Aged care news highlights from the week ending 24 November 2023, aggregated by Ideagen 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 Ideagen CompliSpace .

COVID-19 News 

Government health spending increases as Covid lingers

According to Aged Care Insite, this year, Australia has spent a total of $241.3b on healthcare goods and services, which is a six per cent increase from 2021. Federal government has increased the spending by 8.6 per cent from $8.4b to $105.8b in total – more than double the annual average growth rate of 3.5 per cent, and higher than the 2020-21 Covid-19 spending increase of 7.6 per cent.

New coronavirus strain shouldn’t make people ‘worry’ about COVID-19 again, World Economic Forum data suggests

According to Aged Care Guide, the World Economic Forum has reported that the new strain of coronavirus should not lead people to ‘worry’ about a return to pandemic conditions. The World Economic Forum has reported that the new strain of coronavirus, ‘Pirola,’ is not causing more severe illness than previous variants and that existing tests and medications used for COVID-19 remain effective.

Other News

What older Australians want out of the new Aged Care Act

According to Aged Care Guide, in response to the Aged Care Act Foundations consultation, included in A New Aged Care Act: the foundations, Consultation Paper No.1, 13 organisations that work with older people and carers throughout the nation have cosigned a submission to the Australian Government.

Draft Aged Care Data and Digital Strategy consultation closing soon

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, the opportunity to provide feedback on the draft Aged Care Data and Digital Strategy closes soon. In addition to reading the strategy, you can watch the webinar recordings we held for the sector and older people and their carers. Tell us what you think by emailing: DigitalReformStrat@Health.gov.au. 

Webinar: Publishing provider reporting for stakeholders and the community

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, additional information about aged care providers’ finances and operations will be published on My Aged Care from February 2024. This includes information on income, expenditure, and surplus or loss. We invite residential and home care providers to join us for an information session on:

• how their data will be published on My Aged Care
• how they can preview their operational and financial data prior to publication.

When: Tuesday 28 November, 2 pm to 3 pm (AEDT). For those unable to attend the webinar, a recording will be available at webinars for the aged care sector. Register for the webinar now.

Grant opportunity: Improving respite care for people with dementia and their carers

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, an Improving respite care for people with dementia and their carers grant opportunity is now open on GrantConnect. The program focuses on carer wellbeing. It aims to increase support to informal carers and families caring for a person living with dementia through access to dementia-specific respite services. Organisations are invited to apply to deliver activities in Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory. Applications close 18 December 2023.

More at-risk people eligible for shingles vaccination under the National Immunisation Program

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, the shingles vaccine Shingrix® has replaced Zostavax® on the National Immunisation Program (NIP) schedule for the prevention of shingles and post-herpetic neuralgia. Aged care providers are advised that a 2-dose course of Shingrix® is available for free for:

• people aged 65 years and over
• First Nations people aged 50 years and over
• immunocompromised people aged 18 years and over with some specific medical conditions.
• Conditions apply for those who have previously received a Zostavax® vaccine.

Aged Care providers should make arrangements through their normal vaccination provider to enable eligible residents to access a Shingrix vaccine. Any aged care providers looking to access additional information about vaccines can also get the latest NIP updates by subscribing to our email list. For more information visit Shingles (herpes zoster) vaccine on our website. 

Aged Care Registered Nurses’ Payments Round 2 - Now Open

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, the second round of applications for the Aged Care Registered Nurses’ Payments is now open. Applications close on 20 December 2023. The grant opportunity guidelines (GO6557) are available on Grant Connect. For more information, visit Aged Care Registered Nurses’ Payment.

Aged care worker pay rise survey

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, we’re inviting workers and organisations from the aged care sector to do a short survey to tell us what the 15% pay rise has meant to you. The survey is open until 8 December 2023 and should take 10 minutes to complete. Take the Aged Care Wage Increase Satisfaction Survey.

Are privacy threats to the healthcare industry increasing?

According to Aged Care Insite, digital transformation has revolutionised the aged care sector, allowing facilities to enhance their quality of care, efficiency, and patient experience. It enables often overworked and under-staffed facilities to streamline records and medication management, respond quicker to medical needs, improve resource allocation, personalise care, and boost communication among staff, residents and families.

Home Care News

No significant developments this week.

Legislation

No significant developments this week.