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.
(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.
(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:
We will update our website regularly as new information becomes available. In particular, further detail and operational information will be provided soon on:
(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.
(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.
(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.
(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:
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.
(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:
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.
(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:
State |
Local Government Area/Suburb |
SACWIC Grant Activity Period |
New South Wales |
Northern Beaches LGA |
18 December 2020 – 29 January 2021 |
Victoria |
Greater Melbourne LGA |
15 July 2020 – 30 November 2020 |
Mitchell Shire LGA |
||
Brighton |
31 December 2020 – 29 January 2021 |
|
Doveton |
||
Glen Waverley |
||
McKinnon |
||
Mordialloc |
||
Moorabbin |
||
Queensland |
Brisbane LGA |
8 January 2021 – 22 January 2021 |
Ipswich LGA |
||
Logan LGA |
||
Moreton Bay LGA |
||
Redland LGA |
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.
(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.
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.
According to Community Care Review, NDIS providers can expect a reduction in their administration burden with the launch of a new national NDIS Worker Screening Database, the government says. The new system to screen NDIS workers was introduced in February 1 to replace the existing patchwork operating across Australia. The NDIS Worker Screening Check will begin replacing the various state and territory screening arrangements from this week, NDIS minister Stuart Robert said on Monday.
New research by the Office of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety shows the rates of hospitalisation of aged care facility residents aged 65 years or more. In 2018/19, 10.5 per cent of residents were hospitalised for a fall; 5.4 per cent were hospitalised for a fracture; 3.4 per cent were hospitalised with a pressure injury; and 1.9 per cent were hospitalised with weight loss or malnutrition.
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission’s Bulletin #25, January 2021 covers:
According to Australian Ageing Agenda, aged care providers and clinical teams need to ensure the prescribing of antipsychotics to people with dementia includes a plan to discontinue the drugs, a dementia expert tells Australian Ageing Agenda. Dementia Centre director Associate Professor Colm Cunningham and Dementia Centre head of clinical services Associate Professor Stephen Macfarlane co-authored an article published on Monday calling for routine deprescribing plans for people with dementia on antipsychotics. The article published in the Australian Prescriber aims to reduce the use of antipsychotic medications, and for those who are in charge of care, to help with their decision making.
(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 2020 ACAR application period is open from 18 December 2020 until 18 March 2021.
The 2020 ACAR offers:
Download the Essential Guide, application forms and resource documents from the department’s website.
All ACAR applications must be received by the department before 11:59pm AEDT on 18 March 2021.
According to Inside Ageing, an Australian serious incident mandatory reporting scheme for abuse and psychological harm – including from other residents – is expected to be in place within weeks as government and industry prepare for the final recommendations of the Royal Commission. Laws to enact the Australian Government’s proposed Serious Incident Response Scheme are due for final debate from tomorrow (Feb 2) ahead of the expected rollout by April 1. Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner Janet Anderson said the incoming scheme would require the reporting of a broader range of incidents than the current compulsory reporting requirements.
(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 Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS) aims to reduce abuse and neglect in aged care homes. From 1 April 2021, subject to agreement by Parliament, providers of residential aged care must report all 'Priority 1' incidents within 24 hours. Reporting of ‘Priority 2’ incidents within 30 days begins in October 2021. For more information visit the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission's website.
Providers will need to report a wider range of incidents under SIRS than previous arrangements. This is likely to increase the number of incident reports providers must submit. From 1 April 2021, providers will report incidents using a new tile on the My Aged Care Provider Portal. Providers should make sure enough staff have access to the portal to submit reports on time. For information on accessing the My Aged Care Provider Portal, including easy to use guides, visit the department’s website.
According to Australian Ageing Agenda, aged care residents receive an average of 15 minutes of allied health services daily from staff and external contractors, costing homes around $12 per person each day, StewartBrown’s first survey on this aspect of care shows. The 2020 StewartBrown Allied Health Deep Dive included 62 aged care providers and 331 aged care homes, accounting for around 12 per cent of homes nationally. Almost half of the 15 minutes was provided by lifestyle officers (47 per cent) who account a third of the allied health costs measured by the survey (32 per cent).
(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, on 8 January 2021, the Australian Government announced its continued development of the possible replacement for the Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI), the Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) funding model by appointing six organisations to provide the independent assessors for the shadow period. These assessors will assess all residents commencing 1 April 2021. It is expected it will take approximately 12 months to complete these shadow assessments.
The Department has engaged Latrobe University to prepare and deliver the training needed for the clinically qualified independent assessors to commence assessments.
The term shadow assessment reflects that the ACFI will continue to operate during this period and will continue to be the mechanism through which funding assessments continue to be made. The AN-ACC shadow assessments will take place in parallel to ACFI assessments. During this time there will be no changes to ACFI processes. The AN-ACC shadow assessment process will not impact funding received by providers in relation to care recipients.
The shadow assessment process is necessary to ensure Government is prepared to respond in an agile manner to the final report of the Royal Commission into Quality and Safety in Aged Care. It does not reflect final decisions of Government to shift to the AN-ACC funding model, but rather a proactive approach to ensuring reform options are available to replace the outdated ACFI.
The Government will continue to consult with the sector on implementation matters before final decisions on the commencement of AN-ACC and an ongoing assessment workforce are finalised.
Find more information on the Residential Aged Care Funding Reform.
(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 Aged Care Workforce Industry Council (ACWIC) invites all providers, consumers and workers to pledge their support for the Aged Care Voluntary Industry Code of Practice (the Code). The Code is a first for the industry; a single code for all aged care organisations, workers and consumers.
The Code clearly outlines seven principles providers can follow to demonstrate that the industry is committed, accountable and dedicated to improvement. It is developed by industry for an industry that is committed to taking practical steps so older Australians can experience a world class aged care system.
Consumers can look to the Code as a way of understanding how their provider is improving its aged care services and supports.
Pledge your support now on the ACWIC website.
(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, Services Australia has simplified the Authorising a person or organisation to enquire or act on your behalf (SS313) form. Customers now use this form to nominate someone to act on their behalf for both Centrelink correspondence and aged care costs.
Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) income support recipients use the Aged Care Request for a nominee for DVA customers (AC019) form to nominate someone to act on their behalf for aged care costs.
Please dispose of copies of the following forms stored before 11 November 2020, as they may not be accepted for processing:
Please direct customers to the new forms.
These improvements are part of the changes to Centrelink and aged care nominee arrangements.
My Aged Care representatives are not affected.
(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, whether it is in their home or a residential aged care facility, every older person receiving aged care is entitled to a unique set of rights called the Charter of Aged Care Rights. What are those rights, why do they matter, and what can each of us to do ensure older people’s rights are respected?
The Older Persons Advocacy Network is bringing together a panel of experts for a live webinar and Q&A on February 11 to discuss how older people can exercise their rights under the Charter of Aged Care Rights, and how we can support them.
Details:
Thursday 11 February 2021
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM AEST
This event is free please register to attend.
(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, as part of the evaluation of the Aged Care Diversity Framework (Diversity Framework) and associated action plans, a survey has been developed to focus on the implementation of the Diversity Framework and achievements to date. The survey will provide insights on the impact the Diversity Framework and action plans have had so far. It will be used to inform future iterations of the Diversity Framework and its associated action plans, implementation strategies, and support programs.
Who can fill in the survey?
The survey takes 5-7 minutes and closes at 5pm, Friday 26 February 2020.
If you have any questions about the survey, please contact the:
HealthConsult Project Manager Amy Monk at amy.monk@healthconsult.com.au
Aged Care Sector Committee’s Diversity Sub-Group secretariat at Diversity.sub-group@health.gov.au
For more information about the Diversity Framework, visit the Department’s website.
According to Aged Care Insite, with the final recommendations of the royal commission due this month, many people in the aged care sector are urgently trying to find new and sustainable ways to deliver aged care in anticipation of massive changes that may be on the way. One group, the Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals (BCCM), believe that member-owned businesses are the way to deliver better outcomes for older Aussies and the people working within the aged care sector.
According to Aged Care Guide, Dietitians Australia, a nutrition advocacy group, suggests that using Accredited Practising Dietitians (APDs) to support food and nutrition in aged care facilities would save more than $80 million per year, that would normally be spent on malnutrition treatment for the elderly.
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.
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:
The objectives of the Disability Services and Other Legislation (Worker Screening) Amendment Act 2020 (the Act) are to:
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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:
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.
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.
Issued by the Department of Health, this infographic outlines the 6 steps for safe prescribing antipsychotics and benzodiazepines in residential aged care.
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: