Aged care news highlights from the week ending 2 September 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
Winter Webinar Series: COVID-19 Outbreak Recovery and Resilience
The Department of Health and Aged Care is hosting a webinar next Wednesday 7 September 2022 which will focus on key advice and available support on recovering from outbreaks in the post-winter period. During the webinar you will hear from the following panellists on a range of topics:
- Chair: Mr Jacob Madden, Assistant Secretary, Department of Health and Aged Care
- Long COVID-19 and what to look for following an outbreak: Professor Michael Kidd, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health and Aged Care
- Mental Health Supports and Building Resilience: Dr Melanie Wroth, Chief Clinical Advisor, Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
- National Mental Health and Wellbeing in Pandemic Response Plan: Dr Ruth Vine, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health and Aged Care
When: Wednesday 7 September 2022, 1pm to 2pm AEST.
Registration: Participants will need to register to attend this free webinar.
Infection Control Monitoring Checklist
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission has made available an Infection Control Monitoring Checklist.
Other News
Report reveals workforce has lost faith in aged care reform: podcast
According to Aged Care Insite, close to 60 per cent of Australia's workforce say the reforms in the new aged care bills are impossible to realise in the sector's current climate. The CompliSpace report surveyed over a thousand staff and revealed that nearly 90 per cent are expecting to make significant changes to their working lives to cope with the incoming changes.
Sector shares common goals at jobs summit
According to Australian Ageing Agenda, the aged care sector has come together at the Jobs and Skills Summit to issue a joint statement of common interests for much-needed reform to support the aged care workforce.
Free uni for nurses could shrink care workforce: peak unions
According to Aged Care Insite, Victoria’s plan to pay for nurses' and midwives' studies in exchange for working in public hospitals has raised concerns for the staff-stricken aged care sector.
United approach to fix aged care needed
According to Australian Ageing Agenda, responding to the Victorian Government’s plan to offer free training for thousands of nurses, aged care providers are calling for greater collaboration between states and the Commonwealth in addressing the workforce shortage.
31 August 2022 – Letter to consumers regarding national aged care reforms
According to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, on Wednesday 31 August, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner, Ms Janet Anderson, PSM, sent a letter to consumers regarding the national aged care reforms.
Register now! Introductory webinar on aged care reforms on 8 and 13 September 2022
According to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission: approved aged care providers and services are invited to attend a special live webinar, ‘Introduction to aged care reforms – a regulatory perspective’, hosted by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. It will focus on:
- the new regulatory requirements for approved providers
- how the Commission will consult with the sector and provide support and guidance.
Participants can register on their preferred date of 8 September 2022 or 13 September 2022 using the below links.
Thursday 8 September 2022
Time: 1:00 pm–2:00 pm AEST (12:30 pm–1:30 pm SA/NT, 11:00 am–12:00 pm WA)
Registration: Please register to attend via this link: Introduction to aged care sector reforms – a regulatory perspective (8 September)
Tuesday 13 September 2022
Time: 2:00 pm–3:00 pm AEST (1:30 pm–2:30 pm SA/NT, 12:00 pm–1:00 pm WA)
Registration: Please register to attend via this link: Introduction to aged care sector reforms – a regulatory perspective (13 September)
Peak warns Senate about allied health exodus
According to Australian Ageing Agenda, the aged care sector is facing increased workforce pressures due to a diminishing allied health presence, with mandated targets required to ensure adequate allied health services, the peak body for Australia’s physiotherapists has told a public inquiry.
Understaffing is leading to residents missing out on recreation
According to Aged Care Insite, a landmark study reveals leisure in aged care homes has become a last priority as an understaffed workforce struggles to meet residents' basic physical needs.
High suicide rates among men aged 85 and over
According to Aged Care Insite, men over the age of 85 continue to have the highest suicide rates of any age group in Australia, new data shows, prompting calls to address an issue that experts say has been largely ignored. Recent figures published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed the overall suicide rate in 2020 was 12.1 per cent per 100,000 people.
Labor’s aged care wins during their first 100 days in office
According to Aged Care Guide, this week, the Federal Labor Government have reached the milestone of 100 days in office and have already shown signs of promising movements to benefit older Australians and those accessing aged care.
New resources to improve food and nutrition for aged care residents
According to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, on 29 August 2022, the Commission launched Food, Dining and Nutrition resources to support the delivery of high-quality, enjoyable food and dining experiences for aged care residents. The first set of resources is now available on our website. The resources for providers outline the steps they should take to help ensure that residents can enjoy and exercise choice in their food and dining experience.
Aged Care Financial Report 2021–22 – new fact sheet available
According to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, all providers must submit an annual Aged Care Financial Report (ACFR) through the My Aged Care online portal. This must be done within 4 months of the end of the financial year. A new fact sheet is now available to assist you in preparing your ACFR.
Informed consent on the use of restrictive practices
According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, an exposure draft of the Quality of Care Amendment (Restrictive Practices) Principles 2022 is now available for review. This draft instrument seeks to provide greater certainty in states and territories where laws do not allow another person or body to give informed consent to the use of restrictive practices on the behalf of a resident. Without clear arrangements, aged care service providers cannot use restrictive practices in certain circumstances where appropriate. This may lead to harm to a resident and others. Comments on the draft instrument can be emailed to agedcareprotections@health.gov.au by 5pm AEST Thursday 15 September 2022. For further information visit the restrictive practices in aged care webpage on the department’s website.
Consumer experience interviews
According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, the experiences of senior Australians residing in aged care give vital insight into the quality of services they receive. We have returned the voice of senior Australians to the centre of aged care services by reinstating consumer experience interviews (CEIs). The Customer Experience Interview Questions are available here.
New and Updated Commission Resources
New resources are available from the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission:
Legislation
Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Improved Home Care Payment Administration) Principles 2022 [CTH] – commences 1 September 2022
This instrument amends the Subsidy Principles 2014 and the User Rights Principles 2014 to update the calculation of the shortfall amount paid to approved providers of home care for care recipients who receive the hardship supplement, and to introduce requirements for providers to detail the care recipient’s home care account balance, and both the Commonwealth portion and care recipient portion of a care recipient’s unspent home care amount in the monthly statement.
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