With residents in aged care facilities making up the vast majority of overall deaths from COVID-19, is it time that we turned our attention to focus more on how we can stop the virus killing our elders?
The peak body for non-profit aged care providers Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA) has congratulated the Queensland Government for adopting procedures that facilitate the transfer to hospital of residents diagnosed with coronavirus in aged care and urged all states to follow Queensland’s lead.
The Royal Commission heard yesterday that NSW authorities had not transferred Covid-19 positive aged care residents to hospitals because they wanted to avoid setting a precedent.
ACSA CEO Patricia Sparrow said it’s not about precedent, it’s about saving people’s lives. ‘Immediate transfer to hospital of the first people in residential care diagnosed with Covid-19, is the best possible protection measure against the terrible tragedy we are seeing unfold in Victoria.
Hospitals the best chance to contain the virus
‘Transfer to hospital provides the best treatment for individuals and the best chance to contain the spread of the virus in an aged care home as the Royal Commission heard yesterday based on the experience of Dorothy Henderson Lodge.
‘Queensland has now joined South Australia in adopting this best practise principle putting it in a much better position to prevent spread of the virus within an aged care home.
‘Community transmission is the enemy of aged care. Once a single case gets into a facility it can be impossible to contain. This is because aged care homes are not hospitals. They aren’t staffed like hospitals. They are not funded like hospitals. They are homes.
‘It’s time that all states and territories joined South Australia and Queensland in adopting this best possible scenario for protecting older people in aged care and containing outbreaks,’ said Ms Sparrow.
Recent stories, information and updates regarding COVID-19
The Global Carbon Budget is about to be refreshed, giving the world a critical insight into how efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are (or are not) progressing. Masks will no longer be mandatory on public transport from tomorrow, Wednesday 21 September. SW Police are urging festival-goers at this weekend’s music festival to celebrate in a safe and responsible manner, whilst also being aware of COVID-Safety measures. The Northern NSW Local Health District reports that to 4pm yesterday, Sunday May 22, there were 40 COVID-19 positive patients in hospital in Northern NSW, with one of these in ICU. The AEC says that voters who have recently tested positive for COVID-19 will be able to phone in their vote in the federal election. The Northern NSW Local Health District says that to 4pm yesterday, 15 May, 384 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in the District, including 82 positive PCR tests and 302 positive rapid antigen tests. Volunteering Australia says volleys are the backbone of the country in times of crisis and emergency. Today there are 41 COVID-19 positive patients in hospital in Northern NSW, with none of these in ICU. The Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) reports that there are 37 COVID-19 positive patients in hospital in Northern NSW, with one of these in ICU. The Northern NSW Local Health District reports that in the 24 hours to 4pm yesterday, 1 May, 274 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in the area, including 56 positive PCR tests and 218 positive rapid antigen tests
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I just did the math for the average age of death by covid-19 in males, based on the Australian Goverment web sight[ https://www.health.gov.au/resources/covid-19-deaths-by-age-group-and-sex%5D. The average age is 80.73. The average life expectancy for a male Australian in 2018,[https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/life-expectancy-death/deaths-in-australia/contents/age-at-death], was 78. Facts are facts. Even with covid we are still living longer.
Sick people caught up in a pandemic that can last
for months & possibly years should be in hospital
& not left to aged careers who are Not fully trained
in life-&-death situations. Believe it. Age, either
way can only benefit if professionals do what they
do best.