Aged care news highlights from the week ending 09 March 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.

Aged Care Royal Commission 

Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety Report released

(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 welcomes the Final Report from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, which has today been tabled in Parliament.

The Royal Commission’s Final Report recognises the immense effort of the aged care sector and also brings the challenges of aged care services into clear focus. The Australian Government commits to responding to the Royal Commission Final Report recommendations by 31 May 2021.

The response to the Royal Commission final report will be driven by the principle of respect and care, and through the lens of five broad pillars:

• Home Care
• Residential aged care quality and safety
• Residential aged care services and sustainability
• Workforce
•  

For more information:

• read the Australian Government Media Release
• view the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety Final Report.

Royal commission calls for sweeping overhaul of aged care system

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, the aged care royal commission has recommended dumping the Aged Care Act and replacing it with a new one establishing an Australian Aged Care Commission as a corporate Commonwealth entity by July 2023. The new Aged Care Commission would operate a network of offices to manage assessments and administer a new integrated aged care program, as well as commissioning and funding providers, and “managing the orderly exit” of under-performers. The 148 recommendations included in the eight-volume report released on Monday also include establishing a System Governor to provide leadership and shape the system and an independent Inspector General of Aged Care to act as a watchdog.

Australia continues to respond to the ACRC Final Report recommendations

According to Aged Care Guide, following the release of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety's Final Report recommendations yesterday there has been a lot of conversation, opinions, joy, as well as backlash. Towards the Commissioners and their divergence in opinion, towards the Federal Government who sat on the report for the weekend, and towards aged care providers and their treatment of people receiving aged care.

PM calls for 'once in a generation change' to aged care

According to Aged Care Guide, the Government delivered its initial response to the Final Report findings from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, which outlined 148 recommendations that aim to fix the broken aged care sector and create an industry that puts care, dignity and respect first.

Government to appoint senior restraint practitioner to Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission

According to The Mandarin, a senior restraint practitioner will be appointed to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC) as part of the federal government’s response to the aged care royal commission final report. Tabled in Parliament on Monday, the report made 148 recommendations to government. Among the recommendations, commissioners Tony Pagone and Lynelle Briggs have called for the Aged Care Act 1997 to be replaced, and for an independent office of the Inspector-General of Aged Care to be established.

Telehealth recommendations a step in the right direction

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, the royal commissioners’ recommendation requiring providers to have the right equipment and staff to support specialist telehealth services is a positive measure but telehealth must be integrated into the system across all aspects of care, an industry CEO tells Australian Ageing Agenda.

Royal Commission backs aged care transformation to put older people’s rights first

OPAN welcomes the Government’s response to the findings from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, and stands ready to work alongside the Government and other stakeholders to implement the recommendations. Craig Gear, Chief Executive Officer of the Older Persons Advocacy Network, comprising member organisation in each state and territory, said the current system fails to meet older people's fundamental human rights.

Technology stakeholders embrace RC report

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, aged care technology stakeholders are thrilled to see recommendations around innovation feature prominently in the royal commission’s final report, saying technology can enhance service delivery and help older people remain at home. A key recommendation includes the establishment of a grant-funded assistive technology and home modifications category from July 2022 that will provide aids, equipment and services to support living at home. “We’ve been advocating for that for over two decades and I didn’t think I would see that in my lifetime,” Aged Care Industry Information Technology Council (ACIITC) executive lead Anne Livingstone told Community Care Review.

Leaving allied health out of staff ratios a “serious failing”

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, leaving allied health professionals out of the recommendation for minimum staffing ratios is a “serious failing” of the aged care royal commission, a health academic has told Australian Ageing Agenda. Royal commissioners Tony Pagone and Lynelle Briggs found aged care staffing levels or skill mixes are unregulated.

RC provides alternative pathways

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, the government will have to base its choice of royal commission recommendations on clearly established principles and objectives to avoid criticism, a health economist and former deputy chair of the productive commission says. In their final report released on Monday, Royal Commissioners Tony Pagone and Lynelle Briggs conclude the aged care system needs “a thorough systemic redesign” to sufficiently improve it after reaching “crisis point” following a prolonged period under stress. They make 148 recommendations for a new system of high quality care, but not all are supported by both commissioners.

Four key takeaways from the aged care royal commission’s final report

According to Probono Australia, the federal government has finally released the final report of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. Disappointingly, however, this report gives the government room to pick and choose recommendations as the cabinet likes, write Stephen Duckett and Anika Stobart.

Coronavirus / COVID-19 News

Guidance on COVID-19 vaccine consent

(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 providers are responsible for obtaining and recording resident consent for the COVID-19 vaccine, which must be completed ahead of the vaccination day.

Consent is required for both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Consent for receiving both doses can be obtained at the same time, prior to the first dose.

The residential aged care provider must keep a record of the resident’s consent. This record will be used to confirm consent prior to both doses.

• If you receive verbal consent, confirm that consent is being provided for two doses of the same vaccine. Record this through your usual practices.
• If you use the Department of Health’s consent form, or an alternate form of written consent, ensure consent is understood as being provided for the two doses of the same vaccine.

Visit the Department of Health’s website for more information or to read the consent form in other languages.

COVID-19 vaccine scenario mapping and triage process

(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 COVID-19 rollout is one of the country’s most complex logistical operations. To help and support residential aged care facilities navigate and manage various scenarios, the following document is available online:

• Triaging process and scenario mapping

This document also includes information on the Department of Health’s excess dose policy for Phase 1a of the COVID-19 vaccine roll out in residential aged care facilities.

Aged care staff eligibility for phase 1a

(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 staff eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in phase 1a include all people working at a residential aged care facility who are responsible for resident care, support and services for residents, maintenance and administration. Clarification and guidance is available online:

• Eligibility fact sheet for Phase 1a
• Vaccine eligibility checker

National review of COVID-19 outbreaks in Australian RACFs – online survey now open

(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, Professor Lyn Gilbert and Adjunct Professor Alan Lilly have been commissioned by the Department of Health to undertake a national review of COVID-19 outbreaks in Australian Residential Aged Care Facilities.

RACF managers (or equivalent) are invited to complete a short online survey about the facility’s preparation for and, if an outbreak occurred, management of a COVID-19 outbreak.

The data will be collected and analysed by the University of Sydney. Survey responses will remain anonymous and no individual RACF will be identifiable. The feedback and analysis will be an invaluable contribution to the report and recommendations to the Department of Health.

The survey will take approximately 10 to 15 minutes to complete. Your input is critical to continuous improvement in the management of potential COVID-19 outbreaks in residential care. Thank you in advance.

To take the survey, please access via this link.

The survey will close at 5.00pm on Wednesday 17 March 2021.

COVID vaccine rollout behind schedule

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, the rollout of the COVID vaccine to people living and working in aged care homes has got off to a slow start with the program administering just over a third of the projected vaccinations in its first week. The government said 30,000 aged care residents and staff at 240 aged care facilities would likely receive the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine in the first week of a six-week rollout, which officially kicked off on 22 February. However, Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt told a press conference on Monday that 10,070 aged care residents at over 150 aged care facilities had received the COVID-19 jab as of Sunday evening.

Legislation

Aged Care Amendment (Aged Care Recipient Classification) Act 2020 (No. 147 of 2020) [CTH] – commenced 1 March 2021

The Aged Care Amendment (Aged Care Recipient Classification) Act 2020 amends the Aged Care Act 1997 to introduce an additional, discretionary procedure for classification of recipients of residential aged care and some kinds of flexible care.

The amendments will allow for the introduction of a new classification system focused on independently determining the care needs of older Australians accessing residential aged care and some types of flexible care.

Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Serious Incident Response Scheme and Other Measures) Act 2021 (No. 9 of 2021) [CTH] – partially commenced 1 March 2021; partially commences 1 April 2021

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

The Act 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.

Commencement as per Bill as Passed

Resources and Upcoming Events

10^th Annual Australian Healthcare Week - 17th - 18th of March 2021 at the International Convention Centre, Sydney.

According to IPC Events, don’t miss your chance to be part of Australia’s largest healthcare event and join the Australian Healthcare community for two days of extensive networking and learning and development opportunities.

Please note, Australian Healthcare Week will operate in accordance with our COVID-Safety Plan and in line with the guidance of NSW Health and the International Convention Centre (ICC), Sydney.

Governance in Aged Care: Beyond the Royal Commission – 2-day digital conference, 14 and 15 April 2021

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, with the imminent release of the Royal Commission into Quality and Safety in Aged Care, providers are at a critical turning point. Now is the time to carve out a new way forward to better support older Australians and their families, while ensuring a strong and sustainable industry.

Designed in partnership with COTA and ACSA, the Governance in Aged Care: Beyond the Royal Commission conference brings together experts, advocates and leaders from across Australia to unpack the Final Report and tackle the biggest issues for effective governance. The conference is taking place online, on 14th & 15th April 2021.

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?