Aged care news highlights from the week ending 15 April 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

Webinar on Upcoming Changes to Provider Reporting on Resident and Workforce COVID-19 Vaccination

According to the Department of Health, all aged care providers are invited to a live, free webinar on Wednesday 27 April 2022 from 1.00pm – 2.00pm AEST on upcoming changes to the mandatory reporting requirements on resident and workforce COVID-19 vaccinations.

The department is making improvements to the reporting template for providers’ weekly reporting on resident and workforce COVID-19 vaccination rates. The changes will better support facilities to report accurately on their resident and worker vaccination status and to capture the winter dose status of aged care residents. All aged care providers are required to use the new reporting template from Tuesday 3 May 2022 via the My Aged Care provider portal.

All aged care providers are required to use the new reporting template from Tuesday 3 May 2022 via the My Aged Care provider portal.

Updated Portal FAQs

(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, a reminder that residential aged care facilities (RACFs) can request additional PPE to support a current outbreak through the COVID-19 Portal. To assist providers in submitting requests through the COVID-19 Portal, the Department has issued updated information in the updated frequently asked questions (FAQs) document.

The COVID-19 Support Portal is accessed through the My Aged Care Provider Portal. If you are experiencing any issues with ordering through the portal, please call the My Aged Care Service Provider Helpline on 1800 836 799.

Information for Western Australian Aged Care Providers – Organising PCR testing during an Outbreak

(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, there are a number of Clinipath guidance documents available for Western Australian residential aged care facilities (RACFs) on the arrangement and booking of PCR testing when you have a positive resident and/or two positive staff members (RAT or PCR). These include:

• RACF Onsite Collection Information
• RACF Labelling Collection guide
• RACF Drive Thru testing
• RACF Collection Process

WA services should note that a RACF can determine the extent of initial testing, taking into consideration the unique circumstances of their facility.

Testing guidance is provided in the attached Commonwealth document “Pathology Surge Sonic Clinipath RACF Testing during a COVID-19 Outbreak- RACF Guidance”. Wait times at Clinipath Drive Thru clinics can be found on the Clinipath website: Drive Thru hours & wait times. Staff are able to visit any pathology service for testing, for example if it is closer or wait times are shorter.

WA providers should also refer to the WA Department of Health Guidance for the management of COVID-19 outbreaks in WA Residential Aged Care Facilities version 2.1 sent to providers 30 March 2022.

Other News

Winter Preparedness Webinar

(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.)

The Department is hosting a series of free webinars to help aged care providers to prepare for, respond to and recover from outbreaks. The first webinar, focussing on readiness will be on: Wednesday 13 April 2022 from 11.00am to 12.00pm (AEST).

The session will include a moderated Q&A session with Departmental officials along with the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner, and we invite you to submit questions in advance when you register to attend. You can find more details and resources on preparing for the winter season in our previous message "Preparing your aged care service for winter – readiness".

Emergency leave for aged care residents extended to 30 June 2023

According to the Department of Health, the emergency leave provision for permanent aged care residents has been extended for an additional 12 months, until 30 June 2023.

This will allow aged care residents to continue to take emergency leave during unpredictable COVID-19 outbreaks, rather than using and potentially exhausting their social leave entitlements. The continued availability of emergency leave will provide certainty and reassurance to residents who wish to temporarily relocate to stay with family at these times.

Aged care homes will continue to be paid residential care subsidy when residents are on emergency leave, ensuring neither residents nor providers are disadvantaged.

REMINDER - Aged Care Emergency and Crisis Management Training Program extended to 30 June 2022

(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, providers are reminded that availability of the online training modules delivered as part of the Aged Care Emergency and Crisis Management Training Program 2021 has been extended until 30 June 2022. Importantly, the training retains particular relevance in the context of preparing for and responding to a range current and recent issues impacting the sector, including:

• major flooding events across south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales;
• ongoing Omicron COVID-19 outbreaks; and
• the upcoming 2022 influenza season.

The self-paced online modules are available now and are completely free for participants, with over 1,512 registrations to date - register here.

Liberals defend aged care record as Labor seeks jail time for 'dodgy' providers

According to The Senior, aged care looks set to play a key role in the federal election campaign, with Labor saying some providers could face jail time for serious breaches and the Liberal government defending its record in the sector.

Aged care to headline in 2022 federal election

According to Aged Care Insite, with the federal election date set, aged care is looking likely to play in a crucial role in each party's campaign, elevating calls from advocates to commit to sector wide reform. Announcing a May 21 poll, prime minister Scott Morrison told voters that over the past four years his government had not been “perfect” but had acted "upfront". In his budget reply speech, opposition leader Anthony Albanese made 24/7 nursing in aged care the centrepiece of Labor's election pledge.

Aged care – an election issue

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, It’s on – the federal election has been called and polling day announced for the 21 May. While maybe not exactly front and centre of the 2022 campaign, aged care is certainly in the spotlight. Opposition leader Anthony Albanese made several commitments to the aged care sector in his budget reply speech to Parliament last month. The central plank of which was to back the Fair Work Commission’s decision on a workforce wage increase. Mr Albanese said the FWC’s decision must be “binding” and that any government would be obliged to fund it. As for the Coalition, it has said it would also except a Fair Work Commission ruling on a potential wage hike for the aged care workforce. However, it has so far failed to commit to funding any wage rise through a levy.

Almost half of providers yet to apply for worker bonus

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, a recent Senate estimates hearing revealed just over half of the 1,600 aged care providers in Australia have applied for the first round of the workforce bonus announced on 1 February.

Nutrition linked to increased complaints in aged care

According to Inside Ageing, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission’s sector performance report for the Oct-Dec 21 quarter, has revealed an increase in complaints against aged care operators, with 1517 received in the quarter September 2021, to 1639 complaints in the December 21 quarter. Of the top ten complaints lodged to the Commission in the quarter, four are linked to nutrition, heightening concerns that some residents in aged care are malnourished.

Legislation

No significant developments this week.