Aged care news highlights from the week ending 22 March 2020.

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 and Critical Success Solutions.

Coronavirus / COVID-19 News

How to protect yourself and the people you are caring for from infection with COVID-19

According to The Department of Health, an Infection Control Training Module, “How to protect yourself and the people you are caring for from infection with COVID-19" is available online. Please register to participate. Providers are encouraged to consider and share the link with care workers across all sectors including health, aged care and disability. This training module covers the fundamentals of infection prevention and control (IPC) for COVID.

Demand for coronavirus training impacting access

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, users advised the new health department training resource on coronavirus works best in Google Chrome as heavy demand impedes access. The Department of Health launched a 30-minute online education course this week for care workers about protecting themselves and care recipients from infection with coronavirus. Since its release on Monday, more than 13,000 people have enrolled, a spokesperson for the Department of Health said. However, there have been technical issues including reports of the resource crashing.

Prime Minister announces further restrictions to aged care

According to Aged Care Guide, Prime Minister Scott Morrison made a special announcement on 18 March announcing further restrictions on aged care to combat the threat of coronavirus, or COVID-19, on Australia's most vulnerable. Aged care facilities must enforce limitations on visitors including all visits to be short durations and limiting visits to a maximum of two visitors at one time per day. Prime Minister Morrison says, "It is about protecting the residents at the end of the day." These visits should be conducted in a resident’s room, outdoors or in a specific designated area at the facility and not in communal areas to minimise the risk of transmission. There will be no social activities or entertainment permitted in aged care facilities indefinitely, and no large group visits and gatherings or visits for school groups.

COVID-19: royal commission suspended, new restrictions

According to Aged Care Insite, the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety has suspended all hearings and workshops due to the spread of COVID-19. In a statement, the royal commission said the decision would affect all hearings, workshops and group consultations until at least the end of May 2020. The commissioners said they were considering the implications of this decision on the schedule and added the future work program would be informed by public health advice.

New guide issued for managing coronavirus outbreaks in aged care

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, the Communicable Diseases Network of Australia has released national guidelines for preventing and managing outbreaks of coronavirus in residential aged care. The CDNA is a joint initiative of the National Health and Medical Research Council and Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council. The 48-page document, which was published on Friday afternoon, provides best-practice information for preventing and managing coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreaks in aged care homes. It was developed in consultation with the aged care sector and noted by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee. The guide aims to assist public health authorities, residential aged care services, healthcare workers and carers.

Student nurses cleared to work in aged care as sector braces for staff shortage

According to Aged Care Insite, the Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians, Richard Colbeck, has confirmed that the lifting of restrictions on the number of hours international student nurses are allowed to work also applies to the aged care sector. Yesterday Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that 20,000 student nurses will not be bound to their current 20 working hours a week maximum and Minister Colbeck hopes this will help to fill any voids that may occur as Australia battles a fast-expanding virus. “Residential aged care providers are limiting visits to help prevent and control the spread of COVID-19,” he said. “Further restrictions are being considered – but it’s critical we plan for a scenario where a large part of the aged care workforce is unable to come to work. Today’s announcement expands existing temporary arrangements relaxing visa work conditions to the aged care sector, applying to both residential and home care.”

Visitor restrictions ramped up for aged care facilities

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, residential aged care facilities will be required to increase restrictions on visitors for the next six months as the government ramps up measures to control the spread of coronavirus. Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Wednesday that visits will have to be short and limited to a maximum of two people at one time during the day. Only family and close friends or professional service workers will be allowed into the centre and visits must take place in a resident’s room, outside, or in an area designated by the facility. Visitors and staff who have returned from overseas in the last 14 days, who have been in contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case, have symptoms of fever or respiratory infection or who haven’t been vaccinated against the flu after May 1 will be banned. Group visits, school groups and gatherings including social visits or entertainment have also been ruled out. Children under 16 years will only be able to visit “by exception”.

Concerns providers over-restricting visitor access

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, the consumer peak body for older Australians is calling on aged care providers to apply new visitor restrictions safely and sensibly and not in an unnecessarily strict manner. Provider peak bodies say the new guidelines are the minimum requirement and other measures are to ensure resident and staff safety. Some providers are limiting visitors across facilities to compassionate grounds only or banning visitors completely regardless of the situation at a facility, according to reports, and statements from providers. Council on the Ageing Australia (COTA) said on Thursday that some aged care providers were using the new restrictions as an excuse for unacceptable restraint on the rights of residents and families to be treated with compassion and respect. He called on all providers to ensure they apply the guidelines safely, sensible and compassionately and proportionate for each resident and family.

COVID-19: Supporting senior Australians and those who care for them

According to The Department of Health, the National Cabinet today announced additional funding of $444.6 million for the aged care sector to ensure the continuity of the aged care workforce. The funding will be used to:

• Provide $234.9 million for a COVID-19 ‘retention bonus’ to ensure the continuity of the workforce for staff in both residential and home care.
• Provide $78.3 million in additional funding for residential care to support continuity of workforce supply.
• Provide $26.9 million to increase the residential and home care Viability Supplements and the Homeless Supplement (including increased viability payments for National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program providers and Multi-Purpose Services).
• Deliver $92.2 million in additional support to home care providers and organisations which deliver the Commonwealth Home Support Programme, including for services such as meals on wheels.
• An extra $12.3 million to support the My Aged Care call centre to respond to the needs of older Australia.

Warning on COVID-19 scams

According to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), Australians should be aware scammers are adapting existing technology to play on people’s fears around coronavirus and selling products claiming to prevent or cure the virus. Since 1 January 2020, the ACCC’s Scamwatch has received 94 reports of scams about coronavirus, but warns figures are starting to climb.

Free online resource launched to help deal with coronavirus in aged care

According to Aged Care Insite, an online educational video ‘COVID-19 and Aged Care’ has been made available as a resource for staff working in residential aged care, home care or retirement living. Created by Altura Learning, the video features guidance from microbiologist Margaret Jennings on issues surrounding COVID-19 in aged care, including hand hygiene and applying and removing personal protective equipment.

Other News

Workforce key to improving data collection

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, there needs to be input from all aged care stakeholders in designing minimum data collection requirements to achieve better quality and safety outcomes for residents, the royal commission hears. But aged care workers won’t collect data if they don’t understand the benefit, rendering datasets meaningless, Monday’s hearing of Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety heard.

Royal commission: tech, teaching constraints laid bare

According to Aged Care Insite, this week, the royal commission turned its attention to the role of research, innovation and technology in aged care, noting those areas are vital for the sector to meet the many challenges it faces in the coming years. Specifically, the workshops were about investigating whether the sector and the Australian Government are doing enough to foster “much needed” developments. In Monday’s workshop, the royal commission heard from Jennene Buckley, chief executive of Feros Care, which has kept technology as a centrepiece of its approach to care in recent years. Buckley said technology is the future but added rolling it out across residential aged care has been difficult.

‘The answer is investment in staff’

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, a Canadian aged care provider is focusing on staff training, upskilling and career development and a team culture to improve retention and deliver quality care, the royal commission hears this week. On Tuesday, the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety heard about the innovative approaches to training and development at Schlegel Villages, an aged care provider in Ontario, Canada.

Indexation rates for Residential Aged Care and Home Care Packages and changes to the Maximum Permissible Interest Rate (MPIR)

According to The Department of Health, an update of the schedules for residential and home care fees and charges, as well as subsidies and supplements will take effect from 20 March 2020. This is in line with changes to the basic age pension and indexation rates. The Services Australia quarterly review of fees and charges for all care recipients will be effective from 20 March 2020. Care recipients and providers will receive letters letting them know if there is a change to a care recipient’s fees and charges or if a refund may be due.

My Aged Care AUSkey users: change the method you use to access My Aged Care now!

According to The Department of Health, you only have 8 days to go before you can no longer use your AUSkey and Manage ABN Connections to access My Aged Care portals. Set up your myGovID or VANguard FAS access and start using it now. This ensures continued access to My Aged Care.

Legislation

Public Health and Other Legislation (Public Health Emergency) Amendment Act 2020 (QLD) – commenced 19.03.20

The Public Health and Other Legislation (Public Health Emergency) Amendment Act 2020 will amend the Public Health Act to:

• strengthen powers of the chief health officer and emergency officers appointed under the Act for the COVID-19 emergency to implement social distancing measures, including regulating mass gatherings, isolating or quarantining people suspected or known to have been exposed to COVID-19 and protecting vulnerable populations such as the elderly;
• provide that the compensation provisions that apply to declared public health emergencies do not apply to the COVID-19 emergency; and
• amend the State Penalties Enforcement Regulation 2014 so that penalty infringement notices (PINs) can be issued for the offences of failing to comply with a direction made by the chief health officer or an emergency officer in relation to the COVID-19 emergency.

Public Health (COVID-19) and Other Legislation Amendment Regulation 2020 (QLD) – commenced 20.03.20

The policy objectives of the Regulation are to amend the Public Health Regulation 2018 to:

• prescribe coronavirus (COVID-19) as a contagious condition in schedule 4 to give a person in charge of a school, education and care service or QEC approved service (school or care service) the same powers for COVID-19 as for other contagious conditions under schedule 4, such as diphtheria, gastroenteritis, measles and influenza;
• prescribe police officers as persons who may be appointed as emergency officers (general) under section 333 of the Public Health Act 2005; and
• update references to the temporary name of the coronavirus from “2019-nCoV” to refer to its official name “COVID-19”.

Resources and Upcoming Events

Resources on diverse population groups are now available for aged care staff

According to The Department of Health, The End of Life Directions for Aged Care (ELDAC) website helps you to care for older Australians at the end of life. Our new diversity resources can help health workers and aged care staff to care for:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
• Care leavers
• Carers
• Culturally and linguistically diverse people
• Financially or socially disadvantaged people
• People experiencing homelessness
• Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people
• People living in rural and remote areas
• People with spirituality and faith beliefs
• Veterans

How people think about death, dying and end of life is different for each person. Learning about these differences can help you to provide good palliative care. Access these resources on the Diverse Population Groups page of the ELDAC website.

Medication Management in Home Care – Webinar - Tue., 31 March 2020, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm AEDT

Lorraine Poulos and associates are hosting al Medication Management Webinar will provide you with information and guidance about the principles for medication management in the community and will include Craig Harris from Webstercare who is an expert in Medication Management in Aged Care. We will provide an overview about what is contemporary practice in medication management in the home.

Calculating residential accommodation payments in a leap year

This year is a leap year, with 366 days instead of 365. The Department of Health has received queries from approved providers of residential care seeking advice on how to calculate a daily accommodation payment (DAP) in a leap year. The calculators specified in the Fees and Payments Principles 2014 (No. 2) (the Principles) refer to 365 days for working out:

• the DAP (or contribution) equivalent to a refundable accommodation deposit (RAD) (or contribution)
• the amount of interest on a RAD (or contribution) balance or accommodation bond balance.

Even though 2020 is a leap year, residential care providers should continue to use 365 days when calculating DAP amounts and the interest payable on refunds of lump sum deposits. But please be aware that daily payments and daily contributions are payable for 366 days in 2020.

What Matters Most – New person centred care resources

According to The Department of Health, Palliative Care Australia, through a Dementia and Aged Care Services Fund grant, has launched a suite of resources to encourage early conversations about What Matters Most to older people, their care and their end of life preferences.

Quality Indicators (QIs) pilot – specific service types invited to participate

The Department of Health has engaged PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to assist in the development and pilot to trial the new QIs relating to:

• medication management
• falls and fractures.

To ensure the pilot captures the views and experiences of residential aged care services nationally, the department would like to strongly encourage the following services to take part:

• Services operating in Queensland or remote areas
• Smaller services (less than 50 residential aged care places)
• Previous QI Program pilot participants
• Private (for profit) or State Government services.

Participation in the pilot is an opportunity for your service to trial and provide feedback on these indicators ahead of the implementation of the additional QIs from 1 July 2021. The pilot will commence in February 2020, please register your interest by 27 January 2020.

NATSIFAC Program Bi-Annual One-off Grant Opportunity – Second Approach now open

According to The Department of Health, the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care (NATSIFAC) Program 2019-2020 Bi-Annual One-off Grant Opportunity – Second Approach is a targeted, competitive application process. NATSIFAC Program service providers can apply for grant funding to address a clearly identified need that supports the delivery of aged care services. Service providers in remote and very remote Australia (geographical locations defined as Modified Monash Model 6 and 7) will be prioritised. The Grant Opportunity opened on Thursday 16 January 2020. All applications must be received by the department by 2:00pm, Thursday 12 March 2020.

6 steps for safe prescribing antipsychotics and benzodiazepines in residential aged care

Issued by the Department of Health, this infographic outlines the 6 steps for safe prescribing antipsychotics and benzodiazepines in residential aged care.

Aged care video alert: Dignity of risk

According to Lexology, the concept of dignity of risk is not entirely new, however it now has a position of prominence in aged care with the Aged Care Quality Standards. In this video update, senior associate Dr Melanie Tan explains:

• What does dignity of risk mean?
• Where and when does dignity of risk apply?
• What is the duty of care within dignity of risk?

Financial Transformation in Aged Care Conference – 29-30 April 2020, Sydney

Criterion Conferences is hosting a Financial Transformation in Aged Care Conference. Developed in partnership with COTA Australia and ACSA, this event is your opportunity to voice your concerns, strategise with leading providers, and actively engage in dialogue that will build a stronger, sustainable future for your organisation and the industry.

2018-19 Report on the Operation of the Aged Care Act 1997

According to the Department of Health, the 2018-19 Report on the Operation of the Aged Care Act 1997 is now available from the GEN Aged Care Data website. The report details the operation of Australia’s aged care system during the 2018–19 financial year and provides a snapshot of the system as a whole. It is delivered to Parliament each year by the Minister in accordance with section 63-2 of the Aged Care Act 1997.

2^nd Governance in Aged Care Conference – 20-21 May 2020, Doltone House Hyde Park Sydney

According to Criterion Conferences, the 2nd Governance in Aged Care conference has been developed in partnership with COTA Australia and ACSA to support you to effectively lead and govern your aged care service into the future. You will walk away with a deeper understanding of what good governance structures and culture looks like in practice, and how you could apply this to your own organisation.