Aged care news highlights from the week ending 11 May 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.

Coronavirus/COVID-19 News

Updated NSW advice for aged care providers

(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, with local transmission of COVID-19 detected in NSW, for residential aged care facilities within the Greater Sydney area, including metropolitan Sydney, Nepean Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Wollongong:

• all staff and visitors must wear a surgical mask
• residents may have a maximum of two visitors each day and they can be different visitors each day
• visits should take place outdoors where possible.

Visitors and staff must not enter the facility at all if they:

• have been to any close or casual contact locations in NSW or Interstate places of high concern
• have COVID-19 symptoms - fever (37. 5°C or higher) or symptoms of COVID-19
• are a close contact of a person with confirmed COVID-19 and are within their self-isolation period
• live in a household with a person who is currently self-isolating
• are waiting for a COVID-19 test result
• (from 1 June to 30 September 2021) have not received a dose of the 2021 influenza vaccine.

Western Australia is currently considered an affected area, with a number of places of high concern.

NSW aged care providers can find out more information and are encouraged to stay up to date via the NSW Health website.

Further information and advice
Please visit the Australian Government Department of Health website for information and resources to assist in preparing and managing a COVID-19 outbreak, including what to do in the first 24 hours of an outbreak in a residential aged care facility.

Updated advice for ACT high-risk settings

(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 ACT Government has provided updated advice for high-risk settings. The Public Health (COVID-19 Areas of Concern) Notice 2021 has been updated and includes known exposure locations in NSW and WA and source investigation locations in NSW. This Notice is updated regularly as new exposure locations are identified.

The following locations are geographical areas of risk (see list of local government areas (LGA)):

• All overseas countries (including New Zealand)
• Perth and Peel regions in Western Australia (WA) (from 17 April 2021)
• Greater Sydney LGAs (including Wollongong, Central Coast and Blue Mountains) (from 26 April 2021)

Anyone who has been in a geographical area of risk should not visit or work in a high-risk setting for 14 days after leaving the affected area.

Under Public Health Directions in the ACT, quarantine is mandatory for:

• People who have been overseas
• People who are close contacts of a confirmed COVID-19 case.

For more information and to stay up to date, please regularly check the ACT Health website.

Govt launches COVID vaccine plan for aged care staff

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, the Australian Government has launched a new COVID-19 vaccination strategy for residential aged care staff setting out four options to get the jab. The four-pathway plan released this week aims to help ensure workers can access a vaccine as quickly and safely as possible. In line with the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation recommendations, aged care staff aged 50 years and over will receive the AstraZeneca vaccine and those under the age of 50 will be offered the Pfizer vaccine.

Aged care workers left in the dark about COVID-19 vaccines

According to Aged Care Guide, the COVID-19 vaccine rollout has been labelled a "giant stuff-up" by aged care workers with an industry survey finding staff have been left in the dark around when or where they should be vaccinated even though they were meant to be a part of the Government rollouts first phase.

Almost a third of the country is now eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine – but the availability will depend on where you live

According to Aged Care Insite, while approximately eight million Australians over 50 are eligible, receiving the AstraZeneca jab may depend on what state you live in. Victorians can book an appointment at one of the state-run centres or walk into one but that will require a wait. They can also phone 1800 675 398 to make an appointment. However, New South Wales health officials have said they would focus on priority groups state-run centres from May 3.

What to do if a person misses their second Pfizer dose

(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, Primary Health Networks (PHNs) are coordinating efforts for individuals who have missed their second Pfizer vaccine dose to access one through local solutions such as attending another aged care facility, referral to a Pfizer hub in limited circumstances, or a roving in-reach team re-visiting the facility.

Residential aged care facilities should contact their local PHN to report aged care residents and others that require a second dose of Pfizer vaccine and to work with the PHN to establish local solutions to ensure that those people that need a second dose of Pfizer can access one.

Individuals such as GPs, visitors, visiting workers, or others who have missed a second Pfizer dose and are unsure whether the residential aged care facility has reported them to the local PHN, should contact the aged care facility or local PHN directly to self-identify as requiring a second Pfizer dose, and be included in local solutions.

Advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation recommends that the interval between two doses of the Pfizer (Comirnaty) COVID-19 vaccine is at least 21 days. The minimum acceptable interval between the two doses is 19 days. It is recommended to complete the two-dose course within six weeks.

Individuals who have missed the six-week interval are still recommended to get a second Pfizer dose. A two-dose course is recommended for all individuals for optimal protection.

If a second dose of Pfizer vaccine is administered later than the recommended interval, a third dose of Pfizer vaccine does not need to be given.

Vaccinating residential aged care workers

(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 27 April, the Department of Health emailed all residential aged care facilities an information pack on the vaccination pathways for workers in residential aged care including:

• A fact sheet and infographic to share with the facility’s workforce
• A poster for display at the workplace.

The fact sheet and poster will shortly be available in 20 languages.

The COVID-19 eligibility checker continues to be updated with information on where to get a vaccination:

• people aged 50 years and over will receive the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, and
• people aged under 50 years will receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

Sydney-based residential aged care workers aged under 50 can now access a COVID-19 Pfizer vaccination at two clinics located in Blacktown and Campbelltown, Sydney.

These clinics are dedicated to aged and disability care workers in the Sydney area. The Blacktown Pfizer clinic opened on Monday 3 May and the Campbelltown Pfizer clinic opens on Monday 10 May.

Information about how workers can book a vaccination has been provided to each Sydney-based aged care facility directly to share with their workforce.

Facilities will be advised as further clinics become available in other parts of Australia.

OPAN COVID-19 vaccination webinar replay

(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 Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) hosted their third COVID-19 vaccine webinar on Monday 3 May to discuss the vaccine rollout to older Australians, aged care residents and the aged care workforce.

You can watch a replay of the webinar online.

Asymptomatic testing in Victorian RACFs

(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, please note that the Victorian Workplace (Additional Industry Obligations) Directions have been amended and the worker asymptomatic (surveillance) testing for residential aged care facilities requirement is now recommended, not mandatory.

This means that it is no longer mandatory for Victorian facilities to facilitate asymptomatic testing, nor are there specific targets on the frequency of testing.

Asymptomatic testing of the RACF workforce in Victoria will continue to be requested to assist the management of emerging risks (such as if there is a significant waste water detection or localised community transmission).

You can view the current surveillance testing requirements.

In Victoria, Melbourne Pathology is continuing to provide a dedicated pathology services for rapid sample collection and testing for COVID-19 in RACFs in symptomatic cases.

RACFs can contact Melbourne Pathology for assistance by using the RACF Melbourne Pathology Hotline on 1800 570 573 (8am – 6pm).

Aged care worker sacked for refusing flu vaccine has unfair dismissal claim rejected

According to Aged Care Insite, a NSW aged care worker has had her unfair dismissal claim rejected after she was sacked for refusing to have a flu jab, The Guardian reported. Jennifer Kimber, a receptionist with Imlay House in Pambula on the NSW south coast, refused to take the flu jab in 2020 as she claimed to have had an adverse reaction to a previous flu jab in 2016.

Legislation

Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2020 (No. 107 of 2020) [SA] – withdrawn 5 May 2021

A Bill for an Act to provide for and regulate access to voluntary assisted dying, to establish the Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board, to make related amendments to other Acts, and for other purposes. This Bill was withdrawn on 5 May 2021 and will become law.

Resources and Upcoming Events

The Complexities of providing Aged Care Advice to Couples – webinar – 11 May 2021, 13:00 AEST

According to CCH, in this webinar we will discuss the key considerations when one member or both need to access care. The scenarios we will look at will include:

• Both members staying at home
• One person entering RAC
• Both members entering RAC
• One person downsizing and one moving into RAC.

We will look at the key consideration of couples and care, including the impact on pension, impact on cash flow, the ability to access services. We will also discuss future consequences and estate planning.

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?