For the past few months, Gundagai's Len Tozer has been keeping in touch with his 101-year-old mum Elsie with regular telephone calls.
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Restrictions introduced as part of the coronavirus social isolation rules have affected many people who have elderly relatives living in aged care facilities, including the Tozer family, but there is going to be some changes.
"I understand why the rules were put in place, but it will be good when they can be relaxed a bit," Mr Tozer said.
It is a month since the last positive diagnosis of the coronavirus was recorded in the Murrumbidgee, leaving the total number at 45 confirmed cases.
In line with NSW government's easing of COVID-19 restrictions, Murrumbidgee Local Health District has announced some relaxation around visitation in aged care residences.
MLHD's aged care manager Rosemary Garthwaite said the original measures were put in place to safeguard elderly residents against COVID-19.
The district's "two by two" strategy will now allow each resident up to two designated visitors per day for a maximum of two hours.
"We will be enabling up to two designated people to visit family or friends in our residential aged care facilities for up to two hours each day," Ms Garthwaite said.
"This is an increase from one visitor for one hour only and is congruent with the easing of restrictions we are seeing elsewhere across the state and will be reviewed regularly in line with state and commonwealth directions."
Ms Garthwaite is asking visitors and the community to remain aware when visiting elderly people.
"Our key priority is to prevent elderly residents from becoming infected," she said.
"We ask people to avoid visiting loved ones if they are feeling unwell, or have cold or flu like symptoms."
For those who live farther away, or may be feeling unwell, there are other opportunities to stay connected.
"We understand how important social connection is, so we encourage people to talk with the facility manager about how they can connect with their loved one via technology," Ms Garthwaite said.
"In many cases, people are able to speak with family members more often that they had been if they were visiting in person."
MLHD staff will continue to temperature check visitors and encourage hand hygiene measures at aged care facilities. Visitors are also required to show evidence of their 2020 flu vaccination.
