"It's totally traumatic and really draining ... we're simply exhausted."
However Ms Luff's story is only one of many aged care employees who, together with weak residents, are feeling the load of the pandemic, which has solely been magnified by a rising dying toll.
This week the sector, and the federal government's administration of the virus inside it, has been thrust into the headlines as COVID-19 continues to unfold.
Wearied employees are buckling beneath the strain of overlaying rising employees shortages and emotionally supporting residents who've been locked away from their households within the 'golden years' of their lives.
Many have died, and hundreds extra are nonetheless weak.
Australia's Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly mentioned 84 per cent of the nation's 1103 COVID-19 deaths had been in folks aged over 70, with a big variety of these in aged care.
Yesterday he introduced a taskforce to analyze the sector's fatalities, however Opposition Chief Anthony Albanese argued it is too little, too late, accusing the federal government of "neglecting" aged care.
As of January 28, there have been 23,900 lively circumstances of COVID-19 associated to aged care together with each employees and residents in 1261 services throughout Australia.
Ms Luff has given perception into the realities of engaged on the entrance line of the pandemic and made a plea to the federal government for desperately-needed help.
Residents battling psychological well being points amid lockdowns
Ms Luff is a carer at Baptist Care's Morven Gardens house within the New South Wales Blue Mountains.
The most recent COVID-19 wave compelled Morven Gardens to lock down for weeks as they battled infections amongst employees and tried to maintain residents secure.
"It is clearly been very difficult," Ms Luff informed 9News.
The isolating nature of lockdowns to include COVID-19 outbreaks in nursing properties has had a tragic impact on the psychological well being of aged residents, Ms Luff mentioned.
"The psychological well being impression is big, it is a very lonely and remoted feeling, they're lacking their households and their households are fairly scared as effectively," she mentioned.
"Simply the bodily hug they are not getting that from their households or seeing them, lots of them have gotten withdrawn from having to isolate of their room."
Ms Luff mentioned she and her staff typically skip their lunch breaks to spend time with residents in a bid to console them whereas their household can't.
"When we do not have a break we'll go spend time with a resident who we have seen could be doing it robust, and we attempt to consolation the resident one of the best we will," she mentioned.
Jim is a resident at Morven Gardens who missed household connections when lockdowns have been enforced within the house, separating him and his spouse from their daughter.
"It was positive, it was a bit upsetting, it wasn't good not having the ability to have guests," he mentioned.
The 82-year-old mentioned he actually missed what he as soon as thought have been small comforts like visiting the chapel or assembly with different residents.
He mentioned these working on the facility actually helped him to maintain going when instances obtained robust.
"I am unable to converse extremely sufficient of the employees," he mentioned.
"I congratulated the nursing unit supervisor and employees as a result of we have been listening to on the information lots of negativity about properties like this, however the employees are so good that I could not perceive it."
'Huge pay hole for our big tasks'
Employees have been recommended for placing on a courageous face for residents, however many have been struggling - refrained from their very own households and burdened by overlaying extra shifts when others caught the virus.
Aged care employees like Ms Luff aren't in a position to take annual depart to decompress and are pulling double shifts as they battle employees shortages.
"You are away from your loved ones so much," she mentioned.
"We have performed again to again shifts, we have constructed up annual depart.
" lots of us have not gone on annual depart after two years of back-to-back days."
The circumstances are driving individuals who have been as soon as enthusiastic about their jobs out of the trade.
"We're dropping so many employees as a result of they cannot afford to remain on this trade, or with the strain and stress," Ms Luff mentioned.
"We'd like extra folks on the ground to take care of these residents as a result of sooner or later we're all going to be going through this journey."
The federal authorities this week promised two one-off funds of $400 to nursing house employees on the pandemic frontline to battle employees shortages.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison mentioned the funds have been recognition for the onerous work, and whereas Ms Luff is grateful, she mentioned what aged care employees actually need is a big wage enhance.
Aged care employees are paid roughly $22 or $23 an hour, she mentioned, claiming there is a "large pay hole for our big tasks".
She famous there's higher pay for employees in retail or "at McDonalds", with out the large psychological and bodily toll.
"They clearly have numerous tasks however right here we're speaking about folks's well being and so they can die."
Ms Luff praised the assist of her staff on the Baptist Care administration all through the pandemic and as an alternative known as for motion from the federal authorities.
"The most important factor is we want assist from our authorities," she mentioned.
"Baptist Care may be very supportive however we're actually struggling, we're hurting, we're exhausted and we want extra folks to return into the trade for extra staffing."
Your COVID-19 questions answered
In the meantime, the CEO of Baptist Care revealed a damning letter to the Prime Minister saying "pushing by way of" the newest wave of COVID-19 wasn't sufficient and the sector wants assist.