Aged care news highlights from the week ending 20 January 2023, 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 cases in aged care homes on the decline, govt stats show

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, following a Christmas spike of Covid cases in aged care homes, the number appears to be dropping indicating a downward trend for the new year. According to government statistics, the number of Covid cases recorded in aged care homes across Australia increased markedly throughout December to peak at 6,588 on 22 December. Since then, cases have been on the decline, with the latest figures showing, as of 12 January, 3,944 cases across 591 facilities – 2,743 among residents, 1,201 among staff.

COVID-19 safe behaviours

(Note: this excerpt is from the Department of Health and Aged Care newsletter. We cannot provide a link to the full version of this story until the Department uploads it to their website.)

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, aged care providers need to remain alert and prepared for a potential outbreak of COVID-19. All aged care workers and visitors should not attend work, and should stay at home, if they have respiratory symptoms to help prevent the spread, even if they receive a negative RAT result. Workers who test positive for COVID-19 should not attend the workplace for at least 7 days, including those who provide close personal care to older people in their homes or the community.

The National Statement of Expectations on COVID-19 Management in Aged Care Settings is a best practice reference document for both residential and home care providers on their responsibilities for preparing for and responding to the impact of COVID-19.

Reduce infection risk – Screening staff and visitors

(Note: this excerpt is from the Department of Health and Aged Care newsletter. We cannot provide a link to the full version of this story until the Department uploads it to their website.)

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, although we have seen a recent reduction in cases and outbreaks, it is important that residential aged care homes remain vigilant.  It is recommended that facilities continue to refer to CDNA guidance materials to underpin screening arrangements put in place, informed by local risk assessments. We are continuing to supply weekly Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) kits to residential aged care homes through the National Medical Stockpile which should form part of your surveillance screening.

Providers should regularly review screening arrangements in line with their risk assessment of the current COVID-19 risk in their area. The National COVID-19 Community Protection Framework provides information on measures which could be used depending on the level of community cases. You should stay up to date with current community case levels in your local area by regularly reviewing advice from your state or territory.

Use of personal protective equipment (PPE)

(Note: this excerpt is from the Department of Health and Aged Care newsletter. We cannot provide a link to the full version of this story until the Department uploads it to their website.)

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, aged care providers should make sure that all aged care homes and in-home care services have appropriate stocks of PPE available and arrangements with commercial suppliers to replenish PPE stocks as required. Residential aged care services should encourage staff and visitors to wear a face mask when indoors and in close contact with other people at a residential care home. All in-home care services should provide their staff with PPE to use in each consumer’s home, including any additional PPE required to support a consumer who has tested positive to COVID-19.

COVID-19 vaccination for aged care residents

(Note: this excerpt is from the Department of Health and Aged Care newsletter. We cannot provide a link to the full version of this story until the Department uploads it to their website.)

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, all older people who are eligible for their fourth dose but have not received the dose should be strongly encouraged to receive the dose if it has been 3 months since their most recent COVID-19 infection. In a residential setting, aged care providers are responsible for supporting residents to access this fourth dose along with any other doses for other residents. Changes to the administration of COVID-19 vaccination clinics are being implemented following the launch of the National COVID-19 Health Management Plan in December 2022.

For the next 12 months, COVID-19 vaccines will continue to be principally administered in residential aged care homes by primary care providers such as general practitioners and pharmacists. Additional help for aged care will be provided through the Vaccine Administration Partners Program (VAPP). The VAPP will be able to deliver COVID-19 in-reach clinics in residential aged care homes as a last resort option in circumstances where there is a shortfall in primary care availability to administer COVID-19 vaccinations in this setting.

We ask residential aged care homes not to approach VAPP providers directly. If you need COVID-19 vaccination support, please contact us at RACFVaccineClinics@health.gov.au and we will liaise with the relevant Primary Health Network to determine what assistance is available through primary care providers in your area.

Access to oral antiviral treatments

(Note: this excerpt is from the Department of Health and Aged Care newsletter. We cannot provide a link to the full version of this story until the Department uploads it to their website.)

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, all aged care services should support their residents and care recipients to be able to access antiviral treatment as soon as possible. Aged care services should have established links with primary care providers to rapidly assess residents and care recipients, and community pharmacies to get rapid supply of medications. This is really important as antivirals need to be administered within 5 days of symptom onset, and the sooner the better, for the best outcome.

Medicare telehealth services are now available with any GP for anyone with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis in the past 7 days. A long telehealth (phone) consultation by a GP for prescribing COVID-19 antiviral treatments is also available until 31 December 2023. If you can't get an appointment for your residents or care recipients to talk about treatments, you can call HealthDirect's free helpline on 1800 022 222 or use the Service Finder to search for one nearby. You can also find your nearest pharmacy with the oral treatments online.

Visitors to residential aged care homes

(Note: this excerpt is from the Department of Health and Aged Care newsletter. We cannot provide a link to the full version of this story until the Department uploads it to their website.)

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, to understand more about resident rights and responsibilities we encourage you to review the Industry Code for Visiting Residential Aged Care Homes. The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (the Commission) has also produced a series of partnerships in care resources to support aged care residents, their family or close friends to continue their relationships of care and companionship, even during periods of an infectious disease outbreak.

The Commission recognises the known physical, psychosocial and nutritional impacts on older people if they experience extended periods of social isolation and has issued a statement on what their position is on provider responsibilities relating to visitor access. We encourage you to read the statement.

Other News

Providers lack awareness of upcoming reforms: survey

According to Community Care Review, residential and home aged care providers are only moderately aware and prepared for the reforms taking effect prior to July 2023, the government’s first provider pulse survey has found.

Launch of the 2023 Residents’ Experience Surveys

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, Residents’ Experience Surveys (previously known as Consumer Experience Interviews) are due to commence from February 2023. This offers older people in residential aged care the opportunity to share feedback about the quality of care they receive. Their responses will inform the Residents’ Experience Rating in Star Ratings, which can be viewed on My Aged Care.

On behalf of the department, IQVIA in a consortium with Access Care Network Australia and Health Consult, will shortly commence contacting residential aged care homes to schedule the visit to conduct the Residents’ Experience Surveys. The 14 pre-set questions have been updated this year to reflect resident feedback. The department will provide a copy of the 2023 questions in the coming weeks. Read more information about Residents’ Experience Surveys.

Webinar published: Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, on 15 December 2022, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission hosted a webinar on ‘Aged care sector reforms – current and what’s next?’. The webinar recording, presentation and resources are now available on the Commission’s website.

Guiding Principles for Medication Management in Residential Aged Care Facilities updated and published

The Department of Health and Aged Care, in collaboration with the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, has updated and published the national guiding principles to improve the quality and safety of medication management.

This update includes the Guiding Principles for Medication Management in Residential Aged Care Facilities resource collection:

• Guiding Principles for Medication Management in Residential Aged Care Facilities
• Fact sheet
• User Guide – Role of a Medication Advisory Committee
• Audit Tool and Checklist for a Medication Advisory Committee

Quarterly Financial Report: Quarter 2 submissions due 14 February

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, providers can now submit their second Quarterly Financial Report (QFR) for the 2022‑23 financial year through the Forms Administration portal.

Quarter 2 submissions are due by Tuesday 14 February 2023.

QFR guides and FAQs are available on the department’s QFR webpage and Forms Administration website. A recording and presentation materials from the QFR webinar held on 8 December are also available. If you need assistance completing the QFR call the Forms Administration helpdesk on (02) 4403 0640 or email health@formsadministration.com.au

Support for Food and Nutrition Reporting due 14 February

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, Mandatory Food and Nutrition Reporting is due for all residential aged care services by Tuesday 14 February 2023. This will be collected as part of Quarterly Financial Report (QFR) reporting for October to December 2022. The department identified discrepancies in first quarter reporting from some providers, with regards to:

• reporting of on-site contract catering food and cooking ingredients
• classification of food and cooking ingredients as ‘fresh’ or ‘other’.

To avoid discrepancies we request that providers carefully read the QFR Explanatory Notes. For more information or support with completing reports email NutritioninAgedCare@health.gov.au

Reminder: Star Ratings data due soon

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, Star Ratings for residential aged care services will be updated on 31 March 2023 to reflect the latest quarterly reporting of data. Providers are reminded to submit their quarterly data as follows:

• National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program – 1 October to 31 December 2022 quarter data for the current 5 quality indicators is due bySaturday 21 January 2023.
• Quarterly Financial Report – 1 October to 31 December 2022 quarter reporting is due by Tuesday14 February 2023 using the Forms Administration’s data collection portal.

This data will inform the March update to Star Ratings which captures data across Compliance, Residents’ Experience, Staffing and Quality Measures. Late or non-submission of data is expected to result in a 1 Star Rating for the relevant sub-category and reduce a service’s overall Star Rating.

Reminder: Provider responsibilities to notify when a client has ceased receiving residential care

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, providers are reminded that they have 28 days to notify when a client has ceased receiving residential aged care services. Departure from care details including the reason for departure (e.g. the client is deceased) can be submitted to Services Australia through its aged care provider portal or via webservices. These responsibilities are outlined in section 63-1BA of the Aged Care Act 1997 and section 28A of the Accountability Principles 2014.

Apply now to maintain your specialised status under AN-ACC

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, approved providers of services with the following interim specialised status receive a higher rate of Base Care Tariff under the Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC):

• Homeless residential care service status; or
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residential care service status.

Interim specialised status ends 31 March 2023. To maintain your specialised status beyond 31 March, lodge an application with the Department of Health and Aged Care by 28 February 2023.

Home closures likely as financial decline continues, says insider

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, the aged care sector could see up to 50 homes close over the next year and a half, according to an industry expert. Speaking to Australian Ageing Agenda following the release of the latest Aged Care Financial Performance Survey report, senior partner at StewartBrown Grant Corderoy said “there could be somewhere between 30 and 50 home closures on the cards over the next 18 months.”

Sexual rights compromised in aged care

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, intimacy and sexuality are often ignored or actively discouraged in residential aged care settings, La Trobe University research has found.  

Home Care News

Home Care Packages Program: Update to Provider Manual

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, the Home Care Packages (HCP) Program Operational Provider Manual has been updated to reflect recent aged care reforms and common provider questions. Please read the Provider Manual to ensure you are across the most up to date guidance. Read more information about the HCP Program on the department’s website.

Reform engagement update on home care and more

According to Community Care Review, the Department of Health and Aged Care has this week published the government’s 2023 engagement calendar for the ongoing consultation on the new in-home aged care program. The seven-month schedule starts with targeted group consultation in January and February. February also includes consultation with indigenous elders and providers and the establishment of a clinical advisory group.

Alternate funding model needed for home care, says report

According to Community Care Review, there needs to be an overhaul of the home care funding model to prevent unspent money going to waste, says an industry expert. The latest Aged Care Financial Performance Survey report shows an increase in unspent funds to now average $11,693 for every home care recipient. “That money is, in a sense, going to waste,” Grant Corderoy, senior partner at StewartBrown, told Community Care Review.

Dates set for home care reform engagement, trial, roadshow

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, the Department of Health and Aged Care has this week published the government’s 2023 engagement calendar for the ongoing consultation on the new in-home aged care program.

Legislation

No significant developments this week.