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Free COVID-19 resources to support RACF residents and their families during an outbreak

Residential aged care facilities (RACFs) around Australia have had to act fast to keep residents safe during recent COVID 19 outbreaks. All have found it challenging to share critical communication keeping concerned residents and their families informed of:

ongoing developments at the facility
available supports, especially if there’s a desire to transfer a resident to the family home
residents’ health and wellbeing.

The Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) and ADA Australia can help you support residents and their families, and give them a voice during a COVID‑19 outbreak or lockdown, by sharing proven strategies and communication tools with you.

About OPAN and ADA Australia

OPAN is funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health. Our role is to deliver services through a network of service delivery organisations (SDOs) based in the states and territories. In Queensland, the SDO is ADA Australia. ADA Australia provides free, confidential, independent aged care advocacy and information to older people receiving Commonwealth-funded aged care services, their families and representatives.

Email covid@opan.com.au for your contacts at ADA Australia.

COVID-19 Communications Toolkit

You can access fact sheets, letters, posters, videos, scripts and postcards. Some items include text you can adapt.

A4 fact sheets

	COVID-19 checklist to plan your communication A checklist for providers to help you get an effective communications plan in place to support residents and their families.
	Free COVID-19 resources and proven strategies to support RACF residents and their families during an outbreak A rundown of the information on this webpage, plus some proven strategies your RACF should put in place.
	Requirements for bringing loved ones home during COVID 19 Information for families wishing to take a resident out of your residential aged care facility.
	Talking to family members if residents or staff in your facility have tested positive for COVID-19 Phone scripts that providers can use to help them reassure and inform residents’ family members during a COVID-19 outbreak, plus the most frequently asked questions you’ll need to answer.

Mailings and handouts

You may have noticed some changes around here

A5 postcard that residents can take to their room. You could also place it on their meal trays so they receive it when they have their meals. It explains facility lockdown and what residents can do if they’re worried.

A3 posters

You may have noticed some changes around here

Explains facility changes and restrictions to residents and what they can do if they’re worried.

Videos

	RACF outbreak explainer video (English) Dr Norman Swan explains facility changes and restrictions to residents. Closed captions in English.
	RACF outbreak explainer video (Greek) Dr Norman Swan explains facility changes and restrictions to residents. Closed captions in Greek.
	RACF outbreak explainer video (Italian) Dr Norman Swan explains facility changes and restrictions to residents. Closed captions in Italian.
	RACF outbreak explainer video (Vietnamese) Dr Norman Swan explains facility changes and restrictions to residents. Closed captions in Vietnamese.
	RACF outbreak explainer video (Chinese) Dr Norman Swan explains facility changes and restrictions to residents. Closed captions in Chinese (Simplified).
	Advocacy explainer video Dr Norman Swan introduces older persons advocacy.

	Older Persons COVID-19 Support Line info video (English) Dr Norman Swan introduces the Support Line. Closed captions in English.
	Older Persons COVID-19 Support Line info video (Greek) Dr Norman Swan introduces the Support Line. Closed captions in Greek.
	Older Persons COVID-19 Support Line info video (Italian) Dr Norman Swan introduces the Support Line. Closed captions in Italian.
	Older Persons COVID-19 Support Line info video (Vietnamese) Dr Norman Swan introduces the Support Line. Closed captions in Vietnamese.
	Older Persons COVID-19 Support Line info video (Chinese) Dr Norman Swan introduces the Support Line. Closed captions in Chinese (Simplified).