Aged care news highlights from the week ending 14 April 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 

Covid cases increase in aged care homes

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, Covid cases are on the rise in residential aged care amid warnings of new waves of infection. According to the latest government figures, as of 6 April, there were 1,513 active cases of Covid-19 across 236 aged care homes around Australia – 1,078 among residents, 435 among staff.

Older Aussies urged to get jabbed before end of May

According to Aged Care Insite, health experts have called for older Australians to get their flu and Covid-19 boosters before the start of winter amid warnings of a virus 'triple threat.' Health insurer Bupa is leading the charge, claiming this year's flu season will arrive earlier and harder than expected, potentially leading to more older people being hospitalised.

Other News

Should younger generations be asked to pay for wealthy older Australians to receive aged care? The Grattan Institute says no.

According to The Weekly Source, with four weeks to the May Budget, the independent think tank has released its wish list of measures to fix the black hole in the Budget – and a fairer aged care system is at the top of the list. The 58-page ‘Back in black? A menu of measures to repair the budget’ report outlines a number of recommendations aimed at relieving pressure on the country’s structural debt, which it forecasts will be close to $70 billion by the end of the decade – including counting more of the family home in the means test for residential aged care.

Star Ratings: Provider preview now available via GPMS

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, quarterly updates to Star Ratings are now available for residential aged care providers on the Government Provider Management System (GPMS). You can preview your ratings for 2 weeks through the Star Ratings application tile in GPMS before they are published on the My Aged Care website. Your Organisation Administrators were emailed on 3 April with details on how to access and assign roles in GPMS, including giving access to Star Ratings reviewers. More information on how to access GPMS and about Star Ratings is available on the department’s GPMS and Star Ratings webpages.

If your Organisation Administrator did not receive this email, or is having difficultly accessing GPMS, or to report any IT or technical errors in your Star Ratings, please contact the My Aged Care Service Industry, Provider and Assessor Helpline on 1800 836 799.

Sector’s financial position ‘critical’, says new report

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, operating losses continue to grow for the residential aged care sector, according to the latest industry report. StewartBrown’s Aged Care Financial Performance Survey Report for the second half of 2022 shows the average operating results for aged care homes across Australia was a loss of $15.98 per bed per day – up from $10.31 the previous year.

Housing crisis may be exacerbating workforce shortage: report

According to Aged Care Insite, Australia's soaring rental prices could be preventing aged care workers from taking on jobs in communities that need staff the most, a housing report published last Tuesday found. The 'Priced Out' report by the national housing campaign 'Everybody's Home' revealed rising housing prices were causing substantial rental stress on Australia's essential workers.

Peak calls for cash boost for palliative care

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, with dementia now the second leading cause of death in Australia, there needs to be greater investment in end-of-life care, says the national peak body for palliative care. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, dementia has overtaken coronary heart disease as the leading cause of disease burden among older Australians.

Wesley Mission to shut three homes due to lack of staff

According to Aged Care Insite, Wesley Mission, a Sydney-based aged care provider, will close its last three facilities in Sylvania, Carlingford, and Narrabeen by the end of May due to staffing difficulties. The decision, announced today, is estimated to affect nearly 200 residents and over 2,000 staff.

2023 Aged Care Worker COVID-19 Leave Payment Grant Opportunity

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, from 1 July 2023, Australian Government funded residential aged care providers and home care providers can apply for new aged care worker COVID-19 leave payment grants of up to $750 per person per week. These grants:

• reimburse providers for leave paid to directly employed permanent or casual aged care workers
• cover employees who cannot work due to testing positive to COVID-19 and have no other access to leave payments.

Eligible Australian Government funded residential aged care providers and home care providers can apply for these grants to cover payments made to eligible permanent and casual aged care workers from 1 April 2023 - 31 December 2023. For further information about this upcoming Grant Opportunity, please see the draft Grant Opportunity Guidelines and draft frequently asked questions now available on GrantConnect.

Aged care tech ‘leaping in bounds’ says insider

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, technology is advancing at speed and will play a greater role in supporting healthy ageing in the future, according to an industry expert. “Technology can connect people and reduce isolation; it can empower older adults to lead healthy, independent and engaged lives,” said Professor Alex Mihailidis, scientific director at AGE-WELL – Canada’s technology and ageing network.

National Aged Care Provider Conference, 8‑9 June 2023

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission will be hosting a National Aged Care Conference for Approved Aged Care Providers on 8–9 June 2023 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. The theme is Working together – our journey through aged care reform and regulation. Keynote speakers and registration details will soon be published on the Commission’s website.

Webinar recording: 2023 Residents’ Experience Surveys

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, the department’s recent 2023 Residents’ Experience Surveys webinar gave an overview of the 2022 outcomes and the key changes for 2023. The webinar was held on 9 March and a recording is now available on the department’s website. We’ve also recapped some of the questions that were asked by participants during the webinar and our answers to these. You can read the Questions and Answers on our webpage.

The department has again engaged IQVIA, with ACNA and HealthConsult, to conduct the surveys. These are now underway and expected to finish in November 2023. View the Residents’ Experience Survey FAQs on IQVIA’s website for information about the scheduling process. You can also find information about Residents’ Experience Surveys on the department’s website.

Commission webinar: Regulation of workforce-related responsibilities including 24/7 registered nursing and care minutes

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission is holding a webinar on the regulation of workforce-related responsibilities including 24/7 registered nursing and care minutes on Tuesday 18 April at 1pm‑2pm AEST. Register for the webinar. If you are not able to attend, a recording will be available online in the days following the webinar. Find further information on the Commission’s website.

Webinar: Digital Transformation Tech Talk

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, the department’s Digital Transformation agenda is working to create a better-connected aged care network, that is consolidated, sustainable, automated, and modern. We invite the sector to join us for our next Digital Transformation Tech Talk webinar on Wednesday 19 April at 2pm-3:30pm AEST. Register for the Digital Transformation Tech Talk webinar.

Home Care News

Workforce the top concern for home care leaders

According to Community Care Review, almost half of home care leaders surveyed rate workforce shortages as the single biggest challenge facing the sector in 2023, according to an industry report from Enkindle Consulting.

Home Care Packages Program inclusions and exclusions FAQs

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, following the January 2023 update to the Home Care Package Provider Manual, the department has compiled answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). The department hosted a webinar for HCP providers on 4 April to explain what is included and excluded under the HCP Program. The webinar recording will be uploaded in the coming weeks. In the meantime, view the webinar slides on the department’s website.

Home Care Packages Program Data Report available

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, the department has released the Home Care Packages Program Data Report for the period 1 October to 31 December 2022. The report shows that 255,628 people had access to a Home Care Package at 31 December 2022. This is a 17% increase over the previous 12 months. In the December 2022 quarter, 22,172 people entered a Home Care Package for the first time. The number of people in the National Priority System waiting for a Home Care Package at their approved level dropped to 37,894. This is a decrease of 45% since 31 December 2021. Read the full report on the AIHW GEN Aged Care Data website.

Legislation

No significant developments this week.