Bupa NZ COVID Updates

31 August 2021 - information sent to care home residents and whānau outside of Auckland and Northland for Alert Level 3

Dear Care Home residents, families and whānau,

The Government has confirmed that all areas of New Zealand, outside of Auckland and Northland, will be moving to COVID-19 Alert Level 3 from 11.59pm tonight, 31 August. Auckland and Northland will be staying at Alert Level 4.

We wanted to touch base with you to remind you that at Alert Level 3 all of our Bupa Care Homes will remain closed to all external visitors, unless they provide essential services.

A reminder about what this means for you and your loved ones:

• We will continue to have exceptions for visits on compassionate grounds, so please do reach out to me to arrange your visit if this applies to you and your loved one.
• We will continue to offer the use of a laptop and/or smart phone so that families can stay connected at this time.
• We will continue to closely follow the Ministry of Health updates and revise our instructions as new information comes to hand.

Thank you, again, for your continued support through these challenging times.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Stay safe. Kia kaha

31 August 2021 - information sent to village residents outside of Auckland and Northland for Alert Level 3

Dear residents,

The Government has confirmed that all areas of New Zealand, outside of Auckland and Northland, will be moving to COVID-19 Alert Level 3 from 11.59pm tonight, 31 August. Auckland and Northland will be staying at Alert Level 4.

The Government will review Alert Level 3 for areas outside of Auckland and Northland on Monday 6 September.

I’m sure many of you will welcome the Alert Level change from tomorrow, and the opportunity to expand your bubble to connect with loved ones.

At Alert Level 3, the rules that apply to the general public also apply to village residents. However, we ask that you apply extra caution wherever you can. Please follow the below guidance:

• The doors between the Care Home and Village will remain closed. We continue to ask that there is no movement between Villages and Care Homes.  We understand this can be challenging if you have a loved one or friend you wish to visit but this restriction is in place so that we keep our residents as safe as possible from the threat of potential infection.
• The community centre and communal areas will remain closed to everyone, including residents.
• There will be no resident activities at Alert Level 3. In some Villages, residents may wish to use the library. If you would like library books, please let me know and I can get them and leave at your door.
• Please be vigilant in following the Ministry of Health guidelines which includes staying home when possible and taking extra precautions when leaving home or touching surfaces. You can leave the Village to exercise, go shopping, and keep medical appointments, but if you are not well, please remain in the Village (unless leaving for medical reasons). If you do choose to leave the village, please take proper precautions and wear a mask.
• Please continue to stay in your household bubble but as per the Government’s guidance, you may now expand your bubble to connect with one other household e.g. a family/whānau member(s). Please remember to keep your bubble exclusive and only include people where it will keep you and them safe and well. In relation to visitors:

             - Permitted visitors are required to stay in your home and observe hygiene protocols.

             - Permitted visitors should sign in with the Government NZ COVID-19 Tracer app, or sign in manually.

• Respite, Day Care and Wellness Clinics are still not available to Village residents.
• Van outings remain suspended.
• The meal service to Village residents will continue to be available through contactless delivery. If you require assistance with shopping please let the Village Manager know. Milk deliveries will continue at Alert Level 3.
• Our partner, Securely, will answer any call bells and arrange ambulance services, if required. Please note that our Care Home employees won't be responding to call bells from village residents at Alert Level 3.

Thank you all for working with us through this time of Alert Level changes.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions about the changes.

Stay safe. Kia kaha,

31 August 2021 - information sent to all care home and village residents in Auckland and Northland for Alert Level 4 extension 

Dear residents, families and whānau,

The Government has confirmed that Auckland and Northland will be staying at Alert Level 4.

The Government will review this Alert Level for Northland this Thursday 2^nd September, with a potential move to Alert Level 3 that evening. If the Alert Level changes, further communications will be sent out to our Northland Villages and Care Homes following the announcement.

Auckland will remain at Alert Level 4 until a Government review on 13^th September.

For now, there is no change to what we are doing.

We know continued lockdowns are challenging. Rest assured, we will keep you updated on any changes to these current restrictions as soon as they are made.

Please let me know if you have any queries or concerns in the meantime. Our teams are here to help, in any way they can.

Thank you all very much for working with us through these challenging times.

Stay safe. Kia kaha,