Aged care news highlights from the week ending 20 May 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

Spike in COVID-19 deaths in aged care ahead of election

According to Aged Care Insite, ahead of the long-awaited federal election, aged care providers and peaks have urged action over a recent spread of COVID-19 as staff prepare to strike again on Friday. Recent government data shows there have been over 350 COVID-19 related deaths in aged care homes since the federal election campaign began.

Recording available - Leadership and Governance for RACFs 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.)

According to The Department of Health, on 11 May 2022, the Department of Health and the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission hosted a joint webinar on leadership and governance for residential aged care facilities (RACFs), including a presentation of case studies that are useful to inform planning and on how to and embed these concepts at the forefront of an outbreak. The session also included a moderated Q&A session with Departmental officials along with the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner.

A recording of this webinar is now available to watch on demand: Leadership and governance for RACFs in a COVID outbreak.

Winter preparedness webinar series

(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 of Health is hosting a series of free webinars to help aged care providers to prepare for, respond to and recover from winter viruses such as influenza, as well as continuing to respond to the threat of COVID-19. The first webinar was held on Wednesday 13 April 2022 and is available to watch on demand: Preparing your aged care service for winter – readiness.

The second webinar, will focus on how to respond to outbreaks, and is planned for Thursday 2 June 2022 from 1pm (AEST). The session will include panellists from the Department of Health along with Craig Gear from the Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN).

Continued preparation and response capability in the sector will ensure senior Australians continue to receive safe and quality care as aged care providers face the impacts from potential winter outbreaks. We will provide the registration link and further details for this upcoming webinar shortly, through our newsletter and the Department's website.

NSW Health - updated guidance

(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 NSW Health Department has published a Guidance for Residential Aged Care Facilities on the public health management of Acute Respiratory Infections (including COVID-19 and Influenza) (ARI Guidance) detailing 9 key steps in managing incidents from Acute Respiratory Infection presentation in a resident to managing an outbreak of COVID-19 or influenza. This document will replace the previous NSW Health documents:

• Public Health Actions – recommended guidance following a RACG COVID-19 outbreak of exposure
• COVID-19 Guidance to support risk assessment of workers, residents and visitors in Residential Aged Care
• NSW Flu-Info Kit.

Appendix 2 of the ARI Guidance, RACF COVID-19 risk assessment for single or known exposures, provides guidance in assessing the level of risk for staff, residents and visitors following exposure to COVID-19. It also provides advice on testing regime and isolation requirements, the Chief Health Advice has been updated to reference this latest advice. You can find further information for RACFs in NSW on the NSW Health website.

Other News

Aged care worker strike planned for Friday [20 May 2022]

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, in a second day of industrial action, aged care workers in South Australia and Queensland are walking off the job this week in support of improved pay and increased staffing. Friday’s strike follows an earlier protest on 10 May when workers from five major facilities in Queensland and Western Australia walked off the job.

Aged care workers strike, Colbeck eyes overseas staff

According to Aged Care Insite, aged care workers from five major providers took nationwide action this week to protest “horrifying” workplace conditions and poor wages. On Tuesday, nearly 4500 aged care workers in Queensland, South Australia and WA walked off the job at 11:30 am before attending lunchtime rallies across the states.

New aged care peak unveils inaugural board

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, the newly formed Aged & Community Care Providers Association has announced its board structure. In all, 15 board members have been appointed including Dr Graeme Blackman as chair and Cherylee Treloar as deputy chair. Both positions were determined at the board’s inaugural meeting held earlier this week.

Webinar: Consumer Experience Interviews information session

According to the Department of Health, consumer Experience Interviews have commenced in residential aged care facilities. We invite residential aged care services and providers to register for an information session on the Consumer Experience Interviews program, in which you will learn more about:

• its purpose and the methodology behind it
• logistics and timeframes
• how residents are involved, and their privacy protected.

The webinar will be held at 2.30–4pm AEST on Wednesday 25 May. A live chat function will enable attendees to ask questions during the presentation. Register for the webinar. Information on the Consumer Experience Interviews program is available on the department’s website.

Counting residents against each AN-ACC classification

According to the Department of Health, the department has responded to feedback on how it can assist with sector funding estimates, through a count of residents in each AN-ACC classification for a facility. This responds to concerns about reporting while adhering to privacy and security constraints.

Registered users with either Team Leader or Staff access can view the results of classifications for assessed residents via a new ‘Residential Care’ tile in the Provider Portal. The portal allows filtering by residents in care, to obtain a count against each classification. Further information on filtering is available in section 4.8 of the Provider Portal user guide. Longer-term, the department will look at this functionality in its digital transformation agenda.

Important reminder about use of My Aged Care trade mark

According to the Department of Health, the My Aged Care words and logo are registered as a trade mark by the Australian Government, represented by the Department of Health. This trade mark information indicates the department's ownership, authorship and/or endorsement.

Third parties or service providers may not use:

• the My Aged Care logo, or a modified version, on marketing materials or websites
• ‘My Aged Care’ in your business, domain or event name.

For further trade mark information, or to check if your marketing materials comply, email agedcarecomms@health.gov.au

Free translation service available for aged care providers

According to the Department of Health, aged care providers now have access to a free service to translate key documents for your organisation, including welcome brochures, care planning, aged care rights information and how to make a complaint. This service is available through Icon Agency and partners Able Australia, The LOTE Agency and Winangali.

Find more information on the Better connecting with diverse audiences website.

Updated stroke management guidelines released

According to Hospital and Healthcare, New and updated recommendations for stroke management have been published as part of Australia’s living guidelines for stroke, a summary of which has been published by the Medical Journal of Australia.

Report highlights unsustainability of sector

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, the majority of residential aged care providers in Australia continue to operate at a loss, according to a new, independent report.

Legislation

Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2021 [NSW] – passed 19 May 2022 (not set to commence until 2023)

A Private Member's Bill for an Act to provide for, and regulate access to, voluntary assisted dying for persons with a terminal illness; to establish the Voluntary Assisted Dying Board; and to make consequential amendments to other Acts. This Bill is also co-sponsored by a number of Government and Private Members.