry
• Wearing of appropriate Personal Protection Equipment (i.e. masks, etc..) at all times.
• Adhering to physical distancing where possible
• All staff are fully vaccinated with some receiving their booster vaccines yesterday.

Allied Health Services:
From Friday 3rd December 2021 we welcome back our allied health partners who provide such a vital service.
These include normal GP, physiotherapist, speech language therapist, podiatrist and more importantly our hairdresser visits.
If your loved one requires these services, please let us know and we’ll book them in.
Naturally, they will all be following strict Infection Prevention Control protocols.

Booster Vaccines:
The Pfizer/BioNTech booster vaccine is now available, and Residents will be eligible to receive these 6 months after their second vaccine, early in the New Year.
Our staff will contact you shortly to seek approval.

Video Calling as a way to stay connected:
Don’t forget, we have the use of technology for you to communicate with your loved ones using video calling.
We have set up video calling using FaceTime, Viber, WhatsApp, Skype and Zoom via AgedConnect as a way of staying connected.

This works as follows:

1. Please contact the facility to obtain a timeslot between 9.30am and 2.30pm (Monday to Friday) and provide your contact details and preferred contact method.
2. 30-minute time slots will be available
3. Activities staff will make the call to you at the allocated time
4. Calls will be limited to 15 minutes

We will provide a further update prior to the next change in the Covid Protection Framework traffic light system.

Please be assured that your loved ones are being looked after delicately by our dedicated team of professionals who are doing their very best in trying circumstances.
However, if you have any concerns regarding their wellbeing, please contact the Facility Manager directly.

Our staff have all done an exceptional job during this pandemic and we appreciate their dedication to your loved ones wellbeing and keeping everyone safe.
We are always here to help, so please let us know if you have any queries or concerns.

Kind regards
ALLAN SARGEANT
AMBRIDGE ROSE OWNER / CEO