There are no stringent visiting times however consideration should be given to the appropriateness of visiting times. It would be appreciated if visiting time could be confined to the hours between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm or 8:00 am and 9:00 pm during daylight saving.

After 8:00 pm, or 9:00 pm during daylight saving, anyone entering Pioneers Lodge is required to use the intercom at the front gate.

Unfortunately some foods are inappropriate for the elderly and that is why they may not be on our menu. In an effort to overcome this problem Pioneers Lodge has developed a Food Safety Plan which is audited each year by the NSW Food Authority. The food safety plan sets out how we handle the provision of food to our residents from the point of delivery to preparation, service and consumption and is designed to minimise the risk of any food borne illness such as gastroenteritis. We also have a policy on ‘Perishable Food from Families and Other Outside Sources’ which is available on request.

For this reason food and meals brought in by families must not be handled by staff as there is no guarantee that it has been processed hygienically and then stored and transported at a safe temperature. Meals may be brought in from home and heated in the Unit’s microwave oven and then served to the residents by family members or the residents themselves without staff involvement.

Pioneers Lodge will facilitate safe food handling by providing relatives and friends with a copy of the fact sheet “Do you cook and bring food to an elderly relative or friend in an aged care facility?” produced by the Food Safety Information Council.