Aged care news highlights from the week ending 16 July 2021, 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
COVID-19 Vaccination reporting requirements extended for residential and home care providers
(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, the Australian Government has introduced new COVID-19 vaccination reporting requirements for residential and in-home aged care providers.
The expanded reporting is necessary to identify the potential level of risk each aged care service faces in the context of a COVID-19 outbreak in residential, in-home and community settings. It will inform how those services, residents and workers can best be supported.
While the new reporting requirements start on 27 July 2021, all providers are encouraged to start reporting voluntarily now. Details of the reporting requirements on COVID-19 vaccination for aged care providers is available on the Department’s website - Reporting requirements on the COVID-19 vaccination status of aged care workforce
Single site arrangements declaring Greater Melbourne and the adjacent LGA of Moorabool Shire a hotspot
(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, the Australian Government is closely monitoring the situation in Sydney, New South Wales and Melbourne, Victoria.
Single site funding support extended to 14 August in affected regions in New South Wales
In line with recent announcements from the Australian Government Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly, single site workforce arrangements and Australian Government funding is being extended to all local government areas across Greater Sydney, including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour.
Workers at residential aged care facilities in these areas are asked to continue to limit their work to a single facility to reduce the risk of transmission and protect workers and residents until at least 14 August 2021. Australian Government grant funding remains available to support implementation of these arrangements during this period through the Support for Aged Care Workers in COVID-19 Grant. Providers are able to make an application until 31 December 2021.
Helping you to support residents and workers on COVID-19 vaccination
(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, residential aged care providers have an important role in supporting residents and their families, and their workforce, in accessing credible information on COVID-19 vaccines and the critical role vaccines play in protecting against serious disease and death from COVID-19.
With frequent new COVID-19 vaccine developments, it’s normal for people to have questions or concerns, and possibly feel unsure about getting a vaccine. To support providers to make accurate, evidence-based information available to residents, family members and workers, the Department of Health’s website is a great resource for you to refer to so that you can help people make informed decisions
COVID-19 vaccines – Is it true?
COVID-19 vaccines - Is it true? Provides clear information addressing common questions and concerns, and separating misinformation from the facts. This resource includes evidence-based responses to a broad range of questions including:
Answers to common questions on COVID-19 vaccines is available in 63 languages. There is also a range of information about COVID-19 vaccines available in English and translated in 63 languages, providing clear information which can be a useful guide in discussing COVID-19 vaccine with workers, residents and family members.
Guide for resident and family discussion
Another important resource available to providers is the COVID-19 vaccination – Shared decision making guide for frail older people, including those in residential aged care facilities. This guide provides a useful resource to use in supportive discussions with residents and family members on deciding about COVID-19 vaccination, and addresses common questions that older Australians may have about COVID-19 vaccination.
Misinformation and truths about COVID-19
Another excellent resource is the Department of Home Affair’s website which features Misinformation and truths about Coronavirus (COVID-19) providing the facts to common misinformation about COVID-19 and vaccination. A fact sheet is also available on misinformation and the facts on COVID-19. The SBS Coronavirus Portal is another good resource which includes the latest Australian and international news, information and updates about COVID-19 in 60 languages.
OPAN Video Series on COVID-19
To further support residents and family members, the Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) website features a series of 11 videos with Dr Norman Swan. The videos are in response to questions from OPAN’s COVID-19 survey and questions from OPAN’s COVID-19 Vaccine webinar series.
To keep up to date on COVID-19 vaccination visit www.health.gov.au
COVID subsidy behind slight boost in financial performance
According to Australian Ageing Agenda, the proportion of residential aged care homes operating at a loss has slightly decreased compared to last year, however this still equates to more than half of homes, StewartBrown’s latest report shows. Benchmarking firm StewartBrown’s Aged Care Financial Performance Survey for the nine months ending 31 March 2021 shows that 54 per cent of homes recorded a loss, down from 58 per cent in March 2020. Without the COVID-19 subsidy, 60 per cent of aged care homes would be operating at a loss, the survey shows.
Aged care trial to rapid test visitors for COVID-19
According to Australian Ageing Agenda, a residential aged care provider in Melbourne is trialling a 10-minute test for the coronavirus that aims to boost safety for residents by detecting asymptomatic infections. The month-long trial at Abberfield Aged Care Facility will test the effectiveness of rapid antigen testing as a COVID-19 screening tool for all people entering the facility, such as staff, contractors and visitors, and its ability to detect asymptomatic cases.
Aged care workers get vaccine priority in Sydney, peaks and unions meet with Health Minister
According to Aged Care Insite, aged care workers in the worst COVID-hit areas of Sydney will be prioritised in the state's vaccine rollout, the government said, as the state enters an extended lockdown. NSW will prioritise aged care workers and over 10,000 teachers in the Fairfield, Canterbury Bankstown and Liverpool local government areas where there is greater concern of COVID-19 transmission.
Other News
2021 Basic Daily Fee Supplement: 21 July undertaking deadline
(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, the new Australian Government 2021 basic daily fee supplement (the supplement) is an additional $10 per day, per resident for providers of residential and respite aged care services, and flexible care services that are multi-purpose services.
The supplement is available to approved providers who formally agree (via an undertaking) and submit quarterly reports, with a focus on food and nutrition.
21 July 2021: deadline for submitting the undertaking to receive payments from 1 July 2021
Providers must submit the undertaking by 21 July 2021. If you do not submit the undertaking by the deadline, you will forfeit eligibility for the supplement for the period 1 July to the date of submission. For example, if you submit the undertaking on 9 August, you will not receive any supplement payment for the period 1 July to 9 August.
Download and submit the undertaking
The undertaking must be signed by an authorised person. It is expected that this person will be one of the key personnel, as defined by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Act 2018 section 8B (1) (a), 1(b), 2(a) and 2(b). If you have not already notified the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission that this person is key personnel, you will need to notify the Commission of this material change.
Download the undertaking form
Email the completed, signed form to BDFundertaking@health.gov.au
What you will report
Approved providers who have submitted the undertaking must report quarterly on food and nutrition expenditure, and quality of daily living services, starting 21 October 2021.
Find information on the quarterly reporting requirements on the department's website.
Register now for aged care reform webinars
(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, the department is holding a series of interactive webinars to share information about the aged care reforms announced in the 2021 Federal Budget, in response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
July webinars:
19 July - access to culturally safe services and the accessibility of and outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in aged care – with guest panellist Jody Currie from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service
21 July - quality of life and care for people living with dementia – with guest panellist Maree McCabe, CEO of Dementia Australia
22 July - accessibility of and outcomes for people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds receiving aged care services – with guest panellist Mary Patetsos, Chair of the Federation of Ethnic Community Councils of Australia (FECCA)
August webinar:
2 August - supporting a growing and better skilled aged care workforce
Thousands participated in our June webinars covering residential aged care, information and communication technology (ICT), and home care. If you missed these webinars you can go to the department’s website and access the recordings in the ‘Previous webinars’ section.
Find out more and register for these webinars on the department’s website.
Debate stirs over legalised euthanasia as NSW set to consider new bill
According to Aged Care Insite, Sydney state MP Alex Greenwich is leading the charge to legalise voluntary assisted dying in NSW, as he prepares to submit a bill for parliamentary debate next month. His campaign joins multiple states considering whether to grant people suffering from severe and incurable diseases access to euthanasia.
Pressure injury, restraint, weight loss reports decline
According to Australian Ageing Agenda, there was a decline in incidences across the three mandatory aged care quality indicators reported at beginning of this year compared to the previous quarter, the latest report shows. In the January-March 2021 quarter, there were 50,653 reported physical restraint devices in use, such as bedrails, chairs with locked tables, seatbelts, safety vests and shackles, down from 54,264 in October-December 2020. There were also 23,595 instances of intentional physical restraint in the January quarter, down from 24,476 in the previous quarter.
Legislation
Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Care Recipients and Service Staff Vaccination Recording and Reporting) Principles 2021 [CTH] – commenced 13 July 2021
This instrument establishes obligations on approved providers of home care services to keep records and report to the Department of Health workers’ COVID-19 vaccination status and approved providers of residential aged care to keep reports and report to the Department on residents’ vaccination status.
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