Aged care news highlights from the week ending 22 July 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
Govt unveils ‘winter plan’ as sector braces for third wave
According to Aged Care Insite, the federal government has unveiled its plan to safeguard aged care homes from rising Omicron and influenza cases as defence force support and restrictions wind back. Last week, aged care minister Anika Wells met with aged care commissioner Janet Anderson, chief medical health officer Paul Kelly, deputy chief medical officer Michael Kidd and health secretary Brendan Murphy. Five key measures developed to protect residents included a targeted booster rollout and renewed infection control training for staff.
‘There’s no one magic bullet’: Aged Care Minister speaks about sector in crisis
According to Aged Care Insite, as the short-staffed aged care sector braces itself for the impending Covid peak, the government has released new measures to guide providers on handling outbreaks in residential homes. The 'winter plan' comes in response to providers' claims that the government "was never prepared enough and didn't do enough forward thinking". "There's no one magic bullet that's going to help everybody get through this unscathed," the Minister of Aged Care and Sport, Anika Wells, says.
Resident vax rates to go online
According to Australian Ageing Agenda, the department will publish aged care resident vaccination rates at the facility level from next month in a bid to increase the uptake of the second booster dose, Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells has told providers.
Streamlined reporting COVID-19 outbreaks or exposures in residential aged care – resources now available
The Department of Health has made enhancements to the notification form to streamline reporting by residential aged care services. The improved form for reporting COVID-19 outbreaks or exposures will be available from today. The enhancements include:
- reduction in data reporting fields
- improved navigation and functionality
- incorporating PPE requests as part of the outbreak notification form
- a simplified report closure at the end of an outbreak.
Resources are now available shortly to assist you to transition to the streamlined COVID-19 outbreak or exposure reporting template changes, including:
Regulator checking COVID-positive residents offered antivirals
According to Australian Ageing Agenda, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission is checking aged care homes offer antiviral medications to aged care residents who contract COVID-19, the commissioner has told providers.
Govt looking at how to boost surge workforce
According to Australian Ageing Agenda, the government is investigating how to expand the surge workforce including talking to the defence force, says the health and aged care minister. COVID-19 is exacerbating existing workforce shortages to leave providers with tens of thousands of staff short of their needs. And the situation is likely to get worse as the peak has not yet been reached.
Other News
Urgent visa change to fill aged care gap
According to Aged Care Insite, the government will fast-track the processing of 60,000 permanent visa applications by overseas skilled workers in a bid to fill urgent staff shortages in health and aged care. The move comes as research shows that labour shortages in aged care homes have nearly doubled since 2021, with hundreds of shifts being left vacant due to rising Covid-19 and flu infections. Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil said while job vacancies have hit most of Australia, there is an "acute national need" to fill jobs in aged care, health and nursing.
It’s Time to Rethink Residential Aged Care
According to the University of Melbourne, in partnership the University of Melbourne and MacKillop Institute are calling for a whole of sector rethink about the delivery of residential aged care in Australia. The researchers believe the system – widely considered unsustainable in its existing form – should move beyond its current ‘nursing’ model. In contrast, we should conceptualise residential settings as ‘intentional communities’ that provide a home ‘sanctuary’ for residents.
‘Respite care’ can give carers a much-needed break, but many find accessing it difficult
According to The Conversation, access to respite can also improve a carer’s well-being, enable them to continue in their caring role, and postpone the need for an older person to move into permanent residential care. However, in a recent survey, only 30.6% of carers reported accessing respite in the previous year, and just over half of those who did were satisfied with it.
Common compliance issues associated with findings of inappropriate practice
The Department of Health has published information on the common compliance issues associated with inappropriate practice based on Professional Services Review (PSR) outcomes. There are common themes where there is an outcome of inappropriate practice after a review under the PSR Scheme.
Legislation
Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Palliative Care Classification and Other Measures) Instrument 2022 [CTH] – commences 23 July 2022
This instrument amends multiple instruments to provide a modified classification mechanism for palliative care entry to an aged care facility, requiring only a certification by a medical practitioner of palliative status (including 3 months life expectancy) prior to entry; rather than the independent assessment process being implemented for classification of needs following entry.
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