Aged care news highlights from the week ending 1 September 2023, aggregated by Ideagen.
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 Ideagen.
COVID-19 News
COVID-19: processing times for Aged Care Support Program Extension grant
According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, we received over 11,000 applications for the Aged Care Support Program Extension grant. We are now taking all possible steps to process the remaining applications. All complete applications submitted before March 2023 have been finalised or are under active assessment. Providers should be ready to submit all required information when requested to ensure processing times are as short as possible. Extensions to requests for information will not be accepted after 31 August 2023. From 31 August 2023, if requests have not been returned within 14 days we will finalise assessments based on the information to hand.
Other News
Two-thirds of Australia’s aged care safety inspections outsourced to consultants
According to The Guardian, more than two-thirds of safety and quality inspections at aged care homes have been outsourced to consultancy firms, despite warnings this presented a “significant risk” and that some contractors underestimated the standards of work required.
‘Poor buggers’: Aussie group to suffer extra tax burden
According to Aged Care Insite, the growing reliance on personal income taxes to prop up government coffers is an “intergenerational tragedy”, former Treasury boss Ken Henry has claimed. Mr Henry, who authored the landmark Henry Review of Australia’s tax system that was commissioned by the first Rudd government, has implored Treasurer Jim Chalmers to embark on wholesale tax reform to halt a slide in living standards.
Government spending on community care projected to rise ‘significantly’
According to Community Care Review, Australia’s ageing population will place further pressures on the aged care system and, in turn, government finances, warns the latest intergenerational report. Formally released last week by the Treasury, the report – the sixth of its kind – provides a “big picture view” of the nation’s fiscal position over the next 40 years. The IGR’s authors list five core spending strains over the next four decades – among them aged care. “Australian Government spending on aged care is projected to grow,” they say.
IGR: an optimistic view
According to Aged Care Insite, last week’s Intergenerational Report (IGR) release projected Australia’s population to age over the next 40 years – and it’s not a problem. Chief of The Centre for Optimism Victor Perton said it was essential to recognise the future of ageing as an opportunity to “tap into a vast human reservoir of wisdom, experience, and optimism”.
Ageing population requires new model of care, say nurses
According to Community Care Review, in the wake of the findings of the intergenerational report, a coalition of peak nursing organisations is calling for Australia to adopt innovative models of care to support a healthier ageing population.
Federal Government unveils new program for food and nutrition
According to Aged Care Insite, Australian chef Maggie Beer and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese have teamed up to introduce an innovative program focused on food and nutrition within the aged-care sector. Backed by the Federal Government’s $12.9 million funding to improve food and nutrition in aged care, an investment of $5 million to the Maggie Beer Foundation has been delivered as a free program called Improving Food in Aged Care through Education and Training.
Reminder: have your say on the new Aged Care Act
According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, the consultation on the foundations of the new Aged Care Act is open until 8 September 2023. There are different ways to learn about the proposed foundations, including:
Have your say by lodging a submission via email to AgedCareLegislativeReform@Health.gov.au or you can complete the survey here. The Council of the Ageing (COTA) and the Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) are hosting in-person forums. These are a great option for older people, families and carers to share their thoughts and experiences. For more information on the forums and to register visit the OPAN website.
Nursing, allied health and personal care worker scholarships
According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, scholarships are available for aged care workers to develop their skills and gain qualifications. The opportunity is open to:
- enrolled and registered nurses
- personal care workers
- allied health professionals.
All scholarship recipients are eligible for a completion bonus upon successfully finishing their course. A guaranteed number of scholarships are available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Applications close 10 October 2023. For more information, visit the Australian College of Nursing website.
New Aged Care Knowledge Hub
According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, a new online Knowledge Hub is available to support nurses to develop their career in aged care. The Department of Health and Aged Care worked with the Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA) to develop the Aged Care Knowledge Hub as part of the Aged Care Nursing Clinical Placements Program. The Hub has resources, tools, and support for all nursing students as well as research and information specific to healthcare workers and providers in the aged care sector. Visit the APNA website to access the Aged Care Knowledge Hub.
24/7 registered nurse supplement monthly payment
According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, residential aged care providers are reminded to submit their 24/7 registered nurse (RN) report before finalising August claims. This report must be done in the Government Provider Management System (GPMS). If Services Australia receives the eligibility notification after the month’s claim is finalised, the 24/7 RN supplement payment will not be paid for that month and will be paid as a retrospective adjustment in the next approved claim. If you were eligible to receive the July 24/7 RN supplement and did not receive it, this will be included in your August claim.
More information:
Care minutes: check your allocations before they become mandatory
According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, care minutes targets for residential aged care services will become mandatory on 1 October 2023. The care minutes allocations associated with each Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN‑ACC) class will also change on this date. This means your service’s average care minutes targets may change to align with your overall care funding. To prepare for these changes, check your service’s estimated care minutes targets using the AN-ACC funding and care minutes estimator now. You can view the care minutes targets for the October-December quarter in the My Aged Care service and support portal from 15 September 2023.
Coming soon: care minutes and 24/7 registered nurse coverage in residential aged care to be published
According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, residential aged care providers are reminded that enrolled nurse care minutes and 24/7 registered nurse coverage will be published via the ‘Find a Provider’ tool on the My Aged Care website in the coming months. Enrolled nurse care minutes will be published in October 2023, providing better insight into the skill-mix of care delivery. 24/7 registered nurse coverage and exemptions will be published in December 2023. Prior to publication on the My Aged Care website, information about 24/7 registered nurse coverage and exemptions will be available on the department’s website. This information will appear alongside the Star Ratings for each aged care home on My Aged Care, and will not impact calculation of Star Ratings at this time.
Aged Care Quality Bulletin #56 - August 2023
This issue of the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission’s Bulletin covers:
- Aged care reforms update – Have your say about the new Aged Care Act
- First figures released on 24/7 registered nurse cover in aged care
- Are you prepared? Care minutes targets from 1 October 2023
- Strengthening Quality Standards Pilot update
- Changes to governing body membership requirements
- Understanding your role in the SIRS
- Younger people in residential aged care
- Technology in aged care
- Digital transformation tech talk
- Food, Nutrition and Dining hotline resources
The Bulletin also provides information on training resources and recent webinars.
Home Care News
No significant developments this week.
Legislation
No significant developments this week.
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