Aged care news highlights from the week ending 14 January 2022, 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 interim guidance for managing aged care workforce impacted by COVID-19

The Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly, has approved an update to the Interim Guidance to support safe assessment and decision making when determining whether to place work restrictions on residential aged care workers.

This guidance follows the updated advice on the definition of contacts issued by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC). This guidance has been endorsed by both National Cabinet and AHPPC. The changes should assist in managing the aged care workforce, noting the challenges many providers are facing given the increasing number of cases in the community.

All providers are encouraged to familiarise themselves with this guidance and consider its application, noting local PHUs may implement additional requirements above those set out here.

Booster clinics for residential aged care: Commonwealth vaccine administrators will contact you to confirm your in-reach service

According to the Department of Health, the recommended dose interval between a second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and a booster dose will be reduced from 5 months to 4 months from the beginning of January 2022. If your facility has not had a booster clinic, a Commonwealth vaccine provider will contact you to schedule a clinic for January. For those who have a clinic scheduled, your vaccine provider may also call you to discuss bringing the date forward. The booster clinic will be available to aged care residents and workers.

To help you and your residents to prepare for your booster clinic, a copy of the clinic advice and consent form is available here.

Reporting on workers’ booster shots to become mandatory

According to the Department of Health, reporting on aged care worker COVID-19 booster doses will become mandatory in coming weeks. Aged care providers, including residential and in-home and community aged care services, are encouraged to start reporting on workers’ COVID-19 booster doses through the My Aged Care portal ahead of the mandatory reporting requirement.

Rapid Antigen Testing

According to the Department of Health, further to the announcement on 23 December 2021, the Australian Government will provide access to rapid antigen test (RAT) kits to all residential aged care facilities across the country over the coming weeks. Deliveries will commence for NSW from the 31 December, for Victoria on 3 January and Queensland from 4 January. Deliveries for other jurisdictions other than Western Australia will commence shortly.

If your facility is in scope for the initial distribution, you will receive a phone call from EBOS Healthcare, acting on behalf of the Commonwealth Department of Health.

PCR Testing and management of close contacts and positive cases

According to the Department of Health, where on site swabbing teams or collection kits cannot be quickly accessed, RATs can be used as an effective testing alternative. Your local Public Health Unit may also declare an outbreak within a facility on the basis of positive RAT results if there are also symptomatic residents. The National Cabinet has agreed that the isolation period for COVID-19 cases should be standardised to a length of 7 days. Further information is available in the AHPPC Statement and National Cabinet statement from 30 December 2021.

Australian Government support during an outbreak

According to the Department of Health, in the event of an outbreak, the Commonwealth will appoint a case manager who is the Commonwealth’s single point of contact for the residential aged care facility. The case manager will identify and address the needs of the RACF and if required, enable access Commonwealth supports such as personal protective equipment (PPE) where the service’s existing supply channels are not available. If you urgently need PPE and cannot source it, please submit an online application. The COVID-19 Aged Care Support Program Extension Grant (GO4863) also remains open to reimburse providers for additional eligible costs incurred in managing a direct impact of COVID‑19.

NSW Health releases new guidance for COVID testing protocols in RACFs

According to the Department of Health, NSW Health released new guidance for testing protocols for NSW residential aged care facilities (RACFs) with a COVID-19 outbreak or exposure. The purpose of the protocol is to provide a clear framework for testing requirements.

Other News

Aged care experiencing chronic understaffing, excessive workloads

According to Hospital and Healthcare, Australian aged-care facilities are experiencing an unprecedented crisis with chronic understaffing, excessive workloads and extended shifts, according to a survey of more than 1000 workers.

Behaviour, falls top causes of adverse events

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, behaviour-related harm is almost as likely to contribute to adverse events in aged care facilities as falls, indicating it is an overlooked indicator of quality care, Macquarie University research has found.

Business Improvement Fund Round 2 – include independent advice

According to the Department of Health, applications are open for the Business Improvement Fund Round 2 through GrantConnect. The Business Improvement Fund gives short-term grants to eligible residential aged care providers experiencing financial challenges to improve governance and operations. The grants support small to medium size providers (7 or fewer facilities) located in regional, rural and remote areas.

Visitor bans hurt residents’ wellbeing: study

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, blanket visitor bans should not be used as a method to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in aged care facilities, new research recommends.

Aged Care Alert: Due 21 January 2022: Next Basic Daily Fee Supplement Report

According to the Department of Health, the second Basic Daily Fee (BDF) Supplement Report covering Food and Nutrition is due 21 January 2022. You must submit your Food and Nutrition Report by the due date to continue receiving the Basic Daily Fee supplement of $10 per resident. Back-payments will not be made.

Legislation

Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Care Recipients and Service Staff Vaccination Recording and Reporting) Principles 2021 [CTH] - Schedule 3 commenced 1 Jan 2022 (remainder had already commenced in mid 2021)

This instrument establishes obligations on approved providers of home care services to keep records and report to the Department of Health workers’ COVID-19 vaccination status and approved providers of residential aged care to keep reports and report to the Department on residents’ vaccination status.

Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Service Staff Vaccination Recording and Reporting) Principles 2021 [CTH] – Schedule 2 commenced 1 Jan 2022 (remainder had already commenced in mid 2021)

The instrument amends the Accountability Principles 2014 and Records Principles 2014 to establish requirements for certain residential aged care providers to record and report numbers of service staff vaccinated against COVID-19 and influenza.