Provider prepares for Cyclone Alfred
Aged care provider Bolton Clarke has been readying scores of residential care homes, retirement villages and home and community support teams as Queensland and northern NSW prepare for landfall of a category two cyclone.
National aged care provider Bolton Clarke has 29 aged care homes, 17 retirement villages and more than 2,300 home and community support clients in the regions expected to get hit by tropical cyclone Alfred when it makes landfall on Thursday.
Bolton Clarke chief executive officer Stephen Muggleton said all Bolton Clarke residential home leadership teams in the southern Queensland and northern New South Wales areas at risk have reviewed their business continuity plans for cyclone management and emergency food and water stocks have been sourced, and maintenance teams are checking all homes have access to fully fuelled generators.
Surge staff lists and rosters have also been drawn up and arrangements have been made for staff to stay overnight if unable to travel home.
Primary health networks, local hospital networks and pharmacies have been included in communication channels, along with local disaster management teams while emergency medical supplies, continence aids, oxygen and laundry arrangements are in place. For residents who are dependent on oxygen and CPAP machines, individual plans have been made.
Mr Muggleton has also said maintenance teams have secured submersible pumps and sandbags for the most at risk homes.
For each of the 17 retirement villages in the path of the low, there are business continuity plans in place and village managers are in close contact with residents to identify specific needs that may arise – such as additional food and medical supplies.
Business continuity plans have also been activated to manage any potential impacts on Bolton Clarke home and community support clients who are in the affected regions, while teams are identifying at risk clients who require essential care services and ensuring emergency plans are organised.
Referencing previous weather-related emergencies, Mr Muggleton has asked to minimise any direct communication into homes and services so that clear and direct lines of communication can be maintained.
“As we continue to keep watch on developing conditions, I reflect on the fact that we successfully worked through many serious weather events together,” Mr Muggleton said in a communication to teams in the cyclone zone.
“My thanks as always go out to frontline teams for your dedication and commitment to continuing to care for and support our clients and residents.”
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