Aged care news highlights from the week ending 21 October 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

COVID-19 isolation requirements for high-risk settings

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, on 30 September 2022, the National Cabinet agreed to a nationally consistent approach to transition Australian’s COVID-19 response and to remove the need for compulsory COVID-19 isolation across all jurisdictions, effective 14 October 2022. A National COVID-19 Community Protection Framework has been developed and outlines response measures that can be scaled-up should the epidemiological situation change.

Aged care settings

Aged care providers and workers are expected to maintain existing infection prevention and control measures including:

• All aged care workers should not attend work, and should stay at home, if they have respiratory symptoms to help prevent the spread.
• It is recommended that facilities continue to refer to CDNA guidance materials to underpin screening arrangements put in place, informed by local risk assessments.
• 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.
• Residential aged care providers should continue to report all positive COVID-19 test results to the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care via the My Aged Care Provider Portal.
• Residential aged care providers should undertake regular IPC risk assessments.
• Residential aged care providers should maintain their preparedness to respond to COVID-19 (or other respiratory disease) outbreaks and continue to work closely with their IPC lead nurse to ensure that IPC practices are current and IPC resources are available. This includes planning for additional or replacement workforce.

You can call the National Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 020 080, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week if you need any assistance. The Hotline can connect to the Translation and Interpreting Service (TIS) if language or hearing support is needed.

Other News

David Tune to review quality regulator

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, retired public servant David Tune has been appointed the independent reviewer to lead the capability review of the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. Among other things, Mr Tune’s review will consider whether the commission has the necessary regulatory and investigatory skills, and assessment and enforcement skills to meet its remit.

REMINDER: Star Ratings data is due now

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, Star Ratings will be published for all residential aged care services by the end of 2022. Star Ratings will be based on Compliance and Resident Experience, as well as Quality Measures and Staffing information reported by approved providers through the:

• National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indictor Program (QI Program) – 1 July to 30 September 2022 quarter for the current 5 quality indicators is due by 21 October 2022.
• Quarterly Financial Report (QFR) - 1 July to 30 September 2022 period reporting is due by 4 November 2022 using the Forms Administration’s data collection portal.

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. Find more information about Star Ratings, the QI Program and QFR on the Department of Health and Aged Care website.

Flood events and aged care preparedness

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, aged care providers in flood, fire or cyclone prone areas should review and stress test plans to ensure they are contemporary and align with the potential threats that may lay in the weeks and months ahead. Information on preparing for, and responding to, an emergency is set out on the Department's website.

Other relevant information can be found at:

• Latest National Warnings Summaries - be sure to enable notifications for your location through the BOM Weather app.
• Latest advice on NSW State emergency notifications and warnings.
• Latest advice on Victoria State emergency notifications and warnings or app.
• Latest advice on Tasmania State emergency notifications and warnings.

If the need arises – connect with your State Emergency Service (SES) on 132 500 in the first instance. In an emergency, call 000.

Webinar: High risk weather season preparedness briefing

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in partnership with the Department of Health and Aged Care and the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, is hosting an important briefing on the seasonal outlook, risks, and preparedness relevant to residential aged care homes and flexible aged care services.

The webinar will be held on Friday 28 October 2022 from 1:00pm – 3:00pm AEDT.

How to Join

The webinar will be held via MS Teams. If you are interested, please record the date and time in your calendar.

To join: from a personal device or computer by clicking the link below:
Click here to join the meeting
Meeting ID: 486 260 362 859
Passcode: MU8HGD
Download Teams | Join on the web

Or call in (audio only)
+61 2 7208 4914 Australia, Sydney
Phone Conference ID: 638 850 425#
Find a local number | Reset PIN
Learn More | Meeting options
Please ensure you dial in 15–20 minutes early.

Department officials grilled at industry conference

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, aged care providers voiced “significant concerns” around the revised quality standards and asked Department of Health and Aged Care officials for a “clear articulation” of what constitutes best practice.

Flinders University quality assessment tool to be incorporated into govt’s QI program

According to Inside Ageing, new consumer experience and quality-of-life assessment tools designed for residential aged care by Flinders University will be rolled out nationally from April 1, 2023 as part of the National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program (QI Program) that came into effect mid-way through 2019.

One in two carers experience high psychological stress, survey finds

According to Aged Care Insite, a new survey has found carers are exposed to higher risk of mental illness and lower well being due to financial and personal stress. Carers NSW surveyed nearly 7,000 carers over a month in 2022 and found over half said they were experiencing high levels of psychological stress.

Sobering end-of-year results for providers – big and small

According to Inside Ageing, the latest Stewart Brown Survey for the June 22 quarter – assessing about half of Australia’s aged care homes – provides sobering news across just about every metric.

Home care profits stagnate, says StewartBrown

According to Community Care Review, home care providers are not receiving an adequate return on investment to provide essential services to older Australians living independently, according to analysis from StewartBrown.

Productivity Commission report supports role of independent contractors in aged care

According to Inside Ageing, a new 158-page report by the Productivity Commission has found the use of independent contractors in aged care gives older Australians more choice and is helping them stay in their own homes longer.

Aged Care Quality Standards: Public consultation now open

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, consultation on the revised Aged Care Quality Standards is now open until 25 November 2022. Find out more about the revised Quality Standards, register for online focus groups or complete the survey at the Ageing and Aged Care Engagement Hub.

Webinar: Digital Transformation Tech Talk

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, the department’s Digital Transformation agenda is working to create a better-connected aged care network that is consolidated, sustainable, automated and modern. 

Join us for our next Digital Transformation Tech Talk webinar at 2pm-3:30pm AEST on Tuesday 25 October. Hear more about why we are undertaking this important work as we explore some of the immediate transformation priorities. You will also have a chance to ask questions. If you are unable to attend, the webinar will be recorded and available on the department’s website.

Register for the Digital Transformation Tech Talk webinar.

Reminder: Electronic National Residential Medication Chart Grant Opportunity

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, round 1 of the electronic National Residential Medication Chart (eNRMC) Adoption grant opportunity is now open. Residential aged care services, multi-purpose services and National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care providers may be eligible for up to $22,000. The grant opportunity is designed to help offset costs associated with implementing an eNRMC product, such as software and hardware costs, change management processes and staff training.

Round 1 grant applications close at 2pm AEDT, Thursday 30 March 2023. For further information on the eNRMC grant opportunity, please see GO5666: GrantConnect (grants.gov.au)

Tribunal decisions, consent, substitute decision makers and the use of restrictive practices in residential aged care - what can we learn?

According to Lexology, in response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, changes to the use of restrictive practices in residential aged care were introduced on 1 July 2021. Since then, an increasing number of approved providers have sought tribunal decisions or clarification about the authority of substitute decision makers and their use of restrictive practices.

Legislation

Advance Care Directives (Review) Amendment Bill 2022 (No. 34 of 2022) [SA] – Introduced 19 October 2022

This Bill seeks to amend the Advance Care Directives Act to improve the functioning of the advance care directive legislation in South Australia.