Coronavirus: Rest homes call on Government to help with potential outbreak

Tuesday, 3 March 2020

Some rest homes say they lack the staff and equipment they may need in a coronavirus outbreak and are asking the Government for more support. (File photo)

There are fears rest homes are ill-equipped for a coronavirus outbreak, with some calling on the Government for help to prepare.

Although the vast majority of people who contract the illness have mild symptoms, older people are most likely of die or suffer serious complications, such as pneumonia.

Internationally, the fatality rate of coronavirus is about 14 per cent for people aged over 80, and 10 per cent for people over 60, compared to 2 per cent across all age groups.

New Zealand's first case of coronavirus was confirmed on Friday.

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Professor Ngaire Kerse says it will be difficult for residential aged care facilities to contain a coronavirus outbreak.

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University of Auckland public health professor Ngaire Kerse, who leads research on the care of older people, said anyone living communally would be at 'huge risk' if the infection spreads.

Simon Wallace, chief executive of the NZ Aged Care Association, says the Government needs to communicate better with the aged care sector about coronavirus.

In the event of an outbreak at a rest home, it would be difficult to isolate residents who need daily care and staff would have to wear personal protective equipment, including masks and gloves.

'I just think that would be very difficult to administer,' Kerse said.

While New Zealand authorities had so far done a good job containing coronavirus, she supported implementing a national action plan, she said.

New Zealand Aged Care Association chief executive Simon Wallace said rest homes could require extra staff and equipment during a coronavirus outbreak.

The organisation has joined forces with the Retirement Villages Association to call on the Government to implement a nationally coordinated response to the virus.

The two organisations are frustrated by 'a lack of responsiveness' from the Ministry of Health and DHBs to their request for urgent meetings.

Bupa, which runs 48 rest homes and 32 retirement villages across New Zealand, said it has strong infection, prevention and control procedures.

It had advised staff who had travelled to coronavirus-hit areas to self-isolate and backed the call for a national coordinated response.

Ryman Healthcare chief executive Gordon MacLeod said a small number of residents and staff had self-isolated.

The organisation had ordered extra infection control and personal protective supplies for its 34 retirement villages so they were prepared for a coronavirus outbreak.

Ryman Healthcare also had robust infection control procedures, he said.

'The best defence for us is for people who suspect they have a virus to stay away, and for everyone else to continue to practice excellent hygiene practices, including hand washing,' MacLeod said.

National's spokesman for seniors, Tim Macindoe, labelled the Government's apparent refusal to meet with the Aged Care Association and Retirement Villages Association as 'unacceptable' and 'woeful'.

On Wednesday, the day after the associations pleaded for help, the Commission for Financial Capability (CFFC), which monitors retirement villages on behalf of the government, announced its staff had spoken to the Retirement Village Association about what retirement villages should do if a residents gets Covid-19.

CFFC national manager of retirement villages, Troy Churton, said concerned residents or families should contact the company that runs their village for more information.

HealthCERT, District Health Boards and the Health & Disability Commissioner are responsible for monitoring rest homes.

According to the CFFC, DHBs are in discussions with the New Zealand Aged Care Association and Retirement Village Association about the procedures rest homes should follow during a coronavirus outbreak.