Major Aged Care Reforms in 2024: What to expect
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Weekly Wrap: 16 February 2020

18/02/20
Resources

Aged care news highlights from the week ending 16 February 2020.

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 and Critical Success Solutions.


Retirement village operators called on to sign new Code of Conduct

According to Aged Care Insite, Australia’s retirement village operators are being encouraged to sign up to the new Retirement Living Code of Conduct, which aims to safeguard the interests of current and future retirement residents. Around 1000 retirement villages have already preregistered to participate in the Retirement Living Code of Conduct since it was brought into effect on 1 January, according to the Property Council of Australia (PCA) and Leading Age Services Australia (LASA). Hailing it as a “new era of quality assurance”, the Council said the Code of Conduct, which is the sector’s self assessment tool, supports the new Australian Retirement Village Accreditation Scheme (ARVAS) and “forms a robust quality framework for the operation of Australia’s approximately 2,300 retirement communities”.

 

Put the power in the hands of the consumer: royal commission workshop

According to Aged Care Insite, reablement, funding reform and face-to-face guidance were among the topics discussed in the aged care royal commission’s first workshop held in Adelaide this week. Aged care in its current form is often too difficult to navigate, and looking at the assessment and navigation systems would be a good start for reform, the assembled experts told the commission. COTA chief executive Ian Yates suggested that assessors and navigators be the same person. “We’ve suggested in our submission that when people are assessed, they are assigned someone who – we’ve used the term case manager – that can navigate, who knows where services are available, who can work with the person about making decisions about what’s best for them and connect them up quickly,” he said.

 

Royal commission weighs case for independent navigators

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, a system navigator independent of providers should be available as soon as people enter the aged care system, the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety has heard. A series of expert panels gave evidence in Adelaide this week on potential new models of service delivery at the point of entry, based on a consultation paper released by the royal commission in December. The paper proposes basic screening for entry level support and comprehensive assessment for higher needs, with care finders available at a local level to help find services and oversee care plans. It would replace the current system where people are assigned a level of assistance by an ACAT or RAS assessment and then directed to the My Aged Care portal where they are expected to more or less fend for themselves.

 

RC discusses what’s needed to uncap supply

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, a strong assessment process is required to move to an aged care system with an uncapped supply of services, industry stakeholders tell this week’s royal commission hearing. Supply for residential care could be uncapped now, but overall there’s a need to better understand demand and for a more flexible regulatory environment, according to witnesses at Monday’s royal commission hearing in Adelaide. The royal commission held a two-day workshop style hearing with panels of industry representatives to discuss, test and improve on the system design and program redesign proposed in a consultation paper released in December and subsequent feedback.

 

CEO aims to break down aged care sector fragmentation

According to Aged Care Insite, there’s a lot of rhetoric in the aged care sector about how best to reform it, admits Danielle Ballantine, but she reckons her Sydney-based organisation is heading in the right direction thanks to an approach focused on simplifying the user experience. The CEO of Your Side who has been nominated for the prestigious social award ‘Impact 25’, says she’s determined to put aged care services on the map and has started with a progressive approach which aims to better connect older people with a wide support system that encompasses all the services they may need. “We all know the aged care sector business model is very fragmented,” she says. “This is our biggest issue and one which will probably take a good five years to reform in the wake of the Royal Commission’s recommendations. “I know it’s a cliché to say the client needs to be at the centre of the policy-making process, but this is exactly right; it’s more than just saying ‘I’m client centred’.

 

Number of loss-making facilities in country areas ‘scary’

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, the number of loss-making facilities in outer regional, rural and remote areas is on the rise, with homes in South Australia struggling the most, a new report shows. The StewartBrown Aged Care Financial Performance Survey Rural and Remote Results Summary released this week further analyses the financial results of 95 aged care homes in outer regional, rural and remote areas across the country from the September 2019 Aged Care Financial Performance Survey. It shows that two-thirds of homes in these areas recorded an operating loss (negative earnings before tax) for the quarter ending September 2019 (65 per cent) and 47 per cent made a cash loss (negative earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation, amortisation and rent). This is up from 61 per cent and 40 per cent of homes in these areas making an operating and cash loss respectively for the same period last year. By comparison, in major cities, 47 per cent and 22 per cent of the 640 facilities recorded operating and cash losses respectively as did 55 per cent and 31 per cent respectively of the 249 facilities in inner regional areas , the survey shows.

 

Resource aims to encourage mental health conversations

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, a group of allied health professionals has shared their personal mental health stories to help raise awareness and improve the mental health of aged care residents. Aged care allied health organisation Guide Healthcare has produced an e-book where six team members open up about their personal challenges with mental illness in a bid to help those who may be suffering in silence. Guide Healthcare managing director Simon Kerrigan said he has seen a high level of mental health issues among residents over eight years of working as a physiotherapist in aged care and not enough action to combat it.

 

Palliative care workforce survey

The Department of Health is seeking information from all aged care providers to help understand and project the demand for, and supply of, palliative care services in the future. This information will support the department’s analysis of Australia’s palliative care workforce and guide future planning for palliative care services. The survey seeks to identify:

  • the profile of palliative care services within aged care
  • the types of palliative care services delivered by aged care services
  • details of the workforce at each service by discipline
  • issues relating to workforce recruitment for staff delivering palliative care.

The department encourages all palliative care providers to complete the anonymous survey.

 

Read Consultation Paper 1 submissions

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety has published a selection of submissions it received on key questions raised in its Consultation Paper 1 – Program Design in Aged Care.

 

National trial of PainChek

According to The Department of Health, the Australian Government is funding a 12 month national trial of the PainChek app with residential aged care providers. PainChek is a smartphone based medical device which uses artificial intelligence and facial recognition technology to assess and score pain levels in people who are unable to communicate, including those with dementia. The initiative promotes innovation in aged care, consistency of pain assessments and improved care outcomes. The trial is now open and residential aged care providers are encouraged to complete an expression of interest to participate.

 

Use of the My Aged Care trade mark by third parties

According to The Department of Health, the Australian Government (represented by the Department of Health) registered the My Aged Care words and logo as a trade mark in 2013. The department owns and uses the trade mark to identify the My Aged Care phone line (1800 200 422) and website (www.myagedcare.gov.au). The My Aged Care trade mark is generally reserved for use on resources the department has editorial control of indicating the department’s ownership, authorship and/or endorsement. Third parties or service providers may not:

  • use the My Aged Care logo on marketing materials or websites unless you first get written permission from the department
  • use ‘My Aged Care’ in your business, domain or event name
  • reproduce an image of any departmental Home Care Package letters (which prominently display the Australian Government Coat of Arms and My Aged Care logo).

There are limited circumstances where using the My Aged Care trade mark is appropriate but only when approved in advance. Requests for approval to use the My Aged Care trade mark can be sent to agedcarecomms@health.gov.au

Legislation

Nothing in the news this week.

Resources and Upcoming Events

Calculating residential accommodation payments in a leap year

This year is a leap year, with 366 days instead of 365. The Department of Health has received queries from approved providers of residential care seeking advice on how to calculate a daily accommodation payment (DAP) in a leap year. The calculators specified in the Fees and Payments Principles 2014 (No. 2) (the Principles) refer to 365 days for working out:

  • the DAP (or contribution) equivalent to a refundable accommodation deposit (RAD) (or contribution)
  • the amount of interest on a RAD (or contribution) balance or accommodation bond balance.

Even though 2020 is a leap year, residential care providers should continue to use 365 days when calculating DAP amounts and the interest payable on refunds of lump sum deposits. But please be aware that daily payments and daily contributions are payable for 366 days in 2020.

What Matters Most – New person centred care resources

According to The Department of Health, Palliative Care Australia, through a Dementia and Aged Care Services Fund grant, has launched a suite of resources to encourage early conversations about What Matters Most to older people, their care and their end of life preferences.

ITAC 2020 Transforming Independence Through Innovative Technology – 3,4 March 2020, Royal ICC Brisbane

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, exhibitors at this year’s conference include:

  • Souped Up Catering software
  • Telstra Health and
  • Webstercare

Webinar: Update on new aged care assessment arrangements – 11 March 2020, 2.00 pm – 3.00 pm (AEDT)

According to The Department of Health, this webinar will provide an update on the development of new aged care assessment arrangements and address common themes arising from stakeholder questions during the December 2019 webinar. The new arrangements will start from April 2021, providing a streamlined process for consumers to access aged care services.

Quality Indicators (QIs) pilot – specific service types invited to participate

The Department of Health has engaged PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to assist in the development and pilot to trial the new QIs relating to:

  • medication management
  • falls and fractures.

To ensure the pilot captures the views and experiences of residential aged care services nationally, the department would like to strongly encourage the following services to take part:

  • Services operating in Queensland or remote areas
  • Smaller services (less than 50 residential aged care places)
  • Previous QI Program pilot participants
  • Private (for profit) or State Government services.

Participation in the pilot is an opportunity for your service to trial and provide feedback on these indicators ahead of the implementation of the additional QIs from 1 July 2021. The pilot will commence in February 2020, please register your interest by 27 January 2020.

NATSIFAC Program Bi-Annual One-off Grant Opportunity – Second Approach now open

According to The Department of Health, the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care (NATSIFAC) Program 2019-2020 Bi-Annual One-off Grant Opportunity – Second Approach is a targeted, competitive application process. NATSIFAC Program service providers can apply for grant funding to address a clearly identified need that supports the delivery of aged care services. Service providers in remote and very remote Australia (geographical locations defined as Modified Monash Model 6 and 7) will be prioritised. The Grant Opportunity opened on Thursday 16 January 2020. All applications must be received by the department by 2:00pm, Thursday 12 March 2020.

6 steps for safe prescribing antipsychotics and benzodiazepines in residential aged care

Issued by the Department of Health, this infographic outlines the 6 steps for safe prescribing antipsychotics and benzodiazepines in residential aged care.

Aged care video alert: Dignity of risk

According to Lexology, the concept of dignity of risk is not entirely new, however it now has a position of prominence in aged care with the Aged Care Quality Standards. In this video update, senior associate Dr Melanie Tan explains:

  • What does dignity of risk mean?
  • Where and when does dignity of risk apply?
  • What is the duty of care within dignity of risk?

Women in Healthcare Leadership Summit – 17-20 February 2020, Sydney

Criterion Conferences would like to personally invite you to the Women in Healthcare Leadership Summit taking place from the 17th-20th February 2020. This is your chance to gain real advice from real healthcare leaders to learn not only how to survive in the industry, but truly thrive as a leader.

LASA Tri-State Conference: Ageing Well: From Policy to Practice – 24-25 February 2020, Albury Entertainment Centre

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, LASA’s 2020 conference will cover:

  • Building the workforce of the future
  • Board governance and your responsibilities
  • Managing consumer dignity and choice
  • Diversity and inclusion
  • Feedback and Complaints
  • Meeting the Aged Care Quality Standards to be audit ready.

5th Quality in Aged Care Conference – 18-19 March 2020, Sydney

Criterion Conferences is combining the two areas of Quality and Customer Experience into one streamed event. After a year of public scrutiny and negative publicity, and with the Royal Commission Final Report on the horizon, this is your chance to join with industry leaders and experts and unpack key issues with a vision for person-centred, best practice approaches.

Dementia Australian National Symposium – 24 March 2020, The Fullerton Hotel Sydney

According to Aged Care Insite, we are bringing an impressive line-up of local and international leaders to equip you to lead industry transformation. You will leave inspired, equipped and ready for change.

Financial Transformation in Aged Care Conference – 29-30 April 2020, Sydney

Criterion Conferences is hosting a Financial Transformation in Aged Care Conference. Developed in partnership with COTA Australia and ACSA, this event is your opportunity to voice your concerns, strategise with leading providers, and actively engage in dialogue that will build a stronger, sustainable future for your organisation and the industry.

2018-19 Report on the Operation of the Aged Care Act 1997

According to the Department of Health, the 2018-19 Report on the Operation of the Aged Care Act 1997 is now available from the GEN Aged Care Data website. The report details the operation of Australia’s aged care system during the 2018–19 financial year and provides a snapshot of the system as a whole. It is delivered to Parliament each year by the Minister in accordance with section 63-2 of the Aged Care Act 1997.

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ACE Editorial Team

ACE is published by Ideagen. CompliSpace is Ideagen’s SaaS-enabled solution that helps organisations in highly-regulated industries to meet their governance, risk, compliance and policy management obligations.

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