Aged care news highlights from the week ending 12 January 2024, aggregated by Ideagen 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 Ideagen CompliSpace.

Residential Care and General Aged Care News

Draft Act lands; consultation begins

According to Community Care Review, the Government released the long-awaited exposure draft of the new Aged Care Act on Thursday and has offered the document up for public consultation. To help people understand the proposed changes, COTA and OPAN are hosting a webinar Q&A on 9 January 2024, 1:00pm-2:30pm AEDT. To access the draft bill, accompanying resources and more details on the consultation process, click here. A 102-page consultation paper and a 36-page plain English version are also available to guide the process.

Latest Star Ratings report shows aged care homes are getting better

According to The Senior, Australia's aged care homes continue to lift their standards according to the latest Star Ratings report. A year on from its introduction, Aged Care Star Ratings has revealed a significant improvement in the quality of care homes across Australia, with the number of facilities with four and five stars (good or excellent care) growing to 1,329 (54 per cent) an increase of 352 (15 per cent) since December 2022. However, while the number of homes receiving only one or two stars has fallen, there are still 54 homes needing major improvements to their standards.

Star ratings at odds with compliance data

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, non-compliant homes are scoring four or five stars for compliance against the government’s own guidelines, bringing into question the accuracy of the overall rating system, says a report.

COVID is surging in Australia – and only 1 in 5 older adults are up to date with their boosters

According to The Conversation: do you have family members or friends sick with a respiratory infection? If so, there’s a good chance it’s COVID, caused by the JN.1 variant currently circulating in Australia. In particular, New South Wales is reportedly experiencing its highest levels of COVID infections in a year, while Victoria is said to be facing a “double wave” after a surge late last year.

Tackle food complaints

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, aged care workers can undertake free training early next year to come up with innovative ways to deliver appetising, nutritious, and desired meals to the older people in their care. Delivered by Aged Care Research & Industry Innovation Australia, the theme of the innovator training program is “Customising tasty, nutritious, and safe meals and settings for older adults”.

2023 ­– a year in review: part 1

According to Community Care Review, it was a year of momentous change for the aged care sector as major reforms came into play.

Whiddon CEO advocates urgent review of financial strain on aged care facilities in medium rural towns

According to Inside Ageing, in a year-end update, rural aged care provider Whiddon has sounded the alarm regarding the financial distress faced by aged care homes in Medium Rural Towns (MMM4), as highlighted in the recently released Aged Care Sector Report.

Overcoming dementia-related stigma in minority communities

According to Inside Ageing, a recent article published in the Frontiers in Psychiatry journal explores the impact of dementia on culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, including the heightened stigma they often face.

Unlocking global talent to fill critical gaps in Aged Care workforce

According to Aged Care Guide, Lutheran Services has become one of the first Aged Care providers in Queensland to join the Australian Government’s Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement.

Home Care News

No significant developments this week

Legislation

No significant developments this week.