Aged care news highlights from the week ending 10 March 2023, 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.

COVID-19 News 

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Preparedness Packs

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, the Australian Government will deploy bulk winter personal protective equipment (PPE) packs to all residential aged care homes. Deliveries are expected to commence in late March 2023 starting with remote and rural facilities and be completed by late May 2023, ahead of winter. From 10 March 2023, the National Medical Stockpile’s logistics provider, DHL, will be contacting each facility via phone call to confirm delivery arrangements. If you do not want this supply of PPE, let DHL know when they contact you and they will not proceed with the delivery. If you are not contacted by DHL by 30 April 2023, please contact the Department by email at AgedCareCOVIDEnquiries@Health.gov.au. This may occur when we do not have up to date contact details for your facility.

Webinar for the aged care sector: Effective infection prevention and control (IPC) behaviours

The Department of Health and Aged Care, along with the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, is holding a webinar on effective IPC practices. The panel will include experts from the Department and the Commission, along with a special message from the Minister for Aged Care, the Hon Anika Wells MP. The panel will talk about the importance of effective IPC behaviours to assist with building knowledge and capability in the delivery of timely IPC and quality care.

When: Thursday 16 March 2023, 10:00am to 11:00am (AEDT)

Please register to attend.

Other News

Aged care reforms will require 25,000 new workers over the next two years

According to Inside Ageing, as reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, Australia is set to experience a shortfall of around 25,000 aged care workers within the next two years, according to Internal Health Department documents that were published under freedom of information laws. The reports suggest that the Government’s election promise to implement two key recommendations of the Aged Care Royal Commission will require 14,626 new workers in 2023-24 and 25,093 the following year.

A financial crisis in the aged care sector

According to this ABC podcast, it's been two years since the Royal Commission in Aged Care Quality and Safety delivered its recommendations. Despite outlining the need for more resources, more staff and more investment, the aged care sector is facing a financial crisis. Latest figures from the government shows it's haemorrhaging money. Why?

Aged care providers should “focus on administrative efficiencies” says internal Department note

According to The Weekly Source, the Department of Health and Aged Care has refuted peak body and media claims that the aged care sector is close to financial collapse in a Senate Estimates briefing published this week. An internal DoH “Hot Issues Brief”, released under a Freedom of Information request, states, “The recent media claims that the aged care sector is at risk of collapse are untrue.” StewartBrown Senior Partner, Grant Corderoy, agreed it is “not appropriate” to use “emotive terms” when talking about the state of the aged care sector, and says his firm also steers away from using such language.

Draft legislation: Residential aged care 24/7 registered nurse reporting and exemption

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, draft subordinate legislation for 24/7 registered nursing in residential aged care exemption and reporting arrangements can now be viewed online until 13 March 2023. If you would like to comment on the draft legislation, email anaccoperations@health.gov.au by 13 March. Your comments will be considered in the finalisation of the subordinate legislation. Read more information about Care minutes and 24/7 registered nurses in residential aged care.

Webinar: New quality indicators for residential aged care

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, new quality indicators must be collected by residential aged care services from 1 April 2023 to help monitor and drive quality improvement. A webinar on the 6 new quality indicators for residential aged care will be held on Tuesday 28 March at 2pm-3pm AEDT. Register to attend the webinar.

Program helps new nurses stay for careers in aged care

According to Community Care Review, a total of 85 registered nurses have graduated in the first intake of Aged & Community Care Providers Association’s graduate nurse transition-to-practice program. The government-funded program provides aged care nurses with mentoring, training and support in a bid to retain them in the sector.

Care navigators effective and important, report finds

According to Community Care Review, care navigators are a much-needed initiative to help older people engage with Australia’s complex aged care system, according to a government evaluation of the scheme.

Aged care to be targeted in LGBTIQ+ national health plan

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, the federal government’s national action plan for LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing will include a focus on older people, ageing and aged care, according to a peak body that lobbied for the initiative – which was announced last week.

Reparations for harm to people living with dementia in residential aged care

According to UTS, people living with dementia have been subject to significant harm, including violence, abuse, and neglect in aged care. Reparations for harm to people living with dementia in residential aged care is a newly released report by Associate Professor Linda Steele and Kate Swaffer, exploring the systemic and structural harms within residential aged care which constitute human rights violations.

Home Care News

Home care providers lack knowledge of reforms

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, confusion and uncertainty surround the incoming home care reforms, say industry experts. Appearing on a webinar hosted by Australian Ageing Agenda, Greg O’Loan – regional vice-president of tech company Epicor – said providers “are still somewhat confused with the changes that are coming and what the priority it is that they must focus on. You can’t prioritise when you’re not clear on what you need to do. To have a plan, you need to understand. Our customers really want certainty, that’s what I’m hearing.”

Unspent funds highlight need for home care reform, says expert

According to Community Care Review, unspent home care funding totals $2.4 billion, the government’s first quarterly financial summary of the aged care sector shows. Published by the Department of Health and Aged Care – and released in response to a call for transparency by the royal commission – the Quarterly Financial Snapshot of the Aged Care Sector shows $1.61 billion held by providers in the home care account balance and a further $800 million retained by Services Australia.

Legislation

No significant developments this week.