Visiting aged care and vulnerable people
How to stay COVID safe when visiting aged care facilities and people who are older, have a compromised immune system or chronic medical condition.
Before you visit
Visitors, residents and staff should read the NSW Health advice for residential aged care facilities and disability care facilities. You should also contact the facility to check current arrangements.
If you are a household or close contact of someone who has COVID-19, you must not visit high-risk settings (healthcare, aged care, disability care or correctional facilities) unless you require care yourself, or you have permission from the facility to visit in exceptional circumstances (e.g. end of life visits).
To help protect those in the facility, you should consider using a rapid antigen test before entering a high risk setting.
Anyone who tests positive using a rapid antigen test must register their test result.
Visiting residential aged or disability care
There are steps you can take to keep people safe if you visit residential aged care or residential disability care facilities:
- take a rapid antigen test before visiting to ensure you are not spreading COVID-19
- you must wear a mask in high risk settings like aged care, disability care, correctional facilities or healthcare
- do not visit if you have any cold or flu-like symptoms, including;
- fever (37.5C or higher)
- cough
- sore or scratchy throat
- shortness of breath
- runny nose
- loss of smell or
- loss of taste
- frequently wash your hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds with soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand rub
- cover your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing with tissue or a flexed elbow
- maintain physical distancing
- stay up to date with your vaccinations, including COVID-19 and flu vaccinations.
Information and services on COVID-19
Explore the support services and information available to people who are vulnerable and their carers.
Other services
- Carer Gateway - practical information about for people who care for someone
- Carers NSW supports all carers across the state
- COVID-19 advice for seniors
- National Disability Insurance Scheme - COVID-19 information and support
- Department of Communities and Justice seniors, people with disability and carers
Phone contacts
National Coronavirus Helpline1800 02 00 80 (operates 24/7) for information on COVID-19.
Coronavirus Disability Information Helpline1800 643 787
Older Persons COVID-19 Support Line 1800 17 18 66 (Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 6pm) provides information and support to senior Australians, their families and carers.
Ageing and Disability Abuse Helpline 1800 62 82 21 if you have any concerns about abuse, neglect or exploitation.