Aged care news highlights from the week ending 01 July 2022, 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

WorkSafe charges St Basil's aged care with workplace safety breaches over 2020 COVID outbreak

According to ABC News, Victoria's workplace regulator has charged a Melbourne aged care facility where 45 residents died of COVID in 2020 with alleged offences relating to staff safety during the outbreak.

Other News

Expansion of residential aged care quality indicators

According to the Department of Health, the National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program (QI Program) is expanding to include new quality indicators and consumer experience and quality of life measures from October 2022.

Food and Nutrition Reporting

According to the Department of Health, the next round of Food and Nutrition Reporting opens on 1 July 2022 for the period 1 April to 30 June 2022. To ensure your service continues to receive the Basic Daily Fee supplement of $10 per resident per day, please submit your report by 21 July 2022. Back-payments will not be made. For more information or support, call the My Aged Care Provider and Assessor Helpline on 1800 836 799, go to the department’s website or email NutritionInAgedCare@health.gov.au

Aged care indexation ‘patently inadequate’

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, industry and provider stakeholders say the 1.7 per cent indexation on residential aged care subsidies announced this week falls far short of what providers need to be viable.

Aged care staff shortages double in less than a year

According to Aged Care Insite, Australia's aged care workforce is now facing an annual worker shortfall of up to 35,000 staff, a new report has revealed, nearly double the estimated figure given in 2021. The Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) released a report on Tuesday detailing the deteriorating staffing crisis in the aged care industry.

Care staff speak out at fair work pay rise case

According to Aged Care Insite, personal care workers are under increasing pressure to juggle residents' complex health needs while nurses are fleeing from the sector due to a lack of support, the fair work regulator has heard.

Financial sustainability of the aged care sector continues to decline

According to Aged Care Guide, the latest report from StewartBrown, a chartered accountancy firm, has revealed that the aged care sector is continuing its downward trajectory of financial unsustainability, putting older Australians at risk of losing necessary supports and services.

‘The times they are a-changin”: Concerns among providers as baby boomers enter care

According to Aged Care Insite, the rapid approach of baby boomers entering aged care homes 'unwillingly' looms as experts say they'll be a force to be reckoned with. Born between 1946 and 1964, the post-World War II generation has not been shy in voicing their discontent with the system, which last year's RSL LifeCare survey underscored. Only 3 per cent had said they would move into residential care under the current format.

Services Australia is updating its residential aged care payment system

According to the Department of Health, Services Australia is replacing the System for the Payment of Aged Residential Care (SPARC) enabling policy and legislative changes, to be more responsive and flexible. This will impact all residential aged care services.

To allow for system replacement, the Aged Care Payment System will not be available at its full capacity from 14 to 22 July 2022 inclusive. To avoid any delays to payments, outstanding claims must be finalised by 10 July 2022. The July advance will be paid as normal. Providers will be paid the August advance early (mid-July) to minimise financial impacts. Find out more information on the Services Australia website.

Recent updates to the Serious Incident Reporting Scheme reporting form

According to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, On 27 June, improvements were made to the Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS) online reporting form found in the My Aged Care Service Provider Portal, which is being renamed as the My Aged Care Service and Support Portal.

Landmark study finds way to predict and hopefully prevent dementia in later life

According to Aged Care Insite, a world-first study has found that poor physical fitness and obesity in childhood may predict declined cognitive functioning and dementia in later life.

Violence driving nurses to leave aged care

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, new research shows that physical attacks against nurses working in aged care is a factor behind their intention to leave the sector.

LASA transitions to ACCPA from today

According to Inside Ageing, from 1 July 2022 Leading Age Services Australia (LASA) transitions into the new aged care sector industry organisation – Aged & Community Care Providers Association (ACCPA).

New article: Reparations for Harms Experienced in Residential Aged Care

Dementia Justice researchers Kate Swaffer and Linda Steele have published an article in the journal 'Health and Human Rights' which is published by Harvard University. You can read the full article here.

Legislation

Aged Care (Leave from Residential Care Services) (Situation of Emergency—Human Coronavirus with Pandemic Potential) Amendment Determination 2022 [CTH] – Commenced 30.06.22

This instrument amends the Aged Care (Leave from Residential Care Services) (Situation of Emergency Human Coronavirus with Pandemic Potential) Determination 2020 to extend the situation of emergency to provide emergency leave to residential aged care recipients across Australia until 30 June 2023.