Aged care news highlights from the fortnight ending 2 February 2024, aggregated by Ideagen.

The information in the ACE Wrap is aggregated from other news sources to provide you with news that is relevant to the aged care sector across Australia and worldwide. Each paragraph is a summary of the subject matter covered in the particular news article. The information does not necessarily reflect the views of Ideagen.

Residential Care and General Aged Care News

Aged Care Act needs strengthening, say peaks

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, significant changes need to be made to the new Aged Care Act to ensure it has greater teeth and older people shouldn’t have to wait any longer for their rights to be respected, according to a paper released by national advocacy organisations.

Upcoming: strengthened Standards guidance consultation

According to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, we are committed to making sure that the aged care sector is prepared for the anticipated introduction of the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards on 1 July 2024, with the new Aged Care Act. We have developed the first set of draft guidance materials to support providers to conform with the strengthened Standards. We encourage all providers to register for our first webinar of 2024, Supporting sector readiness for the new strengthened Standards, at 2.00 pm – 3.00 pm AEDT on Tuesday 6 February. We will discuss the consultation process, the draft products being released and how providers can provide feedback. Registrations for our 6 February webinar are now open.

Meeting mandatory care minutes in residential aged care

According to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, the Commission has released an updated Regulatory Bulletin  on Workforce-related responsibilities – including 24/7 registered nurse and care minutes, outlining the workforce-related responsibilities of approved providers. It explains how the Commission will regulate these responsibilities and respond to non-compliance and associated risks to residents.

Interim First Nations Aged Care Commissioner

According to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, in welcome news, Ms Andrea Kelly has recently commenced in the new role of interim First Nations Aged Care Commissioner. Ms Kelly is a proud Warumungu and Larrakia woman, and a respected First Nations leader who brings 32 years’ experience engaging with First Nations communities and developing public policy. The interim Commissioner will be engaging with First Nations communities and stakeholders about the purpose and tasks of the permanent Commissioner role. These consultations will form the basis for a proposal to government on the permanent Commissioner. The role will also advocate for First Nations peoples and providers to make sure that ongoing changes to aged care meet the needs of older First Nations people. To find out more, visit the Interim First Nations Aged Care Commissioner webpage.

Targeted review program – Annual Prudential Compliance Statement submissions

According to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, the Commission has begun a targeted review on late submissions of Annual Prudential Compliance Statements (APCS). We will do reviews with selected providers between February and March 2024. Providers must submit their Aged Care Financial Report (ACFR) and APCS within 4 months of the end of the financial year. For most providers these are due by 31 October. We have selected providers that have submitted their APCS late at least twice in the past 3 financial years. If you have been selected, the review will check if you meet the Prudential Disclosure Standard and Governance Standard. The targeted review will also assess whether you have met your responsibilities under ‘management of refundable deposits’ in the Aged Care Act 1997. For more information on financial and prudential reporting responsibilities, download our Financial and Prudential Reporting Responsibilities fact sheet.

Sector performance – latest insights

According to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, our latest aged care Sector Performance Report will be available on our website from 5 February. The report includes data from 1 July to 30 September 2023 (Quarter 1 2023–24).

Aged care costing study puts resident costs $100 higher than the current AN-ACC funding

According to Inside Ageing, Scyne Advisory, formerly known as PricewaterhouseCoopers Consulting (Australia) Pty Ltd, has conducted the 2023 Residential Aged Care Costing Study for the Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority (IHACPA). The study revealed averages such as 20 interactions with staff per resident day and 52 direct care minutes per day for permanent residents.

Govt seeks input on new Aged Care Act

According to Inside Ageing, the Albanese Government is seeking input on the exposure draft of the proposed Aged Care Act, a substantial reform aimed at prioritising the well-being and rights of older individuals within the aged care system.

Help for aged care depression rate of 53% with new project

According to Aged Care Insite, a Charles Sturt University project has secured a grant of $600,000 to help improve the mental health of people transitioning to residential aged care. The project, Improving the Mental Health of Older Australians Navigating the Transition to Residential Aged Care (ON-TRAC), will be co-designed, co-produced, trialled, and evaluated in collaboration with older Australians, informal carers, industry care providers, and researchers over five years.

Upward trend in max re-accreditation term

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, an increasing number of aged care homes were re-accredited for a three-year period last financial year, according to a government report.

Sector struggling to innovate

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, a representative survey benchmarking the aged and community care sector’s digital maturity for the first time has found shortcomings in innovation, use of data analytics, client-centred care and cybersecurity insurance and data.

Home Care News

Home Care Governance Under Scrutiny

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, non-compliance trends highlight the increased focus on holding home care boards to account, according to an industry report. Analysis from aged care consultancy firm Pride Living shows there has been a noticeable increase in the number of quality audits conducted by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission regarding home care compliance issues.

Legislation

No significant developments this week.