Aged care news highlights from the week ending 14 October 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.

COVID-19 News

COVID restrictions are changing again, so what are the latest rules?

According to Aged Care Guide, last week, the National Cabinet unanimously agreed to scrap the mandatory COVID-19 isolation requirements, except for those working in aged care - foreshadowing the beginning of relaxed COVID-19 rules.

NSW scraps major Covid rule

According to Aged Care Insite, a major Covid requirement will be abandoned in one state by the end of the work week in a sign the virus’ influence is weakening. It will no longer be mandatory for NSW residents to register a positive rapid antigen test (RAT) from Friday in another sign Covid’s influence is weakening in the state.

Other News

Code of Conduct for Aged Care now available

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, a Code of Conduct for Aged Care (Code) will commence on 1 December 2022. A draft of the Code is now available on the Aged Care Engagement Hub.

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission will be responsible for monitoring and enforcing compliance with the Code. The Code is the first element of the Government’s national registration scheme for personal care workers to be implemented. Visit the Code of Conduct for Aged Care webpage for more information.

More audits sees rise of non-compliance

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, a near-doubling of audits of aged care homes by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission during the April-June 2022 quarter has corresponded with an increase in homes failing to meet standards.

Presenting Issues: OPAN Report

According to The National Advocate, OPAN’s member organisations received more than 27,000 calls from older people and their families and carers in the 12 months until June 2022 – an increase of 17 per cent on the previous year. 

What they told us forms the basis of our second Presenting Issues Report, which is published today.  The case studies documented in this report fall far below what older people, their families and carers, and the wider community would expect.  

Start of a new era, delegates told

According to Community Care Review, “We stand on the threshold of a new era of aged care in Australia.” That was the welcoming message delivered to delegates attending the inaugural national conference of the Aged & Community Care Providers Association in Adelaide – Kaurna Country – Wednesday.

Ambassadors in Aged Care may reduce incidences of violence and aggression against workers

According to WorkCover Queensland, a pilot trialling the use of resident ambassadors in an aged care setting has shown reduced incidences of violence and aggression against care workers. The project involved upskilling four staff with strong interpersonal skills as well as prior experience of the unit to take on the new role of Resident Experience Ambassadors.

Submitting ACFI appraisals after 1 October 2022

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, the Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI) was replaced by the Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) funding model on 1 October 2022.

Approved providers will be paid ACFI funding for care provided up to 30 September 2022. AN‑ACC funding will be paid from 1 October 2022. Find more information about ACFI appraisal and reappraisal submissions after 1 October 2022 on the ACFI website.

Allied health ‘in the dark’ under new aged care funding

According to Aged Care Insite, allied health peaks are calling for specified time with residents as they are concerned aged care providers will cut specialists under the new residential care funding model.

My Aged Care Service and Support Portal: Explainer videos and systems process map

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, the Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) commenced on 1 October 2022.

Explainer videos on using new functionality in the My Aged Care Service and Support Portal for AN‑ACC are now available:

• Requesting reclassifications and reconsideration
• Entering a palliative care resident
• Accessing care minutes targets

A process map has also been developed to help providers understand the system actions they must complete from when a resident enters into care and thereafter, based on their care type. For more information about AN-ACC, see the AN-ACC Funding Guide and aged care funding reform webpage.

National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program data due 21 October 2022

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, approved providers of residential aged care services must submit quality indicator data by Friday 21 October, for the 5 existing measures collected over the 1 July‑30 September 2022 quarter.

Quality indicator data will be published on My Aged Care as part of Star Ratings for all residential aged care services. Late or non-submission of data is expected to result in a 1 Star Rating for this sub-category and reduce a service’s overall Star Rating. Find more about the National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program (QI Program) and Star Ratings on the department’s website. Keep up to date with latest information on aged care reforms by visiting the department’s Aged Care Engagement Hub.

SIRS sexual offences guidelines updated

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, Residential aged care providers must only categorise unlawful sexual contact or inappropriate sexual conduct as Priority 1 reportable incidences from now on.

Previously, when reporting serious incidents providers had an option to choose between Priority 1 or Priority 2. But from Monday 3 October, the Serious Incident Reporting Scheme form in the My Aged Care Service and Support Portal was changed so that providers can now only choose Priority 1 as an option when reporting incidents of a sexual nature.

Reminder: Aged care reform pulse survey

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, the department wants to hear from aged care stakeholders to understand the current level of awareness of the aged care reforms, and how prepared you feel for upcoming aged care changes and activities. Your input is important to us.

You can help shape the implementation of aged care reforms by completing a short survey – it should take no longer than 10 minutes. The survey has been extended for a week, and now closes on 14 October. Please share this link and encourage others to be involved.

National Suicide Prevention for Seniors Program

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, would you know what to do if someone you support was experiencing thoughts of suicide? Anglicare’s Suicide Prevention for Seniors Program equips those who support older people with the knowledge to help prevent suicide.

If you are interested, please email Anglicare at suicide.prevention@anglicare.org.au or visit the Anglicare website.

Charter frames ACCPA’s values and vision

According to Community Care Review, peak body Aged & Community Care Providers Association has enshrined the values underpinning its vision with the signing of a members’ charter.

Job shortage figures highlight dire state of aged care workforce

According to The Weekly Source, Registered Nurses (RNs) and aged and disability carers are among the top three occupations with the highest vacancy rate, according to figures from the Federal Government’s 2022 Skills Priority List.

Star ratings for aged care – who is talking about them?

According to The Weekly Source, the five-star rating for aged care homes is, we believe, going to be a PR disaster for the aged care sector, for the reason that nearly every home will struggle to get three stars at best.

SA Government rolls out virtual health program for aged care

According to The Weekly Source, the SA Department of Health has expanded its Virtual Health Service across the state, with the aim of reducing visits to emergency departments by aged care residents.

Legislation

No significant developments this week.