Aged care news highlights from the week ending 09 February 2021, aggregated by CompliSpace.

The information in the Weekly 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 CompliSpace.

Coronavirus / COVID-19 News

COVID-19 Vaccine Safety and effectiveness

(Note: this excerpt is from the Department of Health newsletter. We cannot provide a link to the full version of this story until the Department of Health uploads it to their website.)

According to The Department of Health, the Australian Government aims to have as many people as possible vaccinated against COVID-19 in 2021.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration’s (TGA) rigorous assessment process will ensure all approved COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. All vaccines are thoroughly tested for safety before they are approved for use in Australia. This includes careful analysis of clinical trial data, ingredients, chemistry, manufacturing and other factors. The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine has been provisionally approved by the TGA for people 16 years and older. Pfizer will be required to continue providing information to the TGA on the safety, efficacy and quality of the vaccine.

Provisional approval of the University of Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is currently anticipated in February.

Want to know more about how COVID-19 vaccines are tested and approved? Check out the video on our website.

You can also talk to your GP or a health professional about the COVID-19 vaccines and why vaccination is an important part of keeping the community safe and healthy.

TGA advises no specific risk from Pfizer/BioNTech for elderly people
After a recent assessment by the European Medicines Agency Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee, the TGA has concluded that there is no specific risk of vaccination with the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in elderly people. Elderly people can receive this vaccine and there is no cap on the upper age limit.

You can read more about this on the TGA’s website.

Keep up to date with trusted information
The Department of Health understands that potentially incorrect and harmful information about the COVID-19 vaccination program is being distributed to residential aged care facilities by people not connected to those facilities.

The Australian Government urges aged care providers and staff to obtain trusted and reliable information.  You can find this information and resources, including translated materials, on our COVID-19 vaccines website, and subscribe to receive the COVID-19 Vaccines Updates.

COVID-19 Vaccine Information for residential aged care facilities

(Note: this excerpt is from the Department of Health newsletter. We cannot provide a link to the full version of this story until the Department of Health uploads it to their website.)

According to The Department of Health, the department has published new information for residential aged care facilities and workers about the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines.

On our website you can download:

• newsletter article for providers and workers
• information sheet for providers and workers
• social media tiles and messages
• poster
• information sheet for residents and their families and representatives
• frequently asked questions.

We will update our website regularly as new information becomes available. In particular, further detail and operational information will be provided soon on:

• the vaccine rollout, including information about what will happen on the day of vaccination
• obtaining and recording consent and registering vaccinations
• vaccination for family, representatives and carers who are regular visitors and provide key support to residents in RACFs
• Primary Health Networks (PHN) and their role in the COVID-19 vaccine role out to RACFs.

Masks mandatory in Victorian RACFs

(Note: this excerpt is from the Department of Health newsletter. We cannot provide a link to the full version of this story until the Department of Health uploads it to their website.)

According to The Department of Health, the Victorian Government has confirmed that masks are mandatory for all residential aged care facility staff, effective immediately.

All clinical and non-clinical staff and workers must wear a surgical mask at all times, no matter where they work in the facility.

A direction fact sheet has been provided by the Victorian Government Department of Health and Human Services.

Workers delivering services for Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) and Home Care Package (HCP) providers must also wear a mask when providing care in an indoor space.

The above advice is also applicable for the provision of both Residential and Home Based Services delivered by providers of the National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program.

Further information regarding is available at on the Victorian Government website or please contact the Victorian Aged Care Response Centre (VACRC) 1800 413 957.

Allied Health group therapy program in RACFs

(Note: this excerpt is from the Department of Health newsletter. We cannot provide a link to the full version of this story until the Department of Health uploads it to their website.)

According to The Department of Health, residential aged care facilities who have had 2 or more cases of COVID-19 (as of 23 October 2020) are eligible for an allied health group therapy program. The program aims to improve physical functioning of residents who are at risk of deconditioning due to COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. Funding is available for twice weekly therapy for up to 26 weeks.

Group therapy sessions will be led by a physiotherapist, occupational therapist or exercise physiologist. Primary Health Networks(PHNs) will be commissioning allied health providers to do this work in late February or early March 2021. The states with eligible facilities include Victoria, NSW and Tasmania.

Please see factsheet for further information.

National review of COVID-19 outbreaks in Australian RACFs

(Note: this excerpt is from the Department of Health newsletter. We cannot provide a link to the full version of this story until the Department of Health uploads it to their website.)

According to The Department of Health, following announcement of the National Review of COVID-19 Outbreaks in Australian Residential Aged Care Facilities in late December 2020, the review is underway and is being undertaken by Professor Lyn Gilbert AO and Adjunct Professor Alan Lilly.

The reviewers are planning to conduct an online survey and a series of online workshops beginning later this month and want to hear a range of views and perspectives about experiences related to the pandemic.  Please stay tuned for more information coming soon about how you can be involved. In the meantime, please see the terms of reference (please use Google Chrome) for the review.

Updated directions to WA providers 

(Note: this excerpt is from the Department of Health newsletter. We cannot provide a link to the full version of this story until the Department of Health uploads it to their website.)

According to The Department of Health, the Western Australian Government has introduced a five day lockdown in ‘affected areas’ including; Metropolitan Perth, Peel and South West regions following a hotel quarantine worker testing positive to COVID-19. This lockdown includes updated advice to aged care providers in Western Australia (Visitors to Residential Aged Care Facilities Directions No.5). It is critical that aged care providers and their staff familiarise themselves with these directions.

Effective immediately, a person must not enter, or remain at a residential aged care facility in the affected areas unless:

• the person is an officer, employee or contractor of the residential aged care facility
• the person's presence at the premises is for the purposes of providing goods or services that are necessary for the effective operation of the residential aged care facility
• the person's presence at the premises is for the purposes of providing health, medical, or pharmaceutical services to a resident of the residential aged care facility, whether the goods or services are provided for consideration or on a voluntary basis
• the person's presence at the premises is for the purposes of end of life support for a resident of the residential aged care facility
• the person's presence at the premises is required for the purposes of emergency management, law enforcement or otherwise responding to an emergency
• the person's presence at the premises is required for the purposes of performing a function (including exercising a power or performing a duty) under a written law by an officer, employee or contractor of a public authority
• the person's presence at the premises is in the person's capacity as a prospective resident of the residential aged care facility
• the person is a legal practitioner whose presence on the premises is for the purpose of providing legal services in relation to wills estate planning to a resident of a residential aged care facility.

However, if you have returned from overseas or been informed you are a close contact in the last 14 days or you have any symptoms you may not enter a residential aged care facility.

In addition to the Residential Aged Care directions aged care providers in the affected areas must also follow general public restrictions including the mandatory wearing of masks.

Aged care facilities outside of the affected areas are required to continue following the Visitors to Residential Aged Care Facilities Directions No. 4.

It is critical to stay up to date with advice and Directions on the WA Government website and to check for these updates regularly.

Aged care providers are reminded they need to urgently contact both their local PHU and the Commonwealth Department of Health at agedcareCOVIDcases@health.gov.au in response to a confirmed case of COVID-19 in a resident or staff member. A Commonwealth case manager will be assigned to you and a range of supports will be made available to help you manage the outbreak. The PHU will also advise and assist you with testing arrangements.

Providers are also to ensure they have a sufficient supply of PPE, to use their own supply of PPE first and to request extra supply as and when needed. If you urgently need PPE and cannot source it, please submit an online application for access to PPE from the National Medical Stockpile. The application will need to be completed for your request to be considered. The Commonwealth is prioritising requests for PPE from the National Medical Stockpile to aged care services that are most in need.

Further information and advice:
The Western Australia PHU contact number is 13 268 43 (13 COVID).

Please visit the Australian Government Department of Health website for information and resources to assist in preparing and managing a COVID-19 outbreak.

Updated NSW and SA directions on aged care restrictions

(Note: this excerpt is from the Department of Health newsletter. We cannot provide a link to the full version of this story until the Department of Health uploads it to their website.)

According to The Department of Health, NSW Health advice for both Residential Aged Care Facilities and Home Care Service Providers has been updated as of 4 February 2021. Aged care providers are encouraged to ensure they read the full advice.

Key updates include:

• All staff and visitors must wear a surgical mask inside RACFs. 
• Western Australian locations have been added to the Areas of Concern - Western Australian Locations visited by confirmed cases or the  Perth, Peel or South West Regions of Western Australia since 25 January 2021.
• Victorian venues of concern have been added to the Areas of Concern – Since 29 January 2021.
• There are no Areas of Increased Testing identified in NSW. 
• For NSW healthcare facilities the New Zealand Hotspot locations have been removed, but contact tracing locations of interest in New Zealand remain.

South Australia Health’s Emergency Management (Residential Aged Care Facilities No 26) (COVID-19) Direction 2020 came into effect on 2 February.

No person who has who travelled from any place other than a low community transmission zone in the last 14 days is permitted to enter or remain on the premises of a residential aged care facility in South Australia. This includes:

Western Australia: effective 2.04 pm 2 February, people arriving in South Australia from Western Australia who have not been in a prohibited zone (Perth Region, Peel Region, and South West Region) on or after 26 January 2021, are permitted to enter and remain on the premises of a residential aged care facility after receiving written confirmation of a negative COVID-19 Day 1 test.

New South Wales: effective 12.01am 31 January, people arriving in South Australia who have been in the Greater Sydney Region (as defined by the Greater Sydney Commission Act 2015 NSW), NSW Central Coast Council or Wollongong City Council in the previous 14 days, are permitted to enter a residential aged care facility after receiving written confirmation of a negative COVID-19 test.

New Zealand: effective 10.15pm 31 January 2021, people arriving in South Australia having arrived from New Zealand on or after the commencement of this Direction, or who have been in New Zealand on or after 14 January 2021, are permitted to enter a residential aged care facility after receiving written confirmation of a negative COVID-19 test.

Support for Aged Care Workers in COVID-19 (SACWIC) Grant Opportunity

(Note: this excerpt is from the Department of Health newsletter. We cannot provide a link to the full version of this story until the Department of Health uploads it to their website.)

According to The Department of Health, a reminder that the Support for Aged Care Workers in COVID-19 (SACWIC) Grant Opportunity remains open until 30 June 2021 for applications from Providers located in hotspots or high risk locations. Funding is available for those providers who experienced out of pocket costs associated with supplementing staff pay or offering additional training during the implementation of single site workforce arrangements or costs associated with sick leave for their workers.

The SACWIC Grant has been made available in the following locations for the relevant activity period. Funding can only be reimbursed for costs incurred during the period identified below:
 

When applying for SACWIC grant funding, eligible providers must provide the following documentation:

SACWIC Application Spreadsheet.

Declaration of supernumerary hours worked.

Supporting documentation as listed in section 3.1 of the Grant Opportunity Guidelines (version 5).

For more support in applying for SACWIC grant funding, you can review the Single Site Grant Funds Webinar Presentation delivered by the Department of Health in conjunction with ACSA and LASA, contact the Grants Hub at Grant Connect, or phone 1300 484 145 for urgent enquiries.

The Australian Government is encouraging providers and workers to continue limiting mobility where possible. For guidance on practical implementation of single site arrangements, providers can visit the Guiding Principles Support Hub website or phone the hotline on 1800 491 793 (free call). Providers are also encouraged to take steps to understand your workforce by developing a register for recording each workers mobility and their skills and training.

Further advice on how to prepare for and implement a single site workforce arrangement can be found in the National COVID-19 Aged Care Plan. This guidance will support providers to prepare in the event single site arrangements are required again in the future.

Multilingual Older Persons COVID-19 Support Line

(Note: this excerpt is from the Department of Health newsletter. We cannot provide a link to the full version of this story until the Department of Health uploads it to their website.)

According to The Department of Health:

Invitation: Online launch of the Older Persons Multilingual COVID-19 support line.

The Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing is pleased to invite you to the launch of the Multilingual Older Persons COVID-19 Support Line. The support line is funded by the Australian Department of Health, and is an Australia-wide initiative that provides in-language information and support associated with COVID-19, and referrals to appropriate services and programs for older Australians from culturally diverse backgrounds.

The support line will be available in Arabic, Cantonese, Greek, Italian, Mandarin and Vietnamese. All calls are free, 2:00pm - 5:00pm (Melbourne time) Monday to Fridays (except public holidays).

The launch will give you an overview of the Multilingual Older Persons COVID-19 Support Line, how it can benefit your clients and their families, and ways you can promote it to your networks.

Wednesday 10 February 2021
12:30 - 1:00pm (Melbourne time)
This is an online event
Register to attend

The Multilingual Older Persons COVID-19 Support Line is funded by the Australian Department Of Health and is a joint initiative of the Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing (supported by Benetas), Spectrum, All Graduates and the PICAC Alliance.

The initiative complements the Older Persons COVID-19 Support line which is supported by: COTA, Dementia Australia, OPAN, National Seniors, and the National Ethnic and Multicultural Broadcasters Council.

Monash innovation reduces risk of COVID in healthcare workers

According to Hospital and Healthcare, a Monash University study reveals that a simple ventilated headboard hood can stop SARS-CoV-2 from spreading between patients and healthcare workers on hospital wards. The research is the first step towards allowing hospitals to deliver the best possible treatments in the safest possible way.

Legislation

Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Serious Incident Response Scheme and Other Measures) Bill 2020 [CTH] – passed the House and debated in the Senate 4.02.21

This Bill amends the Aged Care Act 1997 and the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Act 2018 to introduce a Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS) for residential aged care and flexible care delivered in a residential aged care setting.

The SIRS introduced by the Bill is similar to the incident management and disclosure protection scheme added to the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 in 2017, with amendments to address specific needs of aged care.

The SIRS will replace current responsibilities of approved providers of residential aged care and flexible care delivered in a residential aged care setting (approved provider) in relation to reportable assaults and unexplained absences in the Aged Care Act. The Bill will require approved providers to manage incidents and take reasonable steps to prevent incidents, including through implementing and maintaining effective organisation-wide governance systems for management and reporting of incidents of abuse and neglect.

The Bill will also require approved providers of residential care and flexible care delivered in a residential aged care setting to report all serious incidents to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.

The Bill will also strengthen protections for people who disclose incidents of abuse or neglect in aged care.

The Bill will also expand the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission’s (Commission’s) powers to enforce the requirements of the SIRS and the responsibilities of approved providers and related offences more generally.

Therapeutic Goods Amendment (2020 Measures No. 2) Bill 2020 [CTH] – passed 3.02.21

The Therapeutic Goods Amendment (2020 Measures No. 2) Bill 2020 makes a number of amendments to the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 (the Act).

These amendments:

• improve the availability of prescription medicines during medicine shortages by allowing pharmacists (within safety parameters) to substitute a different medicine for one that has been prescribed for a person in Australia, where there is a serious scarcity of the prescribed medicine;
• allow the making of regulations to establish a unique device identification database and related requirements for the improved traceability and monitoring of medical devices in Australia;
• enable APS employees in the Department of Health to obtain, possess or convey goods for the purposes of identifying if the Act or regulations have been complied with, without contravening a law of (in particular) a State, the Australian Capital Territory or the Northern Territory;
• allow the making of regulations to prohibit the import, export, supply or manufacture of therapeutic goods that are prohibited under international agreements that Australia has ratified (in practice, in relation to the prohibition or restriction of substances that are associated with particular safety concerns);
• remove a potential impediment to the timely availability of COVID-19 vaccines in Australia by enabling the Secretary to consent to the importation and supply of registered or listed therapeutic goods (which would, in relation to registration, include any COVID-19 vaccines that are given marketing approval) that do not have their registration or listing number on the label;
• improve the flexibility of the data protection scheme for assessed listed medicines to further encourage innovation and investment in Australia’s complementary medicines industry; and
• make a number of minor amendments, principally to support timely access to therapeutic goods, improve consistency or make other more minor amendments and corrections.

Disability Services and Other Legislation (Worker Screening) Amendment Act 2020 (No. 39 of 2020) [QLD] – commenced 1.02.21

The objectives of the Disability Services and Other Legislation (Worker Screening) Amendment Act 2020 (the Act) are to:

1. support nationally consistent worker screening for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and the Intergovernmental Agreement on Nationally Consistent Worker Screening for the NDIS (the IGA);
2. enable Queensland to operate a state disability worker screening system for certain disability services that it continues to fund, or deliver, outside of the jurisdiction of the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission (NDIS Commission);
3. streamline and strengthen the legislative framework for disability worker screening in Queensland; and
4. ensure the blue card system operates effectively and efficiently alongside the disability worker screening system and the strongest possible safeguards are maintained in relation to persons working with children with disability.

Implementation of nationally consistent NDIS worker screening will mean clearances and exclusions will be nationally portable across roles and employers within the NDIS in all states and territories. It will also strengthen safeguards for people with disability (for example, through ongoing monitoring of a screened worker’s national criminal history).

Under the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (Cwth) (NDIS Act) and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (Practice Standards – Worker Screening) Rules (WS Rules), Rules, as in force from time to time under the NDIS Act, registered NDIS providers are required to meet worker screening requirements as a condition of registration. The WS Rules include specific transitional arrangements for Queensland to allow registered NDIS providers to meet their screening obligations under existing screening systems.

Registration to Work With Vulnerable People Amendment Act 2019 (No. 18 of 2019) [TAS]- commenced 1.02.21

This Act implements the Government’s commitment to improving the safety of vulnerable people in Tasmania. It gives effect to recommendations arising from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sex Abuse and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) which represents a fundamental change to how supports to people with a disability are funded and delivered across Australia.

The Registration to Work with Vulnerable People Act at 2013 (“the Act”) is to be amended to:

1. Include new requirements previously agreed at a national level, namely:
2. National Standards for Working with Children Checks (WWCC);
3. Intergovernmental Agreement on Nationally Consistent Worker Screening for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (IGA); and
4. Include new requirements to address contemporary practices and administration of the Act.

Working with Vulnerable People (Background Checking) Amendment Act 2019 (No. 13 of 2019) [ACT] – commenced 1.02.21

The purpose of this Act is to make amendments to the Working with Vulnerable People (Background Checking) Act 2011 which will allow the ACT to implement its commitments under the IGA.

The primary changes arising through these amendments are the inclusion of a regulated activity specifically for the purpose of working and volunteering in the NDIS, the inclusion of disqualifying offences for NDIS activities, the inclusion of interim conditions for registration and the removal of registration cards. Further amendments to the Act will be sought later in 2019 to refine the use of disqualifying offences and to expand their application to the broader WWVP Scheme. While there are currently no disqualifying offences for the scheme more broadly, a person who is not registered due to a disqualifying offence may still be eligible for a registration to engage in activities that are not NDIS activities, either generally or limited by conditions.

New Poisons Standard February 2021

A new Poisons Standard commenced February 2021. The new Standard February includes a new entry in Schedule 4 to the Poisons Standard for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) vaccines, published on the TGA website on 14 December 2020. While Schedule 4 to the Poisons Standard already contains an existing general entry relating to ‘VACCINES for human therapeutic use’, a separate entry specifically mentioning ‘SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) vaccine’ is included to highlight the scheduling of such products given their significance as part of the national response to COVID-19 emergency and to ensure consistency with the approach of expressly referring to other vaccines in Schedule 4 (e.g. dengue vaccine, hepatitis A vaccine).

The Poisons Standard February 2021 also incorporates a number of new substances to the Poisons Standard for the first time, including specific entries for cariprazine, bilastine, filgotinib and trifarotene in Schedule 4.

For more information see the Explanatory Statement.

Resources and Upcoming Events

Webinar series: Changes to regulatory arrangements for residential aged care providers supporting NDIS participants from 1 December 2020

According to the Department of Health, Residential Aged Care (RAC) providers supporting National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants will need to be registered* with the NDIS Commission from 1 December 2020. This also applies to RAC providers who start supporting NDIS participants after 1 December 2020. *Note that registration will be automatic for RAC providers with NDIS participants as at 1 December 2020.

Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA) is currently delivering a series of webinars to help RAC providers with the transition and to understand their responsibilities.

Flu vaccination poster

The Department of Health has issued this Flu Vaccination Poster. Residential aged care facilities may wish to display the attached poster at entrances, to alert anyone entering the facility of the flu vaccination requirements that came into effect on 1 May 2020.

Older Person’s COVID-19 Support Line

According to The Department of Health, a new Older Person’s COVID-19 Support Line has been set up to provide information, support and check on older Australians during the period of social distancing measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. COTA Australia, National Seniors, Dementia Australia and the Older Person’s Advocacy Network have banded together to deliver this service with support from the Australian Government.

Senior Australians, their families and carers can freecall 1800 171 866 if they:

• would like to talk with someone about what COVID-19 means for them or a loved one
• are feeling lonely or distressed
• are caring for a someone and need some information or a listening ear about what COVID-19 means for your circumstances
• are worried about COVID-19 means for their usual aged care service
• are worried about a friend or family member living with dementia.
• are unable to access information on the internet and would like up-to-date advice.

Home care services providers can also use the number and dial option 1 to refer home care clients who would like a call from an independent organisation to check on their wellbeing.

The service will include outbound and inbound calls to provide contact, reassurance and practical advice on connecting to services to maximise social engagement and wellbeing whilst at home.

Resources on diverse population groups are now available for aged care staff

According to The Department of Health, The End of Life Directions for Aged Care (ELDAC) website helps you to care for older Australians at the end of life. Our new diversity resources can help health workers and aged care staff to care for:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
• Care leavers
• Carers
• Culturally and linguistically diverse people
• Financially or socially disadvantaged people
• People experiencing homelessness
• Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people
• People living in rural and remote areas
• People with spirituality and faith beliefs
• Veterans

How people think about death, dying and end of life is different for each person. Learning about these differences can help you to provide good palliative care. Access these resources on the Diverse Population Groups page of the ELDAC website.

What Matters Most – New person centred care resources

According to The Department of Health, Palliative Care Australia, through a Dementia and Aged Care Services Fund grant, has launched a suite of resources to encourage early conversations about What Matters Most to older people, their care and their end of life preferences.

6 steps for safe prescribing antipsychotics and benzodiazepines in residential aged care

Issued by the Department of Health, this infographic outlines the 6 steps for safe prescribing antipsychotics and benzodiazepines in residential aged care.

Aged care video alert: Dignity of risk

According to Lexology, the concept of dignity of risk is not entirely new, however it now has a position of prominence in aged care with the Aged Care Quality Standards. In this video update, senior associate Dr Melanie Tan explains:

• What does dignity of risk mean?
• Where and when does dignity of risk apply?
• What is the duty of care within dignity of risk?