Reply To: Routine Mask Wearing in Aged Care Facilities – Current Practices & Impact

Hi Peggy

We don’t routinely wear masks in the homes unless there is a Moderate to high level of infection in the community around that home, then we may introduce it for a short period.

If we get an outbreak we wear the appropriate masks in the affected area and then surgical masks in the rest of the home until the outbreak is declared over, then continue to wear surgical again if the level of infection in the community around the home is moderate to high.

Its all about Risk assessment. Our residents seem to understand why we are wearing them, our staff want to protect themselves and the residents. We try to minimize the wearing of masks as much as possible.

Hope this helps