COVID-19 information for our community

Updated 23 May 2024

As the community adapts to living with COVID-19 we continue to review and refine our COVID-19 plans in response to advice from SA Health and the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing.

As the health and safety or our staff, consumers and visitors remain a top priority we kindly ask you to follow the below guidelines:

Residential Aged Care:

• All visitors are strongly encouraged to continue to complete a RAT upon arrival to all our residential sites and practice effective hand hygiene. 
• All visitors are to refrain from visiting all our sites if unwell. 
• Visitors are not permitted entry at our residential sites for at least 7 days (ideally 10 days) after a positive COVID – 19 test.
• Refrain from visiting our sites if identified as a close contact to a person who has tested positive to COVID-19 in the last 7 days.
• All visitors are still encouraged to maintain physical distancing of 1.5 metres, particularly in communal areas.
• All visitors are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated for COVID-19 and to receive their booster doses when they are due.
• All visitors are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated for seasonal influenza.
  Bene will revise visiting arrangement during a COVID-19 outbreak, and regular written communications will be sent to consumers and nominated representatives regarding the outbreak situation, including any changes to visiting arrangements. We will ensure partnerships in care are supported and maintained.

  In addition to the above during a declared COVID-19 outbreak we will:

  • Display signage at our main entrances informing visitors if masks are required to be worn and/or if a RAT is required prior to entry
  • Display signage if there are visitor entry restrictions in particular areas within the site.

    If you have any questions, please speak with a member of staff or call our team on 8131 2000.

    Community Services

    Home Care – Bene Casa

    In instances where services are being delivered in your home you can request our staff to wear a mask if that is your preference.

    Consumers are requested to contact their Case Manager if they test positive to COVID-19 and we will review service delivery arrangements.

    Bene Vita

  • Consumers are to refrain from attending the Bene Vita program if unwell.

  • Consumers are required to not attend the Bene Vita program for at least 7 days (ideally 10 days) after a positive COVID – 19 test.

  • Refrain from attending the Bene Vita program if they are a close contact to a person who has tested positive to COVID-19 in the last 7 days.

  • Other Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) processes in place to keep everyone safe

  • Hand sanitiser stations are placed in locations throughout residential sites and community services (Bene Vita). We encourage visitors to use hand sanitiser upon entering and leaving to prevent spread of microorganisms.
  • Staff undertake regular infection prevention and control training.
  • All residential aged care sites have a dedicated Infection Prevention and Control Lead Nurse responsible for the IPC program including COVID-19 outbreak management.
  • We have outbreak management plans which are regularly reviewed by our Bene Infection Prevention and Control Committee which includes health professionals with IPC expertise.

The risk of serious illness from COVID-19 increases with age. The highest rate of fatalities is among older people, particularly those with other serious health conditions or a weakened immune system.

For people living with dementia or some form of cognitive impairment, the ability to follow instructions to reduce their risk of contracting COVID-19 or to alert others about potential symptoms may be a challenge. This is especially so where there is a limited capacity to communicate verbally or express pain and discomfort.

To protect older Australians and those with compromised immune systems, we all need to work together to help minimise the spread of COVID-19.

• Residential Aged Care – We continue to do all that we can to provide safe and professional care at Bene St Clair, Bene Campbelltown, Bene Italian Village and Bene St Paul’s. All four homes are welcoming visitors.  
• Lifestyle & Wellness – Please contact Bene for information about our centre-based programs at Bene Padre Pio and Bene Italian Village or if you would like to arrange alternative lifestyle and wellness support at home.
• Home Care – We continue to provide safe, professional services at your home.

As a long-established specialist aged care provider, we have extensive infection control measures in place to protect the health and wellbeing of our vulnerable older Australians as well as those who care for them. To further minimise risk to our community, Bene has implemented the following measures.

• Entry into any Bene facility will be prohibited by any person to which any of the following conditions apply:
  • The person has a confirmed case of COVID-19 or has undertaken a COVID-19 test and is awaiting the test result (unless the person submitted to the COVID-19 test in accordance with routine surveillance testing of asymptomatic persons).
  • The person has a temperature higher than 37.5℃, or has a history of fever or chills in the preceding 72 hours, or symptoms of acute respiratory infection such as a cough, sore throat or shortness of breath, or loss of taste and smell.
  • During the preceding 14 days, the person had known contact with a person who has a confirmed case of COVID-19.
  • The person is prohibited from entering a Residential Aged Care Facility by reason of an Arrivals direction (for more information, refer to https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/travel/entrycheck-sa).
  • The person has not been vaccinated against COVID-19 (a person is vaccinated against COVID-19 if the person has received at least two (2) doses of a COVID-19 vaccine approved by the TGA or all dosages of a recognised COVID-19 vaccine in accordance with the dosage schedule recommended by ATAGI for that vaccine, and within 4 weeks of becoming eligible in accordance with ATAGI guidelines, receives a third dose (booster) of a TGA approved COVID-19 vaccine) (does not apply to a child aged 12 years and 2 months or less). Proof of vaccination is required. 
  • The person has not been vaccinated against the current seasonal influenza (does not apply to a child aged 6 months or less). Proof of vaccination is required,
• Symptom monitoring and surveillance testing by Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) of staff and residents when there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 at a Bene residential aged care home.
• Adherence to appropriate PPE, infection control, hygiene and social distancing measures as outlined by the Australian Commonwealth and State Departments of Health
• Additional staff training and assessment of infection control procedures specific to COVID-19
• Implementation of additional cleaning and disinfection measures
• Conditional visitor access to our residential care homes in the event of an outbreak

All four of our residential care homes — Bene St Clair, Bene Campbelltown, Bene Italian Village and Bene St Paul’s in Hahndorf are welcoming visitors.

In the event of an outbreak, we ask that you contact the home you wish to visit as additional conditions may apply, including visitor booking systems and additional PPE requirements.

Bene is continually adapting its COVID-19 visitor guidelines as necessary, in the interests of the health and safety of our residents and those who care for them.

In accordance with the Emergency Management (Residential Aged Care Facilities No 46) (COVID-19) Direction 2022 enacted by the State Coordinator, visitors will be restricted from entering any Bene facility if:

• The person has a confirmed case of COVID-19 or has undertaken a COVID-19 test and is awaiting the test result (unless the person submitted to the COVID-19 test in accordance with routine surveillance testing of asymptomatic persons).
• The person has a temperature higher than 37.5℃, or has a history of fever or chills in the preceding 72 hours, or symptoms of acute respiratory infection such as a cough, sore throat or shortness of breath, or loss of taste and smell.
• During the preceding 14 days, the person had known contact with a person who has a confirmed case of COVID-19.
• The person is prohibited from entering a Residential Aged Care Facility by reason of an Arrivals direction (for more information, refer to https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/travel/entrycheck-sa).
• The person has not been vaccinated against COVID-19 (a person is vaccinated against COVID-19 if the person has received at least two (2) doses of a COVID-19 vaccine approved by the TGA or all dosages of a recognised COVID-19 vaccine in accordance with the dosage schedule recommended by ATAGI for that vaccine, and within 4 weeks of becoming eligible in accordance with ATAGI guidelines, receives a third dose (booster) of a TGA-approved COVID-19 vaccine) (does not apply to a child aged 12 years and 2 months or less). Proof of vaccination is required. EFFECTIVE 29 JANUARY 2022
• The person has not been vaccinated against seasonal influenza (does not apply to a child aged 6 months or less). Proof of vaccination will be required. EFFECTIVE 10 JUNE 2022

What to do prior to visiting

1. Register your vaccination status 
   .
   If you have not already done so, anyone intending to visit a resident is asked to register their influenza and COVID-19 vaccination status in advance of the intended visit.
   X
   To register, you must email or contact the receptionist at the care home that you wish to visit.

   Italian Village	AdminStAgnes@bene.org.au
   St Clair	AdminStClair@bene.org.au
   Campbelltown	AdminCampbelltown@bene.org.auX

   Please note that these email addresses are only attended by reception during business hours on Monday to Thursday 9am to 4pm and on Friday 9am to 3pm.

   When registering, you must provide the following information:
   – Full name of the resident you wish to visit
   – Your full name
   – Your phone number
   – Your email address
   – Evidence of having received the 2022 seasonal influenza vaccination. EFFECTIVE 1 JUNE 2022
   – Evidence of having received all required doses of a COVID-19 vaccine (refer to above)

2. Schedule a visit, only if applicable in the event of an outbreak (Please contact the site for further information.)
   .
   Send an email to the receptionist at the care home you wish to visit with the following information:
   – Full name of the resident you wish to visit
   – Your full name
   – Your phone number
   – Your email address
   – Preferred visiting date(s) and time(s). Limit of one (1) visit by up to two (2) visitors per resident per day. Visits can be booked at 15 minute intervals between 9am and 11am; 1pm and 4pm; 6pm and 6:30pm.
   .
   Bene will send you an email confirming the date(s) and time(s) of your visit(s).
   .
   *Please note, bookings for weekend visits must be made by the preceding Friday, 3pm

If you have a temperature of higher than 37.5℃ or are experiencing symptoms of a respiratory infection such as a cough, sore throat or shortness of breath, we ask that you do not visit.

During your visit

• Visitors must consent to temperature screening and answer the COVID-19 screening questions at the electronic kiosk upon arrival.
• Visitors must consent to a COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), when and as required.
• Visitors must check in with the COVIDSafeCheckIn app, or when unable to do so, record their details in a manual register provided for that purpose.
• Visitors must use the hand sanitizer on entering the care home.
• Visitors must wear a mask while visiting the care home, when and as directed by SA Health. Additional PPE requirements may apply.
• Visits can only occur in a resident’s room or outdoors with appropriate social distancing measures.
• Visitors must not enter any communal areas.

Bene would like to sincerely thank you for your patience, assistance and support during this time to help us keep our community safe.

We understand that the requirement for social isolation at this time is particularly challenging for older people. To support those in our care within our residential care homes and out in the community, Bene is implementing some extra services including:

• A prehabilitation program and additional reablement exercise programs to boost physical and mental wellbeing and minimise the risk of deconditioning. Accessible from the comfort of your own home or within our residential care homes, the friendly therapists of Flex Care are at hand to help you stay physically active during this time.
• In our residential care homes, we have partnered with CareApp to bring our residents, carers and families together over an easy-to-use mobile platform that enhances social connectivity and communication and offers greater peace of mind for our families. We are also facilitating video calls for residents and their families.
• An increased focus on offering safe and engaging social distancing-friendly activities to meet the individual needs and preferences of our residents with the provision of additional Lifestyle Workers.
• Window of Love visits at each of our care homes in addition to face-to-face visits that adhere to current COVID-19 restrictions.

We also encourage friends and family to keep in touch by making phone or video calls, sending postcards, photos or artwork or filming short videos to share. There are many creative ways to let your loved ones know that you care.

We can all help slow the spread of COVID-19 in Australia.

To protect yourself and others, you must:

• Practise good hygiene
• Practise social distancing
• Follow the limits for public gatherings
• Wear a mask if you are in an area with community transmission
• Understand how to self-isolate if you need to
• Understand how to quarantine, if you need to
• Get vaccinated for COVID-19

National Coronavirus Helpline
1800 020 080
If you’re concerned, you can call the National Coronavirus Helpline for information and advice about COVID-19. The line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If you require translating or interpreting services, call 131 450.

Latest Public Advice
Visit https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov

General Coronavirus Advice 
SBS video resource – English
SBS video resource – Italian