FAMILIES of residents in a Kangaroo Flat aged care facility say they were disappointed by communication from the home after a COVID-19 case in a staff member.
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The Royal Freemasons staff member who tested positive had not worked at the facility since July 23
Resident's daughter Jan Claridge said she first heard of a case unofficially several hours before the home notified families.
Ms Claridge said her conversations with other families had revolved around the lack of the communication from the home.
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She said communication with Royal Freemasons had been one of the big challenges, when the home was planning roster changes.
A Royal Freemasons spokesperson said the team followed its outbreak management process.
It notified families immediately after it told the Department of Health and Human Services and implemented infection control strategies, they said.
"The positive case was a staff member and no residents have signs or symptoms," they said.
"We have sent communications to all families, established a dedicated 1800 number for the home which is staffed by a senior member of our residential team.
"Our team have responded and telephoned many of the families in addition to the communications we sent."
It comes only a week after Royal Freemasons announced plans to cut rosters by 6.5 per cent at Bendigo's Kangaroo Flat and Flora Hill homes.
But the organisation said its rosters would remain unchanged while Victoria was in a state of emergency.
Ms Claridge said she feared COVID-19 would put the home under a lot of pressure if staff members had to self-isolate while waiting for test results.
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"If they're cutting back, what are they going to do in the midst of a pandemic if staff have to self-isolate or they've tested positive?" Ms Claridge said.
"They keep saying, and trying to reassure us, 'This isn't going to be cutbacks, there's going to be just as many working'.
"It's not about how many people they've got working. It's about how many people are going to be on the floor, caring for my mother throughout the day."
A Royal Freemasons spokesperson said it was yet to implement roster reductions at its Bendigo facilities.
They said rosters would remain unchanged while Victoria was in a state of emergency.
Bendigo Health confirmed on Thursday it would provide infection control support for the Royal Freemasons facility.
Bendigo Health chief executive Peter Faulkner said residential aged care services were a serious concern when it came to COVID-19.
The Royal Freemasons spokesperson said the organisation was waiting on further instructions from the Department of Health and Human Services regarding testing.
They said no residents were showing symptoms consistent with COVID-19.
The Royal Freemasons COVID-19 case is the second among a Bendigo aged care worker.
A worker at Mercy Health Bethlehem Home for the Aged tested positive on July 17. But the facility has not recorded any new cases since then.
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