Hello NurseWatch Family, Community and New Clients,                   

Welcome to NurseWatch Healthcare.  I hope this finds you and your loved ones safe and in good health. Please take a couple of minutes to read our COVID-19 information announcement.

Our purpose at NurseWatch is to care for people and allow them to be their best. It is that simple, and it is the centre of everything we do. With the recent unsettling times, NurseWatch looks into the future and towards COVID-19 (coronavirus) management and recovery. 

NurseWatch wants to help you experience the joy of our holistic health care with a stronger presence on safety and wellbeing. We have taken comprehensive measures to implement guidelines as directed by the Australian Government Department of Health Guidelines. 

If you are a new client we respectfully request you to follow our 5 step process:

1. Download the COVid-19 App

The Australian Government has released an app to help in contact tracing people who may have been exposed to COVID-19. The COVIDSafe app helps find close contacts of COVID-19 cases by utilising your smartphone’s Bluetooth capabilities to determine whether you have been in close physical contact with someone who has tested positive to COVID-19. COVIDSafe is completely voluntary.

2. Read and understand the Public Health Order, ‘What you Must Do Under New Coronavirus Rules’, dated 6 July 2020: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/diseases/Documents/easy-read-pho-directions.pdf

3. If you feel unwell, please click on the symptom checker tool link below and follow the prompts:  

• https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/symptom-checker/tool 

4. The latest Australian Government Information: As socially responsible citizens, it is important that we keep abreast of the daily updates of each respective state. The link below provides current updates. 

•https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert/coronavirus-covid-19-current-situation-and-case-numbers

5. Welcoming New Clients to join the NurseWatch Community. 

 Please contact our office on 02-9331 3344 to book a health consultation with one of our Health Concierge Clinicians. 

NURSEWATCH HEALTHCARE RESOURCES

All resources supplied are available in different languages, however, are defaulted to English. Please follow prompts on website to preferred language

To assist you please refer to government links below:

• Older Persons COVID-19 Support Line Phone 1800 171 866 open 8.30 am - 6.00pm weekdays (AEST) free of charge.  Supported by COTA, Dementia Australia, National Seniors Australia,  OPAN and the Australian Government Department of Health   https://www.facebook.com/opanaus/videos/704485933707079/

• General Information: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/collections/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-resources

• Advice for people who are at greater risk:  risk: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/collections/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-resources  

• Understanding COVID-19: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtN-goy9VOY&feature=youtu.be

• Understanding the difference between a Pandemic, Epidemic-endemic and an Outbreak: https://intermountainhealthcare.org/blogs/topics/live-well/2020/04/whats-the-difference-between-a-pandemic-an-epidemic-endemic-and-an-outbreak/

• WHO (World Health Organisation) Information: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019 & https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters

EXISTING CLIENTS:

For our existing clients, your Health Concierge Clinician has been in touch to discuss your personalised healthcare journey through COVID-19, with NurseWatch practice of policy and procedure recommendations guided by the Australian Government.

As each of our client’s healthcare journey is individual, please find below information and resources.

YOUR WELLBEING:

Throughout the COVID-19 recovery phase and beyond, NurseWatch will continue to provide and manage your individual care needs, safety and wellbeing. Your holistic healthcare will continue to be provided through our premium services and LiveitUp® Model of Care.

If you require further information regarding our COVID-19 approach, please refer to Beyond Blue website and ’10 Ways to Look After Yourself’. An excellent resource.

• Beyond Blue Telephone: 1800 512 348

• https://coronavirus.beyondblue.org.au/managing-my-daily-life/coping-with-isolation-and-being-at-home/10-ways-to-take-care-of-yourself.html

NURSEWATCH HEALTHCARE COMMUNITY:  

For our LGBTI Community:

• https://www.acon.org.au/what-we-are-here-for/covid19/

Positive Life NSW – Getting practical about COVID-19 and HIV:https://www.positivelife.org.au/latest-news/covid19-resources.html

• Or phone (02) 9206 2000 or 1800 063 060 for confidential counselling

ACON/naphwa/ashm/afao: Making sense of COVID-19 – LGBTIQ and HIV communities:https://www.acon.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/AFAO-NAPWHA-ASHM-Fact-Sheet-COVID-19-9-March-2020_ACON.pdf

For our Trans and gender diverse people:

TransHub – Australia’s first digital information/resource platform for trans and gender diverse people in NSW, their families, and health providers. Created by trans people, for trans people. This is their COVID-19 specific information: https://www.transhub.org.au/covid19

For our Cognitive Impairment Community:  

• https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/our-work/cognitive-impairment/cognitive-impairment-and-covid-19

Dementia :

Dementia Australia – Coronavirus – tips for people living with dementia:  https://www.dementia.org.au/sites/default/files/helpsheets/DA_COVID19_Helpsheet_04_PLWD-v2.pdf

For our Community languages/CALD community:

https://www.sbs.com.au/language/coronavirus

Disability : Disability Information Helpline: 1800 643 787 

Council for Intellectual Disability – Easy-read coronavirus information:https://cid.org.au/covid-19/

Australian Department of Health – information for family, carers and health workers supporting people with disability during the COVID-19 pandemic:https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert/advice-for-people-at-risk-of-coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-people-with-disability

The Growing Space – COVID-19 hub: www.thegrowingspace.com.au/covid19/

For our Carers:

CarerHelp – COVID-19 information and resources for carers: factsheets and infographics with practical information, pointers, and resources. The resources discuss how to care for a person at home and hospital, as well as arranging funerals and managing grief. Pointers on using telehealth to consult with a health professional, and selecting trustworthy online information are also presented:https://www.carerhelp.com.au/tabid/6001/Default.aspx

For our Families:

Health Consumers NSW have developed a guide to support families when visiting their loved one.

https://www.hcnsw.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/August-2020-PRINT-AT-HOME-Visiting-Guide_Family-presence-in-a-COVID-19-normal-world-1.pdf

Wearing Masks:

Wear a mask if it is hard to maintain 1.5 metres of physical distance from others. Also wear a mask if you have symptoms and are seeking medical advice, or if you are in isolation in the same room as another person.

Video produced by the Australian Department of Health 

https://publish.viostream.com/play/bfxgwognhhfmnn

https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/face-masks?mc_cid=76d9c3ba0a&mc_eid=%5bUNIQID%5d

Mask Wearing Fact Sheet:

https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/publications-and-resources/resource-library/covid-19-and-face-masks-information-consumers?mc_cid=76d9c3ba0a&mc_eid=%5bUNIQID%5d

Masks are increasingly being recommended within Australia as well as globally. In some areas they are now mandatory. But it is important to understand why many of us with trauma histories may be triggered when we are asked to wear a mask, or even when we see them. An excellent resource.

https://www.blueknot.org.au/Resources/Fact-Sheets/face-masks-and-complex-trauma

INFORMATION FOR SPECIFIC HEALTH CONDITIONS:

Cancer

Cancer Council NSW – Cancer and COVID-19 hub:https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/get-support/covid-19/

Bowel Cancer Australia – COVID-19 & Bowel Cancer:https://www.bowelcanceraustralia.org/media-centre/covid-19-bowel-cancer

American Prostate Cancer Foundation: https://www.pcf.org/covid-19/

Kidney health

Kidney Health Australia – COVID-19 and dialysis, transplants etc:https://kidney.org.au/about-us/news/coronavirus-covid-19

Palliative Care:

COVID-19 Resources for Carers; Information for anyone caring for a person at end of life during COVID-19 pandemic – factsheets:https://www.carerhelp.com.au/tabid/6001/Default.aspx

Heart disease

Australian Heart Foundation – COVID-19 and heart disease, all you need to know:https://campaigns.heartfoundation.org.au/covid-19/

Australian Heart Research Institute – COVID-19 and heart health:www.hri.org.au/health/your-health/lifestyle/covid-19-and-heart-health

Smoking

iCanQuit – COVID-19 and smoking FAQ:www.icanquit.com.au/reasons-to-quit/covid-19-and-tobacco-smoking-faq

IF YOU ARE THINKING OF REMOVING YOUR LOVED ONE FROM THEIR PRESENT HOME IN A RESIDENTIAL AGED CARE FACILITY

We are happy to assist.  Although we highly recommend you listen to OPAN Older Person's Advocacy Network webinair before making your final decision in consultation with your loved one.

https://opan.com.au/covid-19-things-to-consider-if-youre-thinking-about-moving-out-of-an-aged-care-home/

If you would like to review the slides, please click on the link below

https://opan.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/OPAN-C19-W14-Graphics-190820.-HiRespdf.pdf

We understand that COVID-19 has created uncertainty in aged care and that you may think it appropriate to take your loved one out of their aged care home. If you or someone you know needs assistance or is considering this, call OPAN on 1800 700 600.

NURSEWATCH HEALTHCARE CUSTOMER ENQUIRIES:  

• NurseWatch Healthcare front, middle and back office staff are working in ways that support social distancing. https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2020/03/coronavirus-covid-19-information-on-social-distancing.pdf. Due to the change in our working environment, we respectfully request that you are patient with your inquiries. If there is an emergency, please phone 000.

• NurseWatch Healthcare  staff are working in ways to keep ourselves, colleagues, community, and clients safe. Our staff are 100% compliant with ISO 9001:2016 regulatory requirements.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me on +61448 885 201.

On behalf of our NurseWatch Healthcare family thank you for your support. 

Kind regards

Kate Spurway, CEO

YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME AT NURSEWATCH HEALTHCARE