Independent Living Residents

COVID-19 update: village protocols under the Orange traffic light setting, effective from 30 December 2021

In preparation for Auckland moving to the Orange traffic light setting at 11:59pm on 30 December 2021, we wish to clarify the COVID-specific protocols and requirements that will be in place from 31 December 2021.

We would like to thank all residents and their intended visitors in advance for their assistance in complying with these important measures, which have the safety and wellbeing of our residents at heart and are there to protect us all as much as possible from the ongoing COVID threat.

As always, all residents – regardless of vaccination status – will be requested to stay in their units if they display any symptoms of colds, flu or COVID-19, and to follow public health advice. Face coverings will continue to be mandatory for everyone and are to be worn on all van trips / buggy rides and in common areas of the village, including in the café, shops, library, etc (but will not be required in the swimming pool area or for those with a medical exemption). Please would everyone maintain a one metre distance from others outside of their own unit. Unvaccinated residents are kindly asked to consider not mingling with other residents at all indoors.

In terms of visiting/using the various village amenities, residents will no longer need to book in advance. Please do observe all the COVID-specific health and safety controls that are displayed at each facility. Any social gatherings taking place under the Orange setting must comply with the traffic light framework, ie, unlimited attendees for those with vaccine passes and ideally with one metre distancing, and up to fifty people without vaccine passes but also with one metre distancing.

Residents can continue to receive takeaways and other deliveries, which are to be made to main reception for residents to collect. Please note that our site safety officers will be standing down once we move to Orange, their last day of service being 30 December 2021.

Visitors
It is our strong preference that all visitors to our village are fully vaccinated; residents are therefore recommended to only allow vaccinated visitors onto the site.

• If entering an apartment building or common areas, visitors must scan in using the QR code and sign into the Visitor Management System (this includes questions about vaccination status and symptoms). If visitors are only entering a villa, they will just need to scan the QR code (otherwise, if accessing other areas of the village accompanied by the resident, they should sign into the Visitor Management System).
• Visitors’ vaccine passes will be checked at reception when they sign into the Visitor Management System.
• Visitors must be accompanied by the resident elsewhere on the village.
• Vaccinated visitors are required to wear a face covering in communal areas – allowance will be made for medical exemptions.
• Unvaccinated visitors (aged 12+, and aged 5+ once children aged 5 – 12 are able to be vaccinated) will not be permitted to enter indoor common areas and must observe two metre distancing from everyone other than the resident they are visiting.
• Unvaccinated visitors must wear a face covering at all times, with the exception of those with medical exemption and children aged five and under.

Volunteers
All new and existing volunteers will be required to be vaccinated in accordance with the Government mandate for the Health and Disability sector. They will be permitted into the village and independent living units provided they use the Visitor Management system, scan in using the QR code, provide proof of vaccination and follow the recommended hand hygiene, etc, protocols.

• Volunteers will be permitted to enter the communal resident areas of the village, including the café, shops, arts and craft room, theatre, library, etc.
• They will be permitted to take independent living residents on van trips/outings, buggy/tricycle rides, etc.
• Masks are to be worn at all times.
• Volunteers will be required to maintain physical distancing of one metre when practicable.

Staff
Our staff will continue to wear a face covering, to be temperature checked, and to complete the staff health declaration form before starting each shift. Residents and staff are to maintain physical distancing of one metre when practicable.

Chaplains
Our chaplains’ interactions with independent living residents may be face-to-face if the resident is vaccinated, with masks to be worn and distancing of one metre. If the resident is unvaccinated, the preferred option will be contact online or by phone; visits can occur outside, with distancing of two meters and masks worn by the resident and the chaplain.

Independent living gatherings for worship will be undertaken in accordance with Government guidance on worship gatherings and guidance issued by the Diocese (ie, unlimited worshippers for those with vaccine passes, and only fifty people without vaccine passes).

Care Homes
Visiting in the care homes will continue to take place between specific hours and in compliance with our strict infection prevention controls. Two people will be able to visit per appointment (if visiting indoors), and four if visiting outdoors. Social leave with loved ones outside the care home will be permitted, with a declaration from family as to the actions they will take to protect the resident from any possible COVID risk whilst they are away.

As we approach this new COVID traffic light setting, we thank everyone again for their assistance in observing the above protocols as we work to minimise any potential risk to our village community during this ongoing pandemic.

Updates to our COVID-19 visiting protocols under the Red traffic light setting

We have taken the opportunity to further review our visiting arrangements under the Red traffic light setting, based on new guidelines that have now been issued by the Retirement Villages Association.

Whilst our visiting and health and safety protocols remain as previously advised, I would highlight the following updates:

• Unvaccinated residents are requested not to visit the homes of independent living residents who are vaccinated. We acknowledge that the village management team will be unable to control or monitor this, but we appeal to the resident body to endeavour to uphold the principle as much as possible, in order to minimise any potential risk to our village community.
  
  
• We wish to reiterate that children under 12 are not permitted to come into the village (because they are unable to be vaccinated at this stage), other than in compassionate circumstances and with the approval of village management. We realised that this restriction would be disappointing to many residents, so have purposely sought feedback from your Resident Committee on this point. The Committee has overwhelmingly supported our stance, observing that – as children are currently contracting COVID-19 – it is important to maintain this restriction for the good of all and in order to prevent even more stringent controls that would be necessary if the virus were to find its way into our village.
  
  
• The Resident Committee has similarly endorsed the restriction on unvaccinated visitors (including children aged 12+), who are not permitted to enter the village except on compassionate grounds and in consultation with village management.
  
  
• Vaccinated visitors are permitted on site and must wear a mask at all times until they enter the resident’s unit; they are not permitted to enter the communal resident areas. We ask that all visitors to the apartments sign into the Visitor Management System and be ready to show proof of their vaccination status if requested. Given the physical layout of the village with multiple access points, we recognise that compliance with this requirement may be an issue. Again, we would seek residents’ cooperation in helping to ensure that unvaccinated visitors do not come into the village and that all visitors respect and comply with all our precautionary measures, which are designed to reduce any possible risk of COVID-19 breaching our safe village environment.

We are seeking to implement rapid antigen tests (front of nose swab) as quickly as possible as a screening tool. Once available, any vaccinated visitor who is deemed to present a higher risk, as result of their responses to the screening questions in the Visitor Management System, will be asked to undergo a rapid antigen test on-site and will need to return a negative result before they can enter the village.

We will be easing our care home visiting restrictions; normal visiting will be resuming between certain visiting hours and by appointment only, but in compliance with our strict infection prevention controls (we have lifted the ‘visiting on compassionate grounds only’ restriction). Visiting is to be limited to two visitors per appointment if visiting indoors, and four if visiting outside. With the Christmas and summer holidays approaching, residents will now also be able to leave the care home and village to enjoy social visits with loved ones, providing family members undertake to minimise any possible COVID risk to the resident whilst they are away. Once they become available, the rapid antigen tests will also be used to screen returning care residents, as well as care home visitors who represent a higher risk of COVID-19 as identified through the Visitor Management System, and with all unvaccinated visitors.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we have worked through the latest set of guidelines to ensure that our residents continue to be as safe as possible whilst enjoying increased contact with their family and friends.

As you know, New Zealand has transitioned to the new COVID-19 Protection Framework (the traffic light system). We have reviewed our village visiting restrictions and other health and safety protocols in readiness for both Red and Orange settings and these are outlined below. 

All Villages: getting ready for the new ‘traffic light’ system

We’d like to thank all our residents for their ongoing assistance and cooperation with our important health and safety protocols which are continuing to keep COVID-19 at bay. Unfortunately, the virus seems to have established itself in Auckland now and is creeping down the North Island. There are more community cases being confirmed every day, so all the more reason for everyone to make sure they’re fully vaccinated – and encourage family and friends to get their two doses at their earliest opportunity, too.

The Foundation’s Crisis Management Team will be reviewing our visitor and general protocols for independent living in relation to the new ‘traffic light’ system which will come into force as per the Government’s recently launched COVID-19 Protection Framework. As a priority, we’ll also be reviewing when our external Wellness Centre practitioners might be able to return to our villages (residents are reminded that exemptions can currently be made for any essential treatment that may be required). 

At all levels in the new system, people who’ve been vaccinated will be able to enjoy all events, hospitality and gatherings by showing a vaccine certificate, so it’ll be important that everyone can prove that they’re ‘double jabbed’ (although you won’t need a vaccination certificate to access supermarkets, pharmacies, health services and petrol stations).

From the end of November, digital vaccination certificates will be available. These will include a QR code which you can print or save to your phone. There’ll be options available for those who don’t have a smartphone or access to a computer. You may be required to show this as proof of vaccination in a range of public settings, as businesses, events, organisations, community and a range of sectors may legally choose to implement a vaccination entry requirement for customers. There’ll be an exemption process for the small number of people can’t get a vaccination for medical reasons.

You can read more about digital vaccination certificates at: covid19.govt.nz/covid-19-vaccines/getting-proof-of-your-vaccination/. In the meantime, you might wish to register with the Ministry of Health’s ‘My Covid Record’ website and create an account to access your vaccination details: mycovidrecord.health.nz/vaccination-records. This information will most probably link to the new vaccination passports and any future mobile apps developed by businesses to check people’s vaccination status, so best to make sure your details are accurately recorded.

We’d like to emphasise to residents that, until the new traffic light system comes into effect and the Foundation has revised its protocols to enable resident and staff safety in the new COVID environment, all our existing visiting restrictions, screening controls, and health and safety precautions will remain in place. Therefore, your (and your families’) continued compliance with these will be greatly appreciated and will help keep our village safe whilst COVID is all around.

As always, we’ll update you on any new procedures as soon as we’re in a position to do so. Until then, our latest advice continues to be available here on our website.

Selwyn Park - Our village is now closed to visitors until further notice, due to confirmed cases in Northland

We have been advised by the District Health Board this afternoon of two confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Northland. We have therefore reintroduced our Selwyn Level 3 restrictions for our village and care home with immediate effect. This means, unfortunately, that we are now closed to visiting family members and other contacts from the external community for the foreseeable future.

We request that independent living residents advise family, friends or other prospective visitors who live in the wider community that they should not come to the village until further notice. Deliveries of food or other essential items from outside the village can be left at Reception.

All communal amenities will now be closed. Shopping trips and activities will also be suspended, as well as any services that are usually provided by external contractors. Access to the village will be restricted to essential staff and to contractors required for urgent maintenance and repairs. Any emergency health and safety work will proceed, but under agreed COVID-19 protocols.

We would encourage you to reduce your travel outside the village and stay at home as much as possible, but if you do have to leave your unit, please remember all the key safety precautions: wear a mask, scan wherever you go (or sign the register at the venue you’re visiting), maintain a physical distance from others, wash your hands on your return, etc. It’s essential that we are all now very careful and keep up our guard at this time.

We apologise for the short notice, but keeping all our residents safe and our village free of infection must be our priority whilst there’s a renewed risk of community transmission of the highly contagious Delta variant.

This is an important reminder that it is imperative for everyone who is eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible – for their own health and for those they care about. To see a list of vaccination clinics in Northland, go to the HealthPoint website. No appointment is required, but if anyone wants to make an appointment they can book via Book My Vaccine. Going forward, it will be preferable that your visitors have been vaccinated, for their own sake as well as for yours, and to protect all who live in our village.   

If any residents require particular support or help as a result, please contact us and we’ll provide every possible assistance.

Selwyn Villages continue at their current restrictions.

Further to the Government’s announcement yesterday of no changes to current Alert Levels, we would like to remind residents and family members that, at this point, visiting restrictions remain in place for Auckland, Whangarei and Waikato villages. Please see the updates below for the specific details on these restrictions.

Thank you for your ongoing support at this time, we will provide another update when the Government changes Alert Levels. If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact your Village Manager.

Please click on the headings below to find the latest updates for Selwyn Village, Selwyn Heights and Selwyn Oaks in Auckland, and Selwyn Park in Whangarei.

Clearly we are all disappointed with the announcement today with ongoing Alert level 3 lockdown in Auckland, (albeit a 3-step plan).

We are acutely aware of the pressures on families and residents of being apart from loved ones for such a prolonged period.  Unfortunately, however, Selwyn villages in Auckland will remain closed to all visitors until we receive the detail of the 3-step plan from Public Health. As soon as we have the detail from the Government, we will advise you of Selwyn’s approach.

Our Waikato villages remain at Alert Level 3 with no visitors as communicated yesterday.

Restrictions for Selwyn Wilson Carlile and Selwyn St Andrew's

Following the news this morning that two positive cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the Waikato – including in Hamilton – we regret to inform you that our villages and care homes in Hamilton and Cambridge have now reintroduced our Selwyn Level 3 restrictions. This means, unfortunately, that we are now closed to visiting family members and other contacts from the external community for the foreseeable future.

We request that independent living residents advise family, friends or other prospective visitors who live in the wider community that they should not come to the village until further notice. Deliveries of food or other essential items from outside the village can be left at Reception.

All communal amenities will now be closed. Shopping trips and activities will also be suspended, as well as any services that are usually provided by external contractors. Access to the village will be restricted to essential staff and to contractors required for urgent maintenance and repairs. Any emergency health and safety work will proceed, but under agreed COVID-19 protocols.

We would encourage you to reduce your travel outside the village and stay at home as much as possible, but if you do have to leave your unit, please remember all the key safety precautions: wear a mask, scan wherever you go (or sign the register at the venue you’re visiting), maintain a physical distance from others, wash your hands on your return, etc. It’s essential that we are all now very careful and keep up our guard at this time.

We know that you will be disappointed at this news, but keeping all our residents safe and our village free of infection must be our priority whilst there’s a renewed risk of community transmission of the highly contagious Delta variant.

If any residents require particular support or help as a result, please contact us and we’ll provide every possible assistance.

Stay safe.

Waikato Villages: Selwyn Wilson Carlile and Selwyn St Andrew's will open to visitors again from tomorrow, 25 September 2021

As testing has confirmed that COVID-19 has not spread in Waikato’s Upper Hauraki, we are pleased to inform you that we will be able to open our Waikato villages to visitors again on a restricted basis from tomorrow as per our Selwyn Alert Level 2 protocols.

There will be a precautionary re-opening of village amenities, and independent living residents will be able to receive visitors – however, we request that this is limited to close family and friends and to no more than two visitors at the same time. Please remember to record visitors to your apartment/villa using the Health Declaration Form, and visitors should scan the NZ COVID Tracer QR code displayed. They should also wear a mask whilst in the public areas.

Our care homes will also move to Selwyn Alert Level 2 from midday tomorrow, with restricted visiting (up to three designated visitors per resident and only one person visiting at a time, with appointments booked in advance).

Whilst there’s still a risk of community transmission generally, residents must continue to be careful, stay vigilant and keep up the good work with mask wearing, physical distancing, scanning wherever you go, etc. If you start to develop cold, flu or COVID-19 symptoms, call your doctor or Healthline on 0800 358 5453 to see about having a test.

We also encourage all our residents and everyone who is eligible to ensure they receive their vaccination. Going forward, it will be preferable that all visitors to our village are vaccinated, to protect our vulnerable community. If you or any of your friends or family members have yet to get the vaccine, appointments can be booked now via www.bookmyvaccine.COVID19.health.nz, email booking@vaccine.COVID19.health.nz, or ring the COVID-19 Vaccination Healthline on 0800 28 29 26. Your GP or pharmacy may also be offering vaccinations.

As always, thank you to our resident community for your assistance and cooperation with our important health and safety measures and for doing everything possible to keep yourselves safe from contracting the virus.

Auckland remains at Alert Level 4, while the rest of the country continues at Alert Level 2 until Tuesday, 21 September 2021.

Selwyn has always taken a conservative approach to the risks associated with COVID-19 and while there is still a heightened risk of community transmissions, and more so now with this highly contagious Delta variant.

Click on the headings below to find more information on village Alert Levels.

The Government announced today that Auckland would remain at Alert Level 4, while the rest of the country would drop to Alert Level 2 from 11:59pm Tuesday, 7 September 2021.

Selwyn has always taken a conservative approach to the risks associated with COVID-19 and while there is still a heightened risk of community transmissions, and more so now with this highly contagious Delta variant, our villages will stay one level above the Govt Alert levels.

Click on the headings below to find more information on village Alert Levels.

All Selwyn villages remain closed to visitors until cabinet meets again on Monday 6 September 2021

Despite the Government’s announcement that New Zealand, south of Auckland and now Northland have dropped to Alert Level 3, all Selwyn villages and care homes will remain closed until cabinet meets again on Monday 6 September 2021.

Selwyn has always taken a conservative approach to the risks associated with COVID-19 and with community cases still across various regions, we will stay one level above the Govt Alert levels.

Whilst there’s still a heightened risk of community transmission the protection of our residents and staff, remains our priority. Unfortunately this means that our care homes remain closed to all visitors – with the exception of close family whose relative may be approaching end-of-life. If this affects any independent living resident whose loved one is living in residential care, and you would like to discuss how this applies in your particular situation, please contact your Care Manager

Please continue to self-isolate at home, limit physical contact with family, friends and others who live in the wider community as much as possible. If you do have to leave your unit, we ask that you respect the importance of exercising physical distancing from others, as much as is practical, and wearing face masks.

We encourage you as we do our staff, to visit the Ministry of Health site daily, to view the current locations of interest.

Just to remind you, all village shops, chapels, libraries, cafes, recreational facilities remain closed and all trips and activities suspended until further notice. Access to villages continues to be restricted to essential staff and to contractors required for urgent maintenance and repairs.

Should you require particular support or help as a result of this latest announcement, please do not hesitate to contact your village management team and they’ll provide every assistance possible.

Thank you for your ongoing support and patience as we continue to monitor developments.

All Selwyn villages will remain closed to visitors until cabinet meets again on Monday 6 September 2021

Despite the Government’s announcement that New Zealand, south of Auckland will drop to Alert Level 3 at midnight tomorrow night, 31 August 2021, all Selwyn villages and care homes will remain closed until cabinet meets again on Monday 6 September 2021.

Selwyn has always taken a conservative approach to the risks associated with COVID-19 and with community cases still across various regions, we will stay one level above the Govt Alert levels.

Whilst there’s still a heightened risk of community transmission the protection of our residents and staff, remains our priority. Unfortunately this means that our care homes remain closed to all visitors – with the exception of close family whose relative may be approaching end-of-life. If this affects any independent living resident whose loved one is living in residential care, and you would like to discuss how this applies in your particular situation, please contact your Care Manager

Please continue to self-isolate at home, limit physical contact with family, friends and others who live in the wider community as much as possible. If you do have to leave your unit, we ask that you respect the importance of exercising physical distancing from others, as much as is practical, and wearing face masks.

We encourage you as we do our staff, to visit the Ministry of Health site daily, to view the current locations of interest.

Just to remind you, all village shops, chapels, libraries, cafes, recreational facilities remain closed and all trips and activities suspended until further notice. Access to villages continues to be restricted to essential staff and to contractors required for urgent maintenance and repairs.

Should you require particular support or help as a result of this latest announcement, please do not hesitate to contact your village management team and they’ll provide every assistance possible.

Thank you for your ongoing support and patience as we continue to monitor developments.

All Selwyn villages will remain closed to visitors beyond Tuesday, 31 August 2021

Despite the Government’s announcement that New Zealand, south of Auckland may drop to Level 3 at midnight Tuesday, 31 August 2021, all Selwyn villages and care homes will still remain closed to family members, other visitors, volunteers, and non-essential personnel/contractors until further notice.

With a COVID-19 case identified in a rest home in Warkworth, we simply can’t run the risk of COVID-19 infiltrating our villages. Whilst there’s still a heightened risk of community transmission the protection of all who reside and work in our villages, remains our priority.

Our care homes remain closed to all visitors – with the exception of close family whose relative may be approaching end-of-life. If this affects any independent living resident whose loved one is living in residential care, and you would like to discuss how this applies in your particular situation, please contact your Care Manager.

Please continue to self-isolate at home, limit physical contact with family, friends and others who live in the wider community as much as possible. If you do have to leave your unit, we ask that you respect the importance of exercising physical distancing from others, as much as is practical, and wearing face masks.

We encourage you as we do our staff, to visit the Ministry of Health site daily, to view the current locations of interest.

Just to remind you, all village shops, chapels, libraries, cafes, recreational facilities remain closed and all trips and activities suspended until further notice. Access to villages continues to be restricted to essential staff and to contractors required for urgent maintenance and repairs.

Should you require particular support or help as a result of this latest announcement, please do not hesitate to contact your village management team and they’ll provide every assistance possible.

We thank you for your ongoing support and patience.

COVID Alert Level 4 lockdown - All Selwyn villages remain closed to visitors until further notice

The Government announced today that New Zealand will remain at COVID-19 Alert Level 4 until Friday, 27 August and Auckland until Tuesday, 31 August 2021.

All Selwyn villages and care homes remain closed to family members, other visitors, volunteers, and non-essential personnel/contractors until further notice.

As in the past, Selwyn alert levels have lagged the Governments, and we will continue this in order to keep all those in our care as safe as possible. We thank you in advance for your support and patience.

We encourage our independent living residents to continue to self-isolate at home, limit physical contact with family, friends and others who live in the wider community as much as possible. If you do have to leave your unit, please respect the importance of exercising physical distancing from others, as much as is practical, and wearing face masks.

With the mounting number of COVID cases, we also encourage you to visit the Ministry of Health site daily, to view the current locations of interest

As a reminder, the following precautionary measures continue to be place:

• Mini-marts and shops remain closed.
• Where applicable medical centres remain open; GPs will continue to provide a service into the care homes and will be offering phone consultations to independent living residents.
• Chapels remain closed.
• All shopping trips continue to be suspended.
• All activities continue to be suspended.
• Where available, cafes, pools and gyms (including the Strength and Wellness studios) remain closed.
• Libraries remain closed.
• Wellness centre services, including hairdressing, continue to be suspended.
• A Site Safety Officer remains posted at the main entrance of Selwyn Village and Selwyn Heights.

Access to villages continues to be restricted to essential staff and to contractors required for urgent maintenance and repairs.

Our care homes remain closed to all visitors – with the exception of close family whose relative may be approaching end-of-life. If this affects any independent living resident whose loved one is living in residential care, and you would like to discuss how this applies in your particular situation, please contact your Care Manager.

We continue to monitor developments and will be in touch if anything changes. In the meantime, if you wish to keep up-to-date with the latest situation nationally, the Government websites are the only reliable sources of information, with accurate detail available at: covid19.govt.nz and health.govt.nz including locations of concern.

Should you require particular support or help as a result of this latest announcement, please do not hesitate to contact your village management team and they’ll provide every assistance possible.

Keep safe.

COVID Alert Level 4 lockdown - All Selwyn villages closed to visitors until further notice

The Government announced today that New Zealand will enter COVID-19 Alert Level 4 from 11.59pm this evening for a minimum of three days and seven days for Auckland and Coromandel. Due to the increased risk of community transmission we have now closed all Selwyn villages and care homes to family members, other visitors, volunteers, and non-essential personnel/contractors.

We encourage our independent living residents to self-isolate at home, limit physical contact with family, friends and others who live in the wider community as much as possible. If you do have to leave your unit, please respect the importance of exercising physical distancing from others, as much as is practical, and wearing face masks.

As a reminder, the following precautionary measures will now be place:

• Mini-marts and shops are closed.
• Where applicable medical centres remain open; GPs will continue to provide a service into the care homes and will be offering phone consultations to independent living residents.
• Chapels are closed.
• All shopping trips are suspended.
• All activities are suspended.
• Where available, cafes, pools and gyms (including the Strength and Wellness studios) are closed.
• Libraries are closed.
• Wellness centre services, including hairdressing, are suspended.
• A Site Safety Officer will be posted at the main entrance of Selwyn Village and Selwyn Heights.

Access to villages will be restricted to essential staff and to contractors required for urgent maintenance and repairs. We’ve closed our care homes to all visitors with immediate effect – with the exception of close family whose relative may be approaching end-of-life. If this affects any independent living resident whose loved one is living in residential care, and you would like to discuss how this applies in your particular situation, please contact your Care Manager.

We’ll be monitoring developments and will be in touch if anything changes. In the meantime, if you wish to keep up-to-date with the latest situation nationally, the Government websites are the only reliable sources of information, with accurate detail available at: covid19.govt.nz and health.govt.nz including locations of concern.

Should you require particular support or help as a result of this latest announcement, please do not hesitate to contact your village management team and they’ll provide every assistance possible.
Stay safe.

This message was reviewed 20 August 2021 and our villages still remain closed until further notice.

Added COVID safety precautions to be taken for visitors returning from Australia

Due to a growing number of COVID-19 cases across Australia, it has been announced today that quarantine-free travel with all of Australia will be paused for at least eight weeks from 11.59pm tonight. The Ministry of Health’s assessment of the situation in Australia is that, whilst the health risk to New Zealand is low, it is continuing to increase. COVID-19 cases in various Australian states are predominantly of the highly transmissible Delta variant.

We are therefore adding another layer of protection to safeguard our residents and to reduce any possible risk of the infection entering our village and care environments. Anyone returning from Australia from today - and until the travel bubble is reinstated - is asked not to visit any of our retirement villages or care homes until 14 days after their arrival in New Zealand and/or 14 days after they leave a managed isolation or quarantine (MIQ) facility.

This applies only to those who are returning from any state in Australia from today (23 July) and for the next two months at least. Whilst it does not apply to people who have returned in the last 14 days (prior to today’s announcement) from states that were ‘green’, we would request that these visitors wear a mask at all times when on site.

We will of course consider any exceptional circumstances on a ‘case by case’ basis and certain exemptions may be made on compassionate grounds. In this event, please speak to the village or care manager to make special arrangements, which will also include wearing a mask or other PPE for the duration of the visit.

It’s very good news that all of New Zealand is once again at Alert Level 1. Please see the following updates for Independent Living residents.

The Government announced today that Auckland is to move to Alert Level 2 at 6:00am Sunday morning and the rest of New Zealand to Alert Level 1. This will be revisited in 7 days.  

Independent living services will move to the Govt Alert Levels as noted above at 6:00am Sunday, 7 March 2021. But please remember in line with the NZACA’s established advice, our Care Homes remain at higher levels.

More details below:

Our Auckland villages have returned to Alert Level 4 and are now closed to visitors, while our villages outside Auckland have returned to Alert Level 3 and are restricting visitors.

Further to the Prime Minister’s announcement last night that the Auckland region has moved to COVID Alert Level 3 for a period of seven days from 6.00am this morning, please be advised that we’ve reinstituted our full Level 4 lockdown procedures. Our Auckland villages are now closed to family members, other visitors, volunteers, and non-essential personnel/contractors.

More details below:

Auckland region to join the country at COVID-19 Alert Level 1 from 11.59pm

Following Cabinet’s decision today to move Auckland to COVID Alert Level 1 from midnight tonight, we're pleased to announce that our independent living services will all be at Level 1 status from tomorrow. Please see the drop down list below for information on our villages within Auckland - Selwyn Village, Selwyn Heights and Selwyn Oaks - as well as for our Northland, Waikato and Wellington villages - Selwyn Park, Selwyn Wilson Carlile, Selwyn St Andrew's and Selwyn Sprott.

Auckland region has now moved to COVID-19 Alert Level 2 and the rest of the country to Level 1. Independent living services will move tomorrow to Selwyn Alert Level 2, with a precautionary re-opening of village amenities. 

For more information please see the drop down list below for independent living residents in our Auckland Villages - Selwyn Village, Selwyn Heights and Selwyn Oaks - as well as our Northland, Waikato and Wellington Villages - Selwyn Park, Selwyn Wilson Carlile, Selwyn St Andrew's and Selwyn Sprott.

Selwyn Village, Selwyn Heights and Selwyn Oaks at Alert Level 4 and closed to visitors

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement that Auckland is to move to Level 3 for a period of three days from 11.59pm on Sunday 14 February 2021 until midnight Wednesday 17 February, please be advised that independent living residents are required to move into Level 4 precautions immediately.

Selwyn Village, Selwyn Heights and Selwyn Oaks have now entered full lockdown with no access to family members, other visitors, volunteers, or non-essential personnel/contractors. As with the previous lockdowns, we’re front-footing this crisis to actively manage any risk, and the steps we’re taking go above and beyond the Government guidelines in many instances, in order to reduce any possibility of the virus entering our village community. It’s particularly important that we take this action immediately given the fact that the source of the latest cases is unknown.

We are encouraging our independent living residents to self-isolate at home and limit their physical contact with family, friends and others who live in the wider community as much as possible. If independent living residents do have to leave their unit, we ask that you respect the importance of exercising physical distancing from others, as much as is practical, and wearing face masks.

In our villages, we’re taking the following precautionary measures as before:

• We’ve closed our cafés.
• Independent living residents wishing to order meals from the kitchen should contact us as soon as possible, and we will deliver them to your unit.
• All shops are also closed. Milk, bread and frozen meals will be available for purchase at reception.
• Medical centres remain open; GPs are continuing to provide a service into the care homes and will be offering phone consultations to independent living residents.
• All chapels are closed.
• All shopping trips are suspended.
• All activities are suspended.
• All community facilities, including pools, gyms, Strength and Wellness studios, rec rooms and libraries are closed.
• Wellness centre services, including hairdressing, is suspended.
• Site Safety Officers will be posted at the main entrances to Selwyn Village and Selwyn Heights to inform visitors that the village is closed to external visitors (food deliveries should be left with the Safety Officer for Resident Services to deliver to residents). We ask that items being ordered are for essential use only.
• Access to the villages will be restricted to essential staff and to contractors required for urgent maintenance and repairs.

The Government is to review the Alert Level status every 24 hours and we will keep you advised of any changes to controls at our villages. If you wish to keep up-to-date with the latest situation nationally, the Government websites are the only reliable sources of information. Accurate and timely information can be found at: covid19.govt.nz/ and www.health.govt.nz.

We realise that this will be an anxious time for everyone. If any residents require particular support or help as a result of this latest announcement, please contact the village management team and we will provide every possible assistance.

Selwyn Park, Selwyn Wilson Carlile, Selwyn St Andrew’s and Selwyn Sprott at Alert Level 3 and closed to visitors

As the country has now moved to Level 2 for a period of three days until midnight Wednesday 17 February (with the exception of Auckland which has moved to Level 3), please be advised that we have initiated our Level 3 precautions. Therefore, Selwyn Park, Selwyn Wilson Carlile, Selwyn St Andrew’s and Selwyn Sprott are now closed to visiting family members and other contacts from the external community, as well as to non-essential personnel/contractors and volunteers.

We are encouraging our independent living residents to reduce their travel outside the village as much as possible, and should they need to leave their unit, to exercise physical distancing from others (two metres in public and in retail stores, like supermarkets and clothes shops, and one metre in most other places such as cafes and restaurants).

We also recommend wearing a face covering in situations where physical distancing is not possible, eg, in shops; legally, you must wear a face covering on public transport. Do remember to observe all the infection control hygiene measures, such as washing your hands regularly and coughing or sneezing into your elbow, and keep track of where you’ve been.

If you feel unwell at all, please stay home and do not socialise; should you develop cold, flu or COVID-19 symptoms, call your doctor or Healthline on 0800 358 5453 to get advice about being tested.

In our villages, we’re taking the following precautionary measures:

• We’ve closed our cafés, shops and communal amenities.
• All shopping trips and activities are suspended.
• All services provided by external contractors are suspended, such as hairdressing.
• Access to the village will be restricted to essential staff and to contractors required for urgent maintenance and repairs.
• Any emergency health and safety work will proceed, but under agreed COVID-19 protocols.

Independent living residents wishing to order meals from the kitchen should let us know as soon as possible, and we will deliver your order to your unit. Deliveries of food or other essential items from outside the village can be left at Reception.

We’re restricting visiting to our care home with immediate effect. Only two nominated visitors per care resident may visit and only one at a time. To visit, you must book a time with the Care Manager and follow our strict COVID-19 hygiene protocols (including wearing a face mask). We will of course make an exception for close family whose loved ones may be approaching end-of-life. If this affects any independent living resident whose loved one is living in residential care, and you would like to discuss how this applies in your particular situation, please call the Care Manager.

The Government is to review the Alert Level status every 24 hours and we will keep you advised of any changes to controls at our villages. If you wish to keep up-to-date with the latest situation nationally, the Government websites are the only reliable sources of information. Accurate and timely information can be found at: covid19.govt.nz/ and www.health.govt.nz.

We realise that this will be an anxious time for everyone. If any residents require particular support or help as a result of this latest announcement, please contact the village management team and we will provide every possible assistance.

COVID-19 update for independent living residents

As the Ministry of Health currently considers the risk of contracting COVID-19 in the community to be low, we’ve relaxed our requirement for visitors to wear masks when visiting our care homes. Therefore, independent living residents visiting a loved one in residential care will not need to wear a face covering.

If any independent living residents start to develop cold- or flu-like symptoms at any stage, they should contact Healthline on 0800 358 5453 to understand if they need to get tested for COVID-19.

The locations of interest relating to the earlier Auckland and Northland community cases are available on the Ministry of Health website. Anyone who visited one of the listed locations during the relevant timeframe should self-isolate and contact Healthline for advice.

As a reminder, if residents are expecting any prospective visitors who’ve travelled back to New Zealand and recently left a managed isolation hotel or quarantine, please would you let your Village Manager know in advance of the person’s intended visit, so we can review any additional precautions that we might need to take in order to accommodate their visit.

As always, please would you ensure your visitors check in using our Visitor Management System, scan the QR code on display and use the hand sanitiser available. In your general day-to-day activities, you can protect yourself and others by always practising good hand hygiene, coughing/sneezing into your elbow, having Bluetooth tracing turned on in the NZ COVID Tracer app and scanning QR codes wherever you go. Also, it’s important to be wary of misinformation about COVID and only reference information from official sources. Accurate and timely information can be found on the Unite Against COVID-19 website and the Ministry of Health website.

Thank you for your support and assistance with these measures, as we continue to adapt our processes and procedures in accordance with the current risk level and work together to beat COVID-19.  

All Selwyn villages now at alert level 1.5

Precautionary steps continue in light of recent developments in Northland and Auckland

As there have been no further community cases of COVID-19 reported in Northland, Auckland or elsewhere in the country today, we advise that Selwyn Park in Whangarei is now open for visiting again.

We continue to take precautionary measures which include the wearing of face masks for staff, visitors and independent living residents when in all our care homes. 

We ask that visitors continue to check in using the Visitor Management System, scan the QR code at building entrances, and use hand sanitiser before proceeding through the care homes. It’s important that independent residents also maintain a record of all visitors, including names, address, date and time, and contact details in case they need to be traced. All visitors should be able to confirm that they’re in good health and have no flu-like symptoms.

As a reminder, if you have visited within a certain timeframe any of the ‘high risk’ locations listed by the Ministry of Health – or you have a close contact who has – please stay at home and contact Healthline on 0800 358 5453 to understand if and when you need to get tested. If you begin to feel unwell or start to develop COVID-19 symptoms, you should get a test immediately and stay at home until you receive a negative test result back.

The current list of locations is available on the Ministry of Health's website.

If you are unwell at all, please do not visit our care homes or use the communal facilities.

In addition, should any of your prospective visitors have travelled back to New Zealand and recently left a managed isolation hotel or quarantine, please would you let your Village Manager know in advance of their intended visit, so we can review any additional precautions that might need to be taken in order to accommodate their visit.

We look forward to welcoming visitors and will appreciate their taking the relevant precautions.

Thank you for your ongoing cooperation and compliance with these important infection control and prevention procedures.

Precautionary steps to be taken against COVID in light of recent developments in Northland

Following the Ministry of Health’s confirmation of a positive COVID-19 test result in Northland, we’ve re-introduced a number of precautionary measures across our care homes including the wearing of face masks for all staff and visitors (additional precautions apply to our Selwyn Park village in Whangarei).

In light of the recent case and the number of locations in Northland which the person had visited, any of our staff members across the village who may also have visited any of those venues within the relevant timeframe have been placed on discretionary leave in order for them to be tested. Likewise, any staff who develop cold or flu-like symptoms in the interim will be stood down until they’ve been tested, returned a negative result and are clear of symptoms for 48 hours. Any staff members who are considered to be in the vulnerable category (ie, aged 70-plus or with health conditions) have also been stood down with pay and supported with welfare services.

Should any independent living residents have visited any of the locations listed by the Ministry of Health which are considered to be at risk of COVID-19 community transmission during the timeframes in question, please would you let your Village Manager know. It’s important that you now self-isolate and get a COVID test as soon as possible. Please stay in your unit and refrain from socialising until you’ve returned a negative test result. The current list of impacted locations is available on the MOH website.

As a reminder to all our residents, washing your hands regularly, having the NZ COVID tracer app on your phone and having Bluetooth turn on, scanning QR codes, and staying home if you’re unwell is the best way to prevent any possible risk of spreading the virus. Anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms should also get a test and self-isolate until they receive the result. Those who may be holidaying elsewhere in New Zealand shouldn’t wait until they get home to be tested; the Healthpoint website www.healthpoint.co.nz/covid-19/ has details of all the COVID-19 testing locations around the country.

We’ll be closely monitoring developments pertaining to this recent case and will review our Alert Level procedures as necessary and according to the risk of community transmission. We’ll provide further updates in due course.

Should you have an immediate query or concern about this latest situation, or would like to discuss any other issue, please don’t hesitate to contact your Village Manager.

Reminder to remain vigilant

Location:

All Selwyn village sites throughout New Zealand

The current situation is:

As you are aware countries like the UK and the USA have reached crisis point given the new more contagious strains of the coronavirus now sweeping the globe. We in New Zealand are in the enviable position of having been able to celebrate Christmas and the New Year with our families and friends, and long may this last.

Here at Selwyn we remain on high alert to ensure that you and your fellow residents remain safe from the virus.

If you have family arriving in New Zealand from overseas, we ask that they do not enter our villages for an additional 14 days upon completing their compulsory 14 day isolation in a MIQ facility, as well as providing proof of a negative COVID test result.

If you have friends or family who have moved jobs and now work at the border, in MIQ facilities or front line health care, have come in contact with international travellers, or with someone with COVID, or have been unwell the same rule applies. We ask that they remain out of our villages for a period of 14 days after receiving a negative COVID test result.

It is our greatest hope that we continue to keep our residents and staff safe while we await the arrival of the COVID vaccine.

Please remind your family and friends when entering our villages to continue to:

1. check in at reception via our Visitor Management System or by using the My NZ COVID Tracer booklet
2. scan the QR code using the COVID-19 Tracer app
3. wear their identification label; and
4. use hand sanitiser before moving throughout the village.

Thank you for your ongoing cooperation and vigilance and needless to say, if you need to seek dispensation on compassionate grounds, please do talk with your Village Manager. We rely on the honesty of you and all who visit our villages to assist us in protecting our most vulnerable.

Update for Auckland independent living residents, family and friends

Auckland Villages will move to COVID-19 Alert Level 1 from Friday, 23 October 2020

We’re pleased to advise that our Auckland villages (including our care homes) will be moving to full Alert Level 1 from Friday, 23 October; however, our various sign-in procedures for visitors, external providers and staff will continue as there’s still a risk of COVID-19 returning to the community.

Whilst you won’t need to wear a mask in the communal areas from now on, continuing good habits with face coverings will keep you and others safe, even at Alert Level 1 when it’s no longer compulsory. We encourage you to use face coverings on public transport and when you can’t maintain physical distance from people you don’t know, for example in supermarkets. Also, please continue to observe all the key infection prevention and safety precautions that we’ve come to know and love, and remember to keep a record of everywhere you’ve been and who you’ve met.

Whilst visitors will still be required to check in using our Visitor Management System and scan the NZ COVID Tracer QR code, they no longer need to wear a face covering when moving through the communal areas (unless they feel more comfortable doing so). Please would residents ensure that their visitors either sign in via our system or that they fill in a Health Declaration Form each time they come to the village. Residents should retain each completed form, as this will help with contact tracing if needed at some time in the future.

All our external activity providers and volunteers will still be required to check in via the Visitor Management System, scan the QR code, have their temperature taken, observe good hand hygiene and coughing and sneezing etiquette, and will be obliged to provide notification of their intended visit to us in advance. Our independent living staff will continue to complete our mandatory Health Declaration Form and have their temperature checked before the commencement of their shift. Any staff member showing signs/symptoms of COVID-19 will be stood down and will be unable to return to work until they’ve been tested and returned a negative result.

In our care homes, we will be lifting many of the restrictions on visiting that were in place, including the limitations on visiting hours and the need for visitors to book appointments. Visitors will still be required to sign into the Visitor Management System and scan the QR code at the care home entrance, but won’t need to wear a surgical mask whilst visiting (unless they prefer to do so) or have their temperature checked.

Whilst we’re pleased that life is now just about back to normal again, everyone should continue to remain vigilant in terms of their own infection prevention practices. As a nation, we can’t afford to become complacent, especially since a new community case was detected on Sunday; because this was so quickly contained, close contacts identified and the various controls swiftly put in place, we’re confident in our decision to now move to full Alert Level 1, but the risk is still out there. In the event of another outbreak, or any indication of community transmission where the source of the infection is uncertain, we’ll re-introduce the restrictions that previously applied under the higher Alert Levels with immediate effect, in order to protect our village community.

A final reminder that, if you or any of your family members or intending visitors feel just slightly unwell, it’s important to stay at home and not socialise. If you have cold or flu symptoms, please call your doctor or Healthline on 0800 358 5453 to see if you need a test. Staying at home if you’re sick is especially important at Alert Level 1, as the risk of COVID-19 being spread in the community is much greater when there are no restrictions on gatherings or going out.

As always, thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to maintain our safe village environments. If you’ve any questions or concerns at any time, please don’t hesitate to contact your village manager.

Update for Auckland independent living residents, family, and friends

Further relaxing of Auckland villages' COVID-19 restrictions in our staged approach to moving to full Alert Level 1

We’ve now had the welcome news that Auckland will join the rest of New Zealand at COVID-19 Alert Level 1 from 11.59pm tonight. We wish to advise you, therefore, that we’ll continue to relax restrictions around our Auckland villages so that independent living residents can enjoy a full return to activities within a safe and risk-free environment.

From Thursday, 8th October, whilst the vast majority of activities and services can resume, we would encourage everyone to continue to wear a mask in the communal areas for the time being, as this is still recommended by the Ministry of Health. Alert Level 1 doesn’t mean that COVID-19 has been eliminated from New Zealand, so please observe the main infection prevention and control measures which we’ve become used to and are now part of our way of life - good hand hygiene, coughing and sneezing etiquette, physical distancing from those you don’t know, and keeping a record of where you’ve been and who you’ve had contact with.

Please remember to record visitors to your apartment/villa using the Health Declaration Form (or Visitor Management System where applicable). We hold a supply of forms at reception for residents to collect, and your support and assistance in ensuring that these are completed are greatly appreciated (please keep the completed forms for your own reference purposes in case they’re needed in the future). Visitors must also scan the NZ COVID Tracer QR code displayed and are encouraged to wear a mask in the public areas for at least another two weeks (we prefer to err on the side of caution in this respect and as per Government advice).

We’ll also now be able to welcome back our external volunteers and activity providers, who will have to check in via our Visitor Management System, wear their name label, scan the QR code and - for the next fortnight - continue to have their temperature taken and wear a mask. They’ll also be required to provide us with advance notification of their intended visit, and we’ll be reminding them of the need to continue to observe all the key infection prevention precautions.

Chapel services will recommence next week, on 18 October, with extra cleaning protocols in place and physical distancing encouraged.

Our independent living staff will continue to complete our mandatory Health Declaration Form and have their temperature checked before the commencement of their shift; they’ll also be encouraged to wear a mask as per the Government’s recommendations, but this won’t be compulsory as physical distancing can be practised and maintained. Any staff member showing signs/symptoms of COVID-19 will be stood down and will be unable to return to work until they’ve been tested and returned a negative result.

In our care homes, we’ve eased a number of the restrictions that were in place, including the limitations on the numbers of visitors per resident and the length of each visit. Current visiting hours will continue from 10.00am to 6.00pm, and visitors will still need to book appointments to visit their loved ones, have their temperature checked and wear masks. However, they can now take residents out and off the village site with certain precautions. Minivan outings will also be resuming for residents within their respective care ‘bubble’.  

Whilst we’re delighted that life may be returning to a semblance of normality again, we must keep in mind that COVID-19 is still in the world, so we all have a role to play in avoiding another outbreak. As the Prime Minister reminded us, it’s essential that we continue to be vigilant and not become complacent about the risk. It’s still important to:

• scan into shops and other venues with the NZ COVID Tracer app and remind people with you to do the same. If you don’t use the app, keep your own diary with details of places you’ve visited, the time you were there and who you were with;
• keep up good handwashing practices, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and drying thoroughly. Cough and sneeze into your elbow. Keep surfaces clean;
• maintain a safe distance from people you don’t know while out and about, as this will help to minimise the spread of COVID-19 if community transmission returns;
• continue good habits with face coverings to keep you and others safe, even at Alert Level 1 when it’s no longer compulsory; use face coverings on public transport and when you can’t maintain physical distance from people you don’t know, for example in supermarkets.

Above all, if you have cold or flu symptoms, stay in your unit and call your GP or Healthline on 0800 358 5453 to see if you need a test. Anyone intending to visit you and who has symptoms should not come onto the village site, as they could potentially pose a risk to our residents and staff.

Thank you for your continued cooperation with our village teams in implementing these precautions, as we work to maintain safe village communities for all. We will review the situation again in two weeks, at which time it will be determined if the ongoing restrictions can be further relaxed or even removed, assuming there’s no further community transmission.

If you have any questions or concerns on any of the above, please do not hesitate to contact your village manager.

Updates for independent living residents, family and friends

In light of the Prime Minister’s announcement, please see the following updates for each region.

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement this week that the Auckland region will move to full Alert Level 2 from 11:59pm on Wednesday, 23 September, with the rest of the country having moved to COVID Alert Level 1 as of 11.59pm on 21 September, we’d like to confirm what this means for each of our villages.

Updates for independent living residents, family and friends

The Selwyn Foundation and its villages to remain at current Alert Levels until Monday, 21 September. 

On Monday the Prime Minister announced the country will remain at the current Alert Levels for one more week until 11.59pm on Monday 21st September.

While we wait for the final decision, independent living residents will remain at their current alert levels - which is Alert Level 2 for independent living residents in Northland and Wellington, Level 2.5 for independent living residents in Hamilton, and Level 2.5 for independent living residents in Auckland and Cambridge with additional precautions.

Then if the government confirms the country will move down Alert Levels on Monday 11.59pm, we will be in touch again to outline what this means for you and our villages.

It’s taken longer than anticipated to get on top of this second outbreak, however the Government, and health officials are showing signs they are confident our hard work of staying at home, socially distancing and improving handwashing and hygiene has worked. The Government will provide another update on Monday 21st September that hopefully provides a clearer timeline for when the current Alert Levels might change.  

Updates for independent living residents, family and friends

Villages are to remain at current Alert Levels until at least Wednesday, 16 September.

On Friday, the Prime Minister announced the country will remain at Alert Level 2, and Auckland at Level 2.5, until at least 11:59pm on Wednesday 16 September.

We wanted to let residents know our Selwyn villages will also remain in their current Alert Levels, which is Alert Level 2 for independent living residents in Northland and Wellington, Level 2.5 for independent living residents in Hamilton, and Level 2.5 for independent living residents in Auckland and Cambridge with additional precautions.

While the current Auckland cluster continues to turn out new cases, it also appears to be contained. The Prime Minister will make her next announcement about Alert Levels on September 14^th, so we will be in touch to outline what this means for residents and our villages.

COVID tracer booklets

We are aware some independent living residents do not have access to the government’s COVID Tracer App to help track their movements when they are outside the village. While we recommend residents try to use the app as much as possible, there is a COVID tracer booklet available for those who can’t. These booklets can be ordered by emailing Covid19Response@dpmc.govt.nz.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact your Village Manager.

Update for independent living residents, family and friends

In light of the Prime Minister’s announcement, please see the following updates for each village.

We want to minimise the risks associated with the current cluster as much as possible, so in line with the Government’s announcement, our villages will be dropping down Alert Levels. This is specific for each location; therefore, please click on the drop-down links to read more about your village updates.

An update for residents, family and friends

Updated 14 August 2020

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement this evening that Auckland is to remain at Alert Level 3 and the rest of New Zealand at Level 2 for another 12 days until 26 August, we will continue with our Level 4 precautions and all our villages will remain in full lockdown, with no access to visitors, volunteers or other non-essential personnel. As with the previous lockdowns, we’re front-footing this crisis to actively manage any risk, and the steps we’re taking go above and beyond the Government guidelines in many instances, in order to reduce any possibility of the virus entering our village communities.

All our communal services and facilities are now closed and all activities and worship services suspended. Deliveries for residents that are essential only can be accepted at Reception / via the Safety Officers at the village gates (arrangements may differ across our villages). Residents wishing to order meals from the kitchen should pre-order these the day before, and Resident Services will deliver them to your unit. There will be no new independent living residents moving into the villages, and only external contractors required to complete urgent/essential maintenance and repairs will be admitted on site (with work conducted in line with the approved COVID-19 plans that we have in place). Needless to say, we’ll also be increasing our cleaning in all communal areas of the villages.

It’s important that residents limit their physical contact with family, friends and others who live in the wider community as much as possible for the duration of the lockdown, in order to protect themselves, their fellow residents and our staff from any risk of getting the infection. The Government particularly encourages people over the age of 70, those at high risk of severe illness and those with existing medical conditions to stay at home where possible and take additional precautions if they do need to leave home. 

A reminder that the COVID-19 symptoms to watch out for include: a cough, a high temperature (at least 37.5˚C), shortness of breath, a sore throat, sneezing and runny nose, a temporary loss of smell, and conjunctivitis. If you develop any of these symptoms, contact your GP or call Healthline on 0800 358 5453; make sure you get tested for COVID-19, if your GP recommends it.

Please can we ask everyone to observe the key principles of our Alert Level 4 safety precautions:

• self-isolate within your unit as much as possible
• put into practice the recommended health and safety protocols for your own safety and that of our other villagers: physical distancing (two metres if outside and one metre if inside), regular and thorough hand washing, minimising the time spent away from your unit and only going out for essentials, reducing your contact with hard surfaces in public places)
• stay within your immediate bubble at all times and refrain from socialising with your neighbours in the communal areas – even if at a distance
• don’t expand your self-isolation ‘bubble’ in any way or invite family members or any other visitors to the village
• please remind your families and friends that they will not be permitted onto the village site (we will, of course, make exceptions on compassionate grounds)
• stay in touch with family on the phone or through FaceTime, video conferencing, etc – we can help with ‘how-to’ advice, should you need
• shopping should be left by families for our teams to onward deliver to residents’ units
• if you wish to go for a walk, please remain within the bounds of the village site
• restrict any expeditions out into the wider community to the most essential only, in case you run the risk of bringing the infection back in with you on your return.

It’s important that everyone practises these health and safety recommendations – whilst you may not have the virus, others you come in contact with might or may be developing the infection, so it’s better to be safe than sorry. Further information on how to self-isolate is available on the Government website: covid19.govt.nz. You might also like to have a look at our dedicated Coronavirus webpages and our ‘Be well, be kind, be safe’ section on The Selwyn Foundation website (selwynfoundation.org.nz/promotions/coronavirus/), which provide various related updates and resources.

In terms of shopping – and so that you don’t have to leave your village – the Student Volunteer Army is available to help with safe and secure grocery supplies and pharmaceutical deliveries. You can contact them via their website at shop.sva.org.nz or telephone them on 09 801 2122 – their volunteers can take orders over the phone. A volunteer will shop for your order at the nearest New World and then deliver it to the village. It’s all very easy and delivery of your order will be within 24-48 hours. This is a professionally managed and monitored service that’s highly regarded, and all the volunteers are trained, vetted and cognisant of the need to use personal protective equipment. If you’d like us to facilitate this for you, let us know.

In light of the recent cases of COVID-19 detected in Auckland, we also wanted to let you know of our procedures in the event that any of our staff believe they may have been in contact with someone in the wider community who’s been exposed to the virus. Our standard procedure in such cases will be to place the individual on discretionary leave in order for them to be tested. Provided their test is negative (we’ll need formal proof of this) and they’re symptom-free, they may return to the workplace. As a number of locations, schools and workplaces have now been identified – where those who’ve recently contracted COVID-19 have either worked or attended – we’re checking with all our staff to make sure that neither they (nor their close family members or contacts) could have been exposed. 

All our staff are temperature-checked and are required to complete the health status declaration form before starting their shift. Staff with any cold or flu-like symptoms will be stood down until they’ve been tested and returned a negative result and are clear of symptoms for 48 hours. Any staff members who are considered to be in the vulnerable category (ie, aged 70-plus or with health conditions) have been stood down with pay and supported with welfare services.

We would like to reassure you that Selwyn is taking a highly precautionary approach in the face of this ever present threat. We appreciate that, as independent living residents, you have agency and can make your own decisions in terms of whether you self-isolate or not. However, as a responsible provider of services to older people, it’s The Selwyn Foundation’s duty to do everything possible to protect the health and safety of its residents and staff alike, and to reduce any possible risk so that its village communities remain COVID-free to the benefit of one and all.

Finally, the village management team and staff are here to help ease the task of self-isolation for you however possible. Whether you need us to organise shopping, deliver a hot meal, help with urgent maintenance or just have a friendly chat on the phone, please don’t hesitate to call Resident Services or Reception (keeping in mind the physical distancing rule, it’s best if you phone or email us rather than coming to Reception in person). Our teams are ready to help in whatever way they can – whatever you need, we’ll do our best to make it happen.

We’ll be providing regular updates as we go forward, but if you have an immediate query or concern, please don’t hesitate to contact your Village Manager.

Until next time – stay safe, stay well and be kind.

Latest information for independent living residents, family and friends

Updated 11 August 2020

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement that Auckland is to move to Level 3 for a period of three days from midday on Wednesday, 12 August 2020, please be advised that it will be necessary for independent living residents to move into Level 4 precautions as of 12 noon. At that time, our villages will enter full lockdown with no access to visitors.

We have activated our Level 4 lockdown procedures across all our villages from midday 12 August – including those outside Auckland – to ensure that we can protect our residents and staff from any possible transmission of COVID-19. It is particularly important that we take this action immediately given the fact that the source of the latest cases is unknown.

Please can we ask family members not to visit our villages to see their loved ones past the deadline of 12 noon, as we will be unable to grant you access.

Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

If you have any urgent queries or concerns as to the health and wellbeing of your family member at this time, please do not hesitate to contact your Village Manager.

Alert Level 1 update for independent living residents, family and friends

Updated 9 June 2020

Further to the move to COVID-19 Alert Level 1 as a result of there being no known active cases in the country, we’re pleased to advise that we’re implementing a number of changes to our visiting protocols with immediate effect.

Whilst visitors will still be required to check in using the Visitor Management System, there’s no longer any need for them to be temperature-checked or to wear a surgical mask. Please would residents ensure that their visitors either sign in via this system or that they fill in a Health Declaration Form each time they come to the villages. Residents should retain each completed form, as this will help with contact tracing if needed at some time in the future. 

The move to Level 1 also enables us to welcome back our volunteers and external activity providers, such as visiting entertainers and guest speakers. In addition, we’re looking forward to resuming any remaining group activities that had to be temporarily suspended during the higher Alert Levels, and have developed specific cleaning protocols to cater for this. All external providers and contractors will need to check in via our Visitor Management System and will be required to provide notification of their intended visit to the Village Manager in advance. We’ll also be reminding them that they should continue to observe the main infection prevention control measures, such as good hand hygiene and coughing and sneezing etiquette – all the precautions that we’ve become used to and which should form part of our new way of life from now on.

We’ll now be able to gather together in larger numbers for Sunday worship, with communion using previously intincted bread (but not a common cup). There will be extra cleaning protocols in the chapels for worship and for funerals, and physical distancing will continue to be encouraged; however, we’ll be able to sing in worship again. Staying away if experiencing symptoms of colds or flu will be very important, as will keeping a record of contacts.

In our care homes, we’ve also lifted many of the restrictions on visiting that were in place, including the limitations on visiting hours and on the numbers of visitors per resident. Visitors can now take residents out and off the village site, but will be given a contact tracing form to complete and will be required to hand this back on return. Despite this easing of restrictions, we’ll continue to carefully monitor the health of our residents and will keep a close watch to ensure that residents’ condition does not change at any point.

As the nation recovers from the effects of COVID-19, we must keep in mind that the virus is still in the world, so it’s still important to observe the basic hygiene measures, including washing and drying our hands, coughing or sneezing into our elbow, staying home if sick, and getting tested for COVID-19 in the event of developing flu-like symptoms. We should all continue to maintain a diary of where we’ve been and who we’ve seen – either by scanning the various business QR codes, or noting down our movements. This will greatly assist with rapid contact tracing, should it be required.

Since the threat in New Zealand is now diminished, this will be the last of our weekly COVID-19 updates. We’d like to thank all our independent living residents for their patience and understanding throughout these challenging times, as we worked to provide safe village environments for residents and staff. If at any point you’re looking for information on COVID-19, go to www.covid19.govt.nz. This website is regularly updated with the most up-to-date information and guidance around COVID.

Let’s now look forward to ‘uniting for recovery’ and getting the country moving again.  

For independent living residents, family and friends

Updated 5 June 2020

We trust that you’re continuing to make the most of the hard-won freedoms and privileges under COVID-19 Alert Level 2, which have been made possible as a result of the nation’s combined efforts to eliminate the virus from our shores.

It seems that we might move into Level One more quickly than originally anticipated (possibly as early as next Thursday). The Selwyn Emergency Management Team is continuing to review how the transition to the lower Alert Level will be safely implemented with our villages. As Cabinet will decide on Monday, 8 June, about moving to Alert Level 1, we’ll write to you again shortly after that to let you know what that will mean for our villages in terms of further easing of restrictions around activities and protocols for visitors, etc.

We appreciate your ongoing assistance in helping to maintain our COVID-free environment for the benefit of all those within our village community. Whilst everyone’s looking forward to a move to a ‘new normal’, it’s important to remember that we remain in a global pandemic and there’s still a record number of cases being reported globally. As the Director-General of Health said in his briefing yesterday, this pandemic continues apace outside our borders and we can’t afford to let our guard down, but need to remain vigilant to the threat that the virus poses. 

With this in mind, therefore, we’d like to reiterate that it’s essential that residents and visitors continue to apply the fundamental hygiene and precautionary measures that have worked so well to date and to observe the various safety controls in place around the villages, regardless of whichever Alert Level we’re at. These include observing strict hand hygiene and coughing and sneezing etiquette, and being mindful of physical distancing when out and about amongst strangers (to reduce the risk of bringing any infection into the villages). Crucially, even if you feel just slightly unwell, please stay at home and do not socialise, as you could potentially pose a risk to your neighbours as well as to our staff. If you have cold, flu or any respiratory symptoms, call your doctor or Healthline and make sure you get tested.

These health and safety precautions may very well form part of our new way of life from now on and will help reduce any future risk of a COVID-19 community outbreak. Enhanced contact tracing will also be important for New Zealand’s ongoing wall of defence. There are many ways that you can keep a track of where you’ve been and who you’ve seen to help contact tracing if needed. You can simply keep a written note, or use the NZ COVID Tracer app developed by the Ministry of Health as a handy way of doing this (available at the COVID-19 website).

The Government’s COVID-19 website can also be accessed via The Selwyn Foundation’s website. We’ve previously mentioned the new ‘Be well, be kind, be safe’ section on our site, which was specifically designed to support the welfare of those aged 70+ during the lockdown period. Designed by The Selwyn Institute (the learning arm of the Foundation), the webpages offer extensive resources to strengthen wellbeing, engagement and resilience, navigational information to support services and stimulating content and articles for ‘boredom busting’ at home. As we’ve moved to a lesser Alert Level, these webpages have now been renamed ‘Looking towards a ‘new normal’ in a COVID world’ and aim to help seniors make informed decisions and choices about their wellbeing in a post-COVID-19 environment. Do have a look through the site when you have time Be-well-be-kind-be-safe – we’re sure you’ll find a lot of fascinating content.

Thank you for your ongoing cooperation in helping us to keep our villages free of the virus over this transitional period. We don’t want to lose the advantage that we have and everything we’ve achieved so far, therefore it’s vital we make sure that we continue to maintain good safety measures for the sake of everyone in our community.

We look forward to writing to you again in the very near future, hopefully with some good news (pending the Cabinet decision on Monday).

Until then, stay safe.

Update for independent living residents

Updated 29 May 2020

We hope our residents are enjoying life under Alert Level 2 and have now been able to re-connect with family and friends. The Government’s announcement this week about the change to the maximum number of people who can attend gatherings (to be increased to 100 from today) will have a further positive impact on social activities, so we’re heading in the right direction!

As you get out and about more and start to visit cafes, restaurants, etc, please make sure that you continue to observe all the key health and safety protocols around hygiene and physical distancing – it’s best to avoid handshakes, for example, and any form of physical contact as much as possible. It’s also important to keep a record of where you’ve been, when you were there and who you were with (as well as the other persons’ contact details). To help with this, we’d like to remind you about the Ministry of Health’s new contact tracing app that’s available to download onto your smartphone. Even just registering your up-to date contact details with the Ministry of Health will be very helpful for both you and Public Health, as well as for the nation’s wider efforts to stamp out COVID-19, should the source of any community transmission need to be traced. For further information on this, please visit the COVID-19 website.

For our care home residents and families, we’re pleased to be able to introduce a further relaxation of restrictions around visiting from Tuesday, 2 June. Specifically, we’re increasing the number of nominated visitors per resident to a maximum of three and extending the duration of each visit to an hour. Visits will still be by appointment only, with the name of the nominated visitor to be provided in advance and the usual health screening and other safety precautions in place.

Cabinet will review the settings of Alert Level 2 again on 8 June 2020, and we’ll also look at any other easing of restrictions that we might be able to introduce from then. With Alert Level 1 being the next stage on our journey out of this COVID-19 situation, we’ll be working on what this might look like for our independent living and residential care services, so we can move forward on this as soon as it’s safe to do so. We want to be careful to get the balance right between easing our restrictions and ensuring that we can continue to protect our residents and those who are more frail. We’ll let you know about this once we’re sure we can do it in a way that will safeguard everyone’s health.

Whilst people over the age of 70 still need to be careful when visiting public places, we’d like to reiterate the advice of the Director-General of Health in his briefing earlier this week and encourage you to continue to get outside for a walk and some fresh air. It’s important that we build in physical activity into our days, despite the colder weather, as it will help us to stay well over winter.

The Government has agreed that they will consider a move to Alert Level 1 no later than 22 June 2020, so we can look forward to a move to a ‘new normal’ at some point after that.

Thank you all again for your cooperation and support at this time. We hope you have a great long weekend, and stay safe.

Update for independent living residents

Updated 22 May 2020

We trust everyone’s been enjoying their new-found freedoms since the introduction of Alert Level 2 last week and that you’re now looking forward to hearing how quickly we can move to the next and final level. We had a flurry of activity and lots of comings and goings in the first few days, as families were reunited and were welcomed back into the villages, but now things are settling down and we’re getting back to our normal routines again (as much as we can within the Level 2 conditions).

As of last Thursday, we’ve been able to reconnect with friends and family, but gatherings are limited to up to 10 people. We can go in-store at local businesses and travel between regions. Venues such as museums, cinemas, libraries and markets are also open again. We can attend gatherings in controlled settings outside of the home, such as weddings, funerals, religious services and birthdays (but these are limited to up to 10 people in any one group and for up to two hours). As of 21 May, bars have been able to re-open. In the villages, residents can now form groups of up to 10 people for socialising, but it’s important to keep different groups at least a metre’s distance apart, if possible, and not stay longer than two hours.

Our ORA refurbishments and sales are continuing during Level 2.  All tradespeople and new residents will have been issued with guidelines to follow to keep everyone safe, and contractors and other service providers also need to undergo our mandatory health screening and temperature checks each time they attend a village.

Under Level 2 the aim is to reduce – whilst the disease is contained, the risk of community transmission remains, with possible single or isolated cluster outbreaks. People over the age of 70 are still being advised to stay at home and take measures to stay safe and well. Therefore, there are still a number of precautions that you should continue to observe for your own personal health and safety, such as good hand hygiene practices, avoiding crowded spaces and physical distancing. The most important things you can do to stay safe at Alert Level 2 are:

• Keep at least a two metre distance from other people when you’re out and about in the community (physical distancing also applies on public transport, so leave the seat next to you empty if you can).
• Take extra care if you interact with people you don’t know, as it won’t be easy to do contact tracing if needed. This means making the space when you’re in places like parks, retail businesses, shopping malls or walking along the street.
• In the villages, keep one metre away from others, as well as in ‘controlled environments’ where contact tracing and other public health measures are possible. This includes places like cafes, church groups, gatherings, restaurants and gyms.
• If you’re sick, stay home and don’t socialise. If you have symptoms of cold or flu, call your doctor or Healthline and get tested. If you’ve been told to self-isolate, you must do so immediately.
• Wash and dry your hands thoroughly and regularly (preferably with soap and hot water), and always sneeze and cough into your elbow.
• Keep a track of where you’ve been and who you’ve seen — maintain a record of all visitors, including names, address, date and time, and contact details in case they need to be traced. We’re also keeping a record of who’s visiting and their contact details, should we need to contact trace anyone. All visitors are requested to confirm that they’re in good health and have no flu-like symptoms.
• Regularly disinfect surfaces. Please be assured that our village staff are ensuring that a high standard of cleanliness is maintained in the communal and other areas at all times, and we are contact point cleaning and sanitising surfaces and high touch-points regularly throughout the day.

Please may we ask residents to remind their visitors that they will be required to wear a mask when moving through the village communal areas. If they have their own mask, it would be helpful if they would bring it with them, as this will prevent possible droplet transmission and so provide extra protection for our resident community.  

As regards contact tracing, there are many different apps you can use to record your movement. The Ministry of Health has created a tracing app — NZ COVID Tracer. This app works by scanning a QR code on a poster at participating businesses and it then keeps track of where you’ve scanned, so you know where you’ve been. For further information on this, visit the COVID-19 website.

We do hope that residents have been able to enjoy more activities since the relaxing of restrictions last week. However, Alert Level 2 is not a complete return to normal life, so it's up to each one of us to keep the rest of New Zealand safe from COVID-19. Let’s not undermine the great progress we’ve made so far; the principle is simple — be careful, stay safe, save lives, and this will break the chain of community transmission.

Updated 14 May 2020

For Independent Living residents, friends and family

Further to the Government’s announcement earlier this week that COVID-19 Alert Level 2 will start to come into effect from Thursday, 14 May, we’ve written to all our independent living residents to let them know how this will affect life in their village and how we’ll begin to relax the various restrictions relating to our services and amenities.

Moving into Alert Level 2 means that we can resume many of our everyday activities, but we have to do so safely – whilst the disease may be contained, there’s still a risk of community transmission. Each Village Manager has provided their residents with an overview of what will be re-opening, from when and any special precautions to be taken. 

We would be grateful if residents using the communal facilities would continue to be extremely vigilant in exercising the physical distancing rule (which is now a minimum of one metre for our village situation), and also observe the specific requirements relating to the use of each facility. Our village teams will ensure a high standard of cleanliness in the communal areas at all times, and we will be sanitising surfaces and high touch-points regularly throughout the day.

In terms of our external providers, we’ve been in discussions with them to ensure that they’ll be fully compliant with the requisite safety precautions as outlined by the Ministry of Health, such as using appropriate PPE, cleaning and physical spacing, so that we can maintain a level of protection for all our residents and staff. Contractors and other service providers will also be requested to undergo our mandatory health screening and temperature checks each time they attend the village.

Residents will be delighted to learn that family and friends will now be permitted onto the village sites – within certain health screening criteria. If those intending to visit independent living residents have their own mask, please do bring it with you to wear as you move through the communal areas and when using the lifts (this will prevent droplet transmission and so provide extra protection for our resident community). Alternatively, you might use a scarf or other appropriate means of covering your nose and mouth whilst you’re in the public areas. It would be preferable if the masks and other such coverings were then thoroughly washed and dried before visitors returned to the village again. The Director-General of Health said this week that it’s beholden on everyone to keep the over 70s and those at higher risk of contracting the virus safe, therefore your support in exercising these health and safety precautions would be a great help.

In our care homes, we’ve introduced restricted visiting times by appointment only from 14 May. One visitor only per resident will be permitted entry at any one time, and a range of other strict visitor screening measures will be in place, which will allow us to carefully manage access and so maintain our infection-free care environments.

As the Prime Minister said earlier this week, we’ll still need to be incredibly careful as we get back to a new, safer normal. We must continue to keep our distance when out and about in the community, and keep our social gatherings to a maximum of ten people (this will help with contact tracing, should it be required). We should still practise good hand hygiene, keep a track of where we’ve been and – if we start to feel unwell – get tested immediately for the virus. We all need to continue to play it safe which, in turn, will allow us to maintain a safe village environment for one and all. 

As always, sincere thanks to everyone for your continued support and cooperation in helping us to defeat COVID-19.

Updated 8 May 2020

Updates for Independent Living residents, friends, and family.

As the nation may be moving to COVID-19 Level 2 in the near future, we’re now reviewing how the easing of restrictions might apply across our village sites and to our range of independent living services and amenities. 

The Government’s main message yesterday was that, once the country moves to the lower alert level, we must all continue to ‘play it safe’ and proceed with caution. We don’t want to squander the gains we’ve made over the last six weeks, so it won’t exactly be a return to ‘business as usual’ or to how life was pre-COVID. Saying that, however, we’ll be able to resume some services and open up to visitors, but under certain conditions and in a way that will enable us to continue to provide a safe environment for our village community.

The Prime Minister said yesterday that people over 70 will still need to think about their personal safety under Level 2 and apply all the key COVID-19 safety principles when out and about – as will others who come into contact with those at higher risk. Moving to Level 2 will be a big decision, with the PM likening it to coming down from Everest and indicating that we might have to do it in stages – ‘the descent is even more dangerous’.

We’re still to finalise our thinking around how we can carefully relax some of the constraints we’ve had to come to terms with in order to prevent COVID-19 from wreaking havoc across our villages. It’s likely that we’ll continue with a certain amount of health screening, checks and controls – especially for visitors coming onto the site – and we’ll still have to observe particular health and safety protocols and recommendations. For our care homes, we’re looking at introducing restricted opening to a limited number of visitors per resident, with visits by appointment only so we can carefully control visitor numbers and maintain our infection-free care environment.

As the Government stressed yesterday, no decision to move to Level 2 has been made as yet – we’ll find out next Monday (the 11th). Until then, we should all continue to observe the various rules of self-isolation – staying in our household bubbles, maintaining good hygiene practices and physical/social distancing of two metres, not inviting another resident into your apartment and not entering another resident’s apartment.

We’d like to thank everyone for their continued cooperation and support in helping our community get through these extraordinary times and keep our villages free of the virus. We’ll write to you again next week, once we’ve firmed up our plans as to how village life will be under Level 2 (as and when it’s introduced). Until then, if you’ve any queries regarding any of the above, please don’t hesitate to contact your Village Manager.

Finally, with Mother’s Day this Sunday, as we’ll still be operating under our current restrictions, please do continue with all your phone and video calls, WhatsApp messages and other forms of remote communication with your families. We’ll be delighted to help you set those up, if you need any assistance at all, so that residents and families can connect with one another and enjoy a catch-up with loved ones on this special day.

Updated 1 May 2020

Update to Independent Living residents

Now that we’ve entered COVID-19 Alert Level 3, we would like to reiterate the Government's advice that the transition to this lower level is to allow the economy to get underway again – it’s not to improve our social life! There are still very firm restrictions in force nationally which are designed to reduce the possibility of the virus getting a stronger foothold within our communities, and we will continue to observe these in our villages.

Whilst the Government has lifted some of the strict isolation policies for 70+ year olds and modified their guidelines to reflect that approach, at Selwyn there’s very little change in practical terms for residents and families. As the Prime Minister has said, the recommendations around maintaining physical distance, practising good hygiene and adhering to restrictions on social contact remain the same. 

Whilst there may be fewer cases of COVID-19, it hasn’t been eradicated completely, and we’ll now see what the virus will do within the wider community under Level 3. We’re of the belief that this is the danger period – more so than ever – and this is why we’re asking our residents to maintain their Level 4 precautions for the next two weeks. The Foundation has a duty of care to all its independent living and care home residents, as well as to its staff, and the thought of the virus entering our safe environments and spreading through our vulnerable community is too awful to contemplate. We have everything to lose by letting our guard down prematurely, therefore we would appreciate your continued cooperation, support and assistance under the circumstances.

The Selwyn Emergency Management team is currently working towards what Level 2 will look like for our independent living residents. We envisage that there’ll be some extension to a person’s ‘bubble’, but we’ve not determined as yet how exactly that will operate. We’ll keep everyone fully informed of any relaxations and easing of restrictions, as soon as we’re certain that we’ll be able to protect people’s health and safety to the best of our ability.

In the meantime, our village management and resident services teams are here to help make the lockdown easier for you in whatever way we can. If you have a concern of any kind, would like to order food or grocery supplies, or have a maintenance/repair issue of some type, please don’t hesitate to contact us. 

In terms of getting all the essential items you need whilst everyone’s house-bound, we’ve received an offer of help from the Student Volunteer Army who are able to assist residents in two ways – with safe and secure grocery supplies and pharmaceutical deliveries. You can contact them via their website at https://shop.sva.org.nz/ or telephone them on 0800 005 902 – their volunteers can take orders over the phone. A volunteer will shop for your order at the nearest New World and then deliver it to the village. It’s all very easy and delivery of your order will be within 24-48 hours. This is a professionally managed and monitored service that’s highly regarded, and all the volunteers are trained, vetted and cognisant of the need to use personal protective equipment. Please see some further information and FAQs attached. If you’d like us to facilitate this for you, let us know.

We also wanted to inform you of a new TVNZ One series starting on Saturday, 2 May at 9.00 am, which you might be interested in. ‘Healthy for Life’ is designed to help older people work on their strength and balance. Hosted by former Silver Fern, Bernice Mene, it includes a home exercise programme and also provides tips on staying safe in the home and keeping your brain active, plus advice about healthy eating, social links and sleep. A collaboration with TVNZ, ACC and partners across the health sector, it will also be available on TVNZ OnDemand. So do tune in and see what you think. 

We realise that people may be feeling rather glum at the prospect of further time in lockdown. If you would like to have chat at any time, please give us a call or we can arrange for your village chaplain to ring you. Alternatively, if you need help with setting up virtual contact with your loved ones through Zoom or Facetime, we can assist with that. The Government is also making further support available for Kiwis wanting to look after their mental wellbeing as a result of change and uncertainty from COVID-19, and more information is available on the Ministry of Health website at: www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-novel-coronavirus-health-advice-general-public/.

Until next time, stay safe and let’s not jeopardise all the good work that’s been done up to now.

Updated: 24 April 2020

Update to Independent Living residents

Following the Government’s announcement regarding the decision to come out of the Level 4 lockdown next week, we would like to clarify that we’re not intending to relax the restrictions that are currently in place as regards visitors’ access to the village. We’ll be continuing with the same controls, checking and screening practices as per our Level 4 precautions for another two weeks, so we can be certain that we’re doing everything we can to protect residents whilst there’s still a risk of community transmission.

The strict measures that we have in force have been very successful to date, in terms of protecting all our residents from the virus and preventing the infection from entering our villages and care homes. Therefore, as a responsible provider of services to a demographic that’s regarded universally to be the most vulnerable to COVID-19, we see no reason to lift our controls prematurely or to expose our residents unnecessarily to any threat that exists in the wider community.

Consequently, our communal amenities will not be re-opening (with perhaps just a few exceptions across some sites) and organised activities will remain temporarily suspended. Our care homes will also remain closed and will continue with the same controls as per our Level 4 precautions for the foreseeable future.

As regards the slight easing of restrictions nationwide that will come into force when the country moves to Level 3 on Tuesday, the Foundation’s Emergency Management team has been reviewing the health and safety practicalities of permitting specific external contractors or providers on site, such as DHB-approved in-home support workers and construction contractors. Planned maintenance and refurbishment of units will start in a phased and controlled manner over the next few weeks (as will construction activities at Selwyn Village). This will be carefully managed by the Foundation’s Risk Director and Director of Assets and Development. Each contractor will prepare a Health Work Plan for their operations which will be reviewed and approved by the Foundation prior to any work starting. These plans will be in line with the agreed national plans as required by the Ministry of Health to ensure safe worker distancing, work practices and the use of Personal Protective Equipment. Our strict processes for health checking/screening and close contact tracing of workers will apply, and there will be a particular focus on induction of staff, sign-in procedures when entering the site, maintaining physical distancing from village residents and good hygiene practices. 

Please will everyone continue to observe the key principles of our Level 4 safety precautions:

• self-isolate within your unit as much as possible
• put into practice the various physical distancing processes and protocols for your own safety and that of our other villagers
• stay within your immediate bubble at all times and refrain from socialising with your neighbours in the communal areas – even if at a distance
• don’t expand your self-isolation ‘bubble’ in any way or invite family members or any other visitors to the village
• please remind your families and friends that they will not be permitted onto the site at this time
• stay in touch with family on the phone or through Facetime, video conferencing, etc – we can help with ‘how-to’ advice, should you need
• shopping should continue to be left by families for our team to onward deliver to residents’ units
• if you wish to go for a walk, please remain within the bounds of the village site
• restrict any expeditions out into the wider community to the most essential only, in case you run the risk of bringing the infection back in with you on your return.

If we can ease the task of self-isolation for you in any way, please do let us know. Whether you need us to organise shopping, deliver a hot meal, help with urgent maintenance or just have a friendly chat on the phone, do give us a ring. If you’ve internet access, have a look at our new ‘Be well, be kind, be safe’ pages on The Selwyn Foundation website and on the COVID-19 page. Our chaplaincy team also have their daily video reflections on our YouTube channel.

We understand that these restrictions are taxing and that it’s difficult to be apart from loved ones for such a prolonged period. Please know, however, that they’re intended to protect each one of us who lives or works in the village. If we all play our part in helping to eliminate the virus from our communities – and get it right first time – it reduces the likelihood of the virus reappearing and everyone having to go through the whole lockdown scenario all over again at some point in the near future. Be buoyed by the fact that there’s light at the end of the tunnel, but we just need to keep up the effort for a few more weeks for the sake of one and all.

Finally, we would like to thank all our amazing teams for everything they’re doing to help everyone through the lockdown. We know that residents and our care families greatly appreciate them, too, judging from the wonderful comments and messages of praise and support we’ve received in the past few days.   

The nation’s 2020 ANZAC Day commemorations will be very different this year, but we’re certain that the following Ode (the fourth stanza of Laurence Binyon's poem ‘For the Fallen’) will be part of everyone’s reflections and prayers on Saturday for those who gave their lives in the service of our country.

Stay safe.

 Updated 9 April 2020

Update for Independent Living residents

As we enter week three of the Alert 4 lockdown period, we’re pleased to report that we continue to remain free of the COVID-19 virus, and our efforts to keep the infection out of our villages have proved successful to date. Long may it continue!

We’d like to thank our wonderful teams for all their hard work and for everything they’re doing to make residents feel safe and secure, so that the task of self-isolation is just that little bit easier. The kind acknowledgements and messages of thanks that have been received from residents and family members alike have been greatly appreciated by us all. 

As the nation endeavours to rid itself of this virus, please may we remind everyone of the need to stay within the bounds of your village site and to restrict any expeditions out into the wider community to the most essential only. Whilst our Selwyn communities may be free of COVID-19, others are not, and we need to reduce the likelihood of our inadvertently coming into contact with it and bringing it into our safe haven. 

For the remainder of our time in lockdown, residents are requested to stay within your unit as much as you can, but by all means go for a walk around the village to get some exercise. Social gatherings, however – no matter how small or seemingly harmless, even whilst complying with the physical distancing rule – are best avoided for your own health and safety, and we need to remain ‘in splendid isolation’ within our particular bubble until the Ministry of Health tells us otherwise. Please remind your families and friends that we’ll not be able to grant them access into the village for that reason, and that arrangements are in place for them to deliver any shopping or supplies at a safe distance, which we’ll then bring to you. We realise that it’s difficult to be apart from loved ones in such trying circumstances, but the restrictions are intended to protect each one of us who lives or works in the village.

That’s not to say that you have to be completely ‘incommunicado’, however, and you can continue to stay in touch with family, friends and neighbours through the wonders of modern technology. Do let your Village Reception or Resident Services team know if we can help you with anything in this regard. Similarly, if you need any shopping or other supplies organised, please let us know and we can arrange that for you. We’ve had some kind offers from families and other volunteers who’ve offered to assist with such errands, so please tell us what you need – it’s a much better option than you having to venture out to the supermarket. We’re seeing a good take-up of our meal delivery service, so that’s another option for you, and we’d like to thank our catering staff for stepping up to the challenge and responding to the increased demand so admirably.

You may be used to having so much more spare time on your hands by now. For those with internet access, there are many videos, tutorials, webinars, podcasts and other tips and advice on how to use the time productively. Whether it’s exercising in close confines, re-discovering creative skills and talents, trying new recipes, de-cluttering and getting things ready for the op shop once lockdown is lifted, listening to audiobooks, sorting your photographs, re-reading a favourite book or reflecting on a favourite Bible verse, there are many and diverse ways to keep oneself occupied.  

There are also plenty of other suggestions and resources on the ‘Be well, be kind, be safe’ pages of The Selwyn Foundation website which you can explore click here and on our dedicated Coronavirus webpages. Your family and friends might be interested to have a look, too. 

If you wish to keep up-to-date with how New Zealand is battling the virus at any stage, the Government websites are the best sources of information, as other sites might not be accurate or may engage in scaremongering. You can read the latest at: https://covid19.govt.nz/ and at www.health.govt.nz.

With the limitations placed on gatherings, the opportunity for prayers and worship has also been severely curtailed. Our Chaplaincy team across all the Selwyn villages have therefore commenced a new initiative, bringing comforting words and messages into our homes each day through a brief video message. Holy Week and Easter are the themes of this week’s reflections and, thereafter, they’ll focus on some broader ideas and aspects of life experience for us to think about. The reflections are available click here, as well as on our Facebook page and YouTube channel.

The chaplains hope that both residents and staff find some refreshment and encouragement in each ‘thought for the day’. If you’d like to chat to a chaplain at any time, or to a member of staff or other support person, please don’t hesitate to tell us and we can organise that. We’ll also be continuing our regular phone calls to make sure everyone’s well, and look forward to catching up with you all then.    

We’d like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very safe and stress-free Easter period. It will certainly be very different this year. Please be reassured that you’re not alone, but part of a wider caring community, and our village teams are always on hand to help and support you in whatever way you may need.

Stay safe and well, and be kind to one and all.

 Update 3 April 2020

Update to independent living residents

We would like to thank everyone again for your consideration of, and adherence to, the protection measures that we’ve taken to try to ensure that no-one contracts the COVID-19 virus. Residents generally appear to have adapted well to having to self-isolate and are mindful of all the things they need to do to stay out of harm’s way.

Everyone should be self-sustainable now, with all they need to stay safely at home for the remainder of the lockdown. We will continue to keep in touch with everyone by phone to ensure that all’s well.   

Below is a reminder of everyone’s obligations to maintain safety under the Alert Level 4:

• Social gatherings involving people outside your ‘bubble’ are not permitted and, under the Government’s powers, are reportable and may be subject to penalties, such as fines. This is the case even in situations where physical distancing is being used.
• Use of vehicles is permitted for essential travel only, which includes attendance at medical appointments and collecting prescriptions and groceries.
• Exercise is permitted in your locality, but people are not permitted to use their car to travel to a place of exercise.
• The Government is urging those over the age of 70 to stay in their bubble and not have non-essential visitors. For everyone’s safety, we also endorse this, but acknowledge that community support services have ceased for some people who had help with household tasks. This is likely to remain in place for some time. If you are struggling with things like changing your bed or sanitising hard surfaces, please let the village team know. We can work with you to come up with a SAFE solution.

The four do’s of safety:

1. Physical distancing
2. Use of hand sanitiser and good hand washing
3. Minimising the time spent away from your home and only going out for essentials
4. Reducing your contact with hard surfaces in public places.

As always, residents shouldn’t hesitate to phone the Village Manager or Reception if you have any queries or need any help whatsoever. We can deliver meals or order in whatever you might need. Please be assured that we are here to help in whatever way we can.

Update 1 April 2020

Update for independent living residents

We are now in the second week of our lockdown period and are coming to terms with the restrictions that are necessary as the nation tries to curtail COVID-19 / Coronavirus. Our residents are generally in good spirits, and we would like to thank everyone for their cooperation and consideration of their fellow villagers as we continue to get used to this new way of living.

We would like to reassure residents that our village management and resident services teams are on hand to help, if anyone encounters any difficulties as they self-isolate.  Please don’t hesitate to call us, if you need any assistance at all.  Keeping in mind the two metre physical distancing rule, it’s best if you phone or email us rather than coming to Reception in person. 

Whatever you need, we’ll do our best to make it happen.  Whether it’s assistance with using technology or your IT devices to stay in touch with family, or if you would like us to order in any particular item for purchase, we’ll get right on to it for you.  Should you wish to use our meal delivery service from the restaurant or village kitchen, do please try to think ahead and give us a couple of days’ notice if possible.

We know that some of our independent living residents may be particularly vulnerable, therefore we’re phoning them often to check how they’re doing and providing whatever support they may need. This week, our chaplains are also being equipped with the capability to connect virtually with residents via tablets and FaceTime or Jabber, which will enhance the level of support they provide beyond that of an ordinary phone call. Working closely with our independent living residents and the residential care teams, the chaplains have been part of ensuring that phone trees and conversation has been extended to all our residents, tenants and regular chapel attendees, and are tailoring further congregational support as we approach Holy Week and Easter.  In the care homes across our village sites, they’re also continuing with regular services for groups of ten residents or fewer, and are resourcing interested people to continue with some form of music and prayers.

As regards maintaining contact, we would like to remind everyone about the need to physically distance ourselves from others at all times.  The Government is urging people over the age of 70 to stay at home and self-isolate as much as possible – for their own safety.  It’s important that everyone practises these health and safety precautions – whilst you may not have the virus, others you come in contact with might have or might be developing the infection, so it’s better to be safe than sorry. 

However, you can still go for a walk to enjoy the lovely autumn sunshine and a change of scene, but please ‘keep yourself to yourself’ and refrain from inviting visitors into the village or into your unit.  Unfortunately, this also applies to family members; we would be grateful if families did not continue to visit during this lockdown period or break the ‘bubble’ of residents’ self-isolation.  We understand that this is difficult, but we’re all having to make changes to our routine at the moment for the sake of the greater good.  If residents are expecting any deliveries of food or other items from family, they need to be left at reception and we will then deliver everything to you.

Finally, just a reminder about getting the flu vaccine as soon as possible, if you haven’t already done so.  Free vaccinations are now available for older people; GPs, pharmacies and other providers are using different ways to vaccinate people that suit them and their practice, to ensure that everyone stays healthy and free of COVID-19 / Coronavirus.  Although the influenza vaccination won’t protect you from COVID-19, it will help protect against a serious disease that kills hundreds of New Zealanders every winter.

We hope that everyone continues to stay safe and well, as we get used to our new way of life in the fight to eradicate this virus from New Zealand.  As always, if you have a particular query or concern, please don’t hesitate to contact your village management team at any time.

26 March 2020

Uniting against COVID-19/Coronavirus

Now that we’ve entered the COVID-19 Level 4 lockdown period, the Government advises that everyone must stay at home to prevent spreading the virus. It’s important that residents limit their physical contact with family, friends and others who live in the wider community as much as possible over the next four weeks, in order to protect themselves, their fellow residents and our staff from any risk of getting the infection.

That said, however, there are various things that you are still able to do, whilst keeping a safe distance from everyone and helping in our national effort to eradicate this virus from our shores.

• You can go for a walk around the village outside. You can walk in the park or along the streets. If you meet someone and want to have a chat, then by all means do so – but keep at least two metres away from one another. When returning to your apartment, think about being in the lift with just one other person – or preferably on your own.
• If you want to meet up with another resident, do so in the spacious common areas. The village ground floor lounges and café areas are places where you can sit a couple of metres away from each other. Or you can meet outside, where we have seats around the village.
• You can go to the supermarket, but do limit the number of trips you make and their duration – you don’t want to come into close contact with people outside your immediate ‘bubble’ (those you’re living with during your time in self-isolation). Keep well away from other shoppers and be very careful about your hand hygiene in relation to the trundler and the check-out counter – use hand sanitiser when you return to your car and wash your hands as soon as you get home.
• We’d rather you didn’t go shopping, however, as that increases the risk of you picking up the virus and bringing it back. We suggest that someone does the shopping for you – they’ll have to leave it at reception and we’ll then deliver it straight to your door.
• Now’s the time to keep in touch with family and friends by phone or email. Use the speaker function on your grey Cisco phone, if you have one. For those with an iPhone, consider using FaceTime which lets you see the person you’re talking to; similarly, you might have Skype or be able to use Zoom on your computer.  Or why not message your contacts using WhatsApp, for example.  The possibilities are endless!  So make the most of all that innovative technology we’re always hearing about.
  
  

Staying safe and sound

Our villages are currently virus-free. The risk is not amongst us, but someone from outside might bring it into the villages. That’s why we’re restricting all non-essential visitors coming in – we only want visits that are essential in terms of providing supplies, health-related support services or repairs/maintenance.  In each case, those coming into the village will be screened and their temperature checked, to make sure they’re not bringing the virus in with them.    

If you do need help with something, please ring resident services or reception.  Our teams are ready to help if you need food, supplies, something fixed or medical assistance. All our staff wear name badges, including our Bureau employees, so you’ll be able to identify them as being members of our village community.  

Our staff are all working to the Selwyn pandemic management plan, and we’ve introduced a wide range of precautions and protective measures as regards our practices and procedures.  We’re providing our staff with every support possible – both on a professional and personal level – and we’re also implementing key initiatives such as employing our trusted casual Bureau staff on a longer, fixed-term basis to support staffing needs as necessary. The Foundation is continuing to look at ways and means of supporting the health and welfare of staff as they deal with the stresses and strains of the current situation, like everyone else in New Zealand, whilst coming to work to provide essential services for our residents.  

In addition, as an organisation, we’re following all Government advice and legislation, as well as that of our industry bodies – the NZ Aged Care Association and Retirement Villages Association.  We’re sharing knowledge and best practice with other providers within the sector and keeping abreast of developments overseas. So you can be sure we’re doing everything that can be done to keep this infection out of our village and away from our residents. 

If you’ve any queries about anything mentioned above, please don’t hesitate to contact your Village Manager. 

Let’s unite against COVID-19 and each play our part in keeping everyone at our village safe and sound.

COVID-19 update to independent living residents, 7.00pm, 23 March 2020

Following this afternoon’s announcement by the Government advising that New Zealand has now moved up to COVID-19 Alert Level 3 and, in the next 48 hours to Level 4 for a minimum of four weeks, in an escalation of efforts to reduce the spread of the virus, we have taken a range of stringent measures to protect our village communities.

Over the weekend, we closed our care homes to all visitors and also stood-down those members of staff who are aged 70+. Independent living residents were recommended to stay at home to reduce their risk of contact with the virus; many external services and externally led activities were suspended and we restricted all non-essential movements into the villages.

The following is a summary of our latest decisions and how we intend to protect our residents further:

• We have closed our cafés to residents and the public. Independent living residents wishing to order a meal from the kitchen should pre-order this the day before, and Resident Hospitality will deliver it to your unit.
• The mini-marts are also closed (where available). Milk, bread and frozen meals will be available for purchase at reception from tomorrow morning.
• The medical centre remains open (where available); GPs are continuing to provide a service into the care homes and will be offering phone consultations to independent living residents.
• All shopping trips are now suspended.
• The pool and gym (including the Strength and Wellness studios, where available) are closed.
• The hair dressing service is suspended.
• Any building projects and works have been suspended for four weeks.
• We are restricting all non-essential visitors into the villages, with the exception of those delivering food (which is to be left at reception for Resident Hospitality to deliver to residents) and those who provide an approved care or health service (eg, DHB-registered home care support personnel).
• A sign at the main entrance will inform visitors that the village is closed for all non-essential visits; any urgent/essential visitors will be asked the precise nature of their visit and will be required to sign in at reception (for tracing purposes).
• Only essential repairs and maintenance will now be carried out.

Alert Level 4 means that it is likely that the virus is not contained, therefore a wide range of public health and social measures have now been enacted nationally to reduce the risk of a widespread outbreak.  People are instructed to stay at home, businesses will be closed except for essential services (eg, supermarkets, pharmacies, clinics) and lifeline utilities, travel will be severely limited and educational facilities will be closed.  Mass gatherings have already been cancelled, and public venues closed (eg, libraries, museums, cinemas, food courts, gyms, pools and amusement parks).

Due to the heightened alert level, it is important that independent living residents now limit their contact with ‘the outside world’ as much as possible in order to protect themselves from any risk of contracting the infection.  

We would ask that residents do not go out shopping and that you reduce all unnecessary visits to the village.  Please do not encourage anyone to visit you in your apartment or villa.  If residents choose to continue meeting with family at the village, you should follow the social distancing rules, staying at least 2m away and keeping any essential visits very brief. Shopping deliveries can be dropped off at reception and we will deliver it to you.  

Information on how to self-isolate to slow the spread of the virus is available on the Government website: covid19.govt.nz

We will do all we can to keep this infection at bay and to support residents during this uncertain time. But everyone has a part to play in this national effort. Please help us to protect you, your fellow residents, our staff and New Zealand from the devastating effects of this virus. 

If you need particular support or assistance as a result of this latest announcement, please do not hesitate to speak to the village management team.  

Following the latest update by the Government advising that New Zealand has now moved up to COVID-19 Alert Level 2 - Reduce Contact - in an escalation of efforts to reduce the spread of the virus, we would now encourage our independent living residents to self-isolate at home as much as possible.

The Government is recommending that people over 70 and those with certain pre-existing medical conditions or compromised immune systems should stay at home as much as they can to reduce risk of contact with the virus.

With this in mind, if independent living residents do have to leave their unit, please be aware of the importance of exercising physical distancing from others, as much as is practical. The Government is also advising everyone to limit all non-essential domestic travel and to significantly reduce the number of interactions they have at this time.

Further information on how to self-isolate to slow the spread of the virus is available on the new Government website: covid19.govt.nz

We will be issuing further updates on how this latest advice will impact on village life and how our normal routines may have to change in response to the health risk posed by COVID-19.

We have closed our care homes to all visitors with immediate effect – with the exception of close family whose loved ones may be approaching end-of-life.  If this affects any independent living resident whose loved one is living in residential care, and you would like to discuss how this applies in your particular situation, please contact the relevant facility Care Manager.

We realise that this will be an anxious time for everyone.  If any residents require particular support or help as a result of this latest announcement, please contact the village management team and we will provide every possible assistance.

Advice for independent living residents

Over and above the self-isolation requirements for travellers coming from countries or areas of concern (category 1a and 1b), we also recommend that independent living residents returning from any other international destination observe the same requirements and also avoid contact with our care home residents for 14 days from the date of their arrival back into New Zealand.

Residents are also requested to manage their family and visitor contacts by asking them not to visit, if they have any cold- or flu-like symptoms or have travelled internationally and have not been back in New Zealand for 14 calendar days from the date of their return to New Zealand. 

Should residents be suffering with cold or flu-like symptoms, we recommend that they self-isolate until they are clear of the symptoms, as it is difficult to distinguish these symptoms from those of COVID-19 in the beginning. Residents are encouraged to stay home, avoid public gatherings and events, and practice good hygiene etiquette.

The symptoms of COVID-19 include a fever, coughing and difficulty breathing. Anyone who is suffering with cold or flu-like symptoms and who is concerned can phone Healthline’s dedicated COVID-19 number 0800 358 5453 or contact their GP, phoning ahead of their visit. Further information is available here or you can visit the new Government website https://covid19.govt.nz/