Major Aged Care Reforms in 2024: What to expect
Subscribe

Weekly Wrap: 23 February 2020

25/02/20
Resources

Aged care news highlights from the week ending 23 February 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.


ROYAL COMMISSION: Potential funding options for aged care

According to Aged Care Guide, the second day of Adelaide workshops for the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety continued presenting propositions to industry professionals and researchers around investment and care streams and the transition process into aged care. The first panel discussion for the day was inquiring whether a separate funding stream for episodic events would be beneficial, for example, restoring function, providing respite, and delaying or preventing the progression to more intensive forms of care. Senior Counsel Assisting Peter Gray QC described this suggestion as “not only humane”, but also having good economic sense, in terms of delaying the progression of people to more expensive and intensive care.

 

Union proposes tax to fund universal aged care

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, the Health Services Union is calling for a Medicare-style levy to fund Australia’s aged care system. However, a former aged care peak body CEO says wealthy aged care users should pay more rather than the taxpayer. The proposal comes after last week’s hearing of the aged care royal commission briefly discussed non-government funded approaches to aged care including Japan’s social insurance model. The HSU has announced this week it is preparing a national campaign called Eldercare to address the aged care sector’s “severe, chronic and urgent” funding problem.

 

Albanese slams government treatment of the elderly, pledges to fix aged care

According to Aged Care Insite, federal opposition leader Anthony Albanese has used a speech in Queensland to affirm his party’s plans for older Australians who “did the hard yards” and “built this nation”. Albanese told the Brisbane Media Club that if elected to government – the next federal election can occur no later than 21 May 2022 – Labor will “move quickly to develop and implement a Positive Ageing Strategy”. “If we acknowledge the importance of our older Australians, we need to make sure that their later years are good years,” he said. “It will outline a plan to help Australians in their final years of paid work, to build the nest egg that will let them retire when and how they want.” Albanese took the current crop of government ministers to task for their ageist language and attitudes.

 

Labor leader speaks out against aged care assessment tender

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, the Federal Opposition leader has called on the government to cancel its plans to put aged care assessments out to tender in an address to a political, business and media forum this week. Labor has also started an online campaign to stop the changes. Opposition leader Anthony Albanese spoke out against the plan while delivering a vision statement on respecting and valuing older Australians to the Queensland Media Club in Brisbane on Wednesday.

 

Deadline for Submissions to the Royal Commission is 30 April 2020

According to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, the Commission will continue accepting submissions from the public until the end of April 2020. Submissions are a vital part of the Commission’s inquiry and help to inform our understanding of the lived experiences of older Australians, their families and carers, as well as that of those working in the industry. The perspectives and suggestions of advocates, researchers, organisations and sector experts also contribute to the shaping of the Commissioners’ recommendations going into the Final Report. Following the close of submissions from 30 April 2020, the Royal Commission will continue its work on developing its final recommendations based on the evidence heard at hearings and workshops, information gathered at roundtables, service provider visits and community forums, and the submissions received from the public.

 

Gardening program a hit with residents

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, an intergenerational program that involves growing fruit and vegetables is helping residents feel valued and improve their social connections, a residential manager tells Australian Ageing Agenda. The initiative of Queensland aged care provider Carinity aims to help residents at its Karinya Place facility build relationships with students at the nearby Laidley State High School through gardening. Students visit residents once a fortnight to tend six accessible garden beds growing fruit and vegetables, such as strawberries, bok choy, silverbeet, chillies, tomatoes, carrots and corn, for local charities.

 

Tool helps assess likely outcomes of new tech

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, providers can benefit from using an evidence-based framework that helps predict and evaluate the success of a technology in aged care settings before they implement it, an expert tells Australian Ageing Agenda. Bolton Clarke Research Institute senior research fellow Dr Liz Cyarto said it was important for aged care providers to take steps to understand what they want from a new technology implementation and the likely outcomes. She said providers need to ask themselves:

  • Do you have a reason for doing it?
  • What is the end benefit?
  • What is it going to cost you?
  • How are you going to scale up and make it available across all of your care homes?

She recommends providers utilise the non-adoption, abandonment, scale-up, spread and sustainability framework (NASSS), which is an evidence-based tool to help predict and evaluate the success of technology in health and aged care settings.

 

Could your alcohol consumption lead to dementia?

According to Aged Care Insite, people love it when new research appears in the media with claims that a few drinks a week or a nice glass of red wine is better for our health than abstinence. Some research even says that light to moderate alcohol consumption is good for your cognitive health, but is this really the case? This will be a question that researchers aim to get to the bottom of as one of 19 research grants handed out recently by Dementia Australia. Dr Lousie Mewton and her colleagues at UNSW will be conducting a world first study of the relationship between alcohol use and dementia. “What we do know is that alcohol use disorders or really chronic heavy alcohol use is strongly associated with dementia and cognitive decline,” Mewton tells Aged Care Insite. “But really moderate alcohol use, or light to moderate alcohol use hasn’t received such attention.” Mewton believes that previous research in this area – the ones that tell us that second glass of red is good for us – is flawed.

 

New Psychotropic Medications Resources

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission has issued new resources to help aged care homes understand and manage the use of psychotropic medications.

 

Legislation

Health Transparency Act 2019 (Qld) – Act commences 1 March 2020

Apart from a few sections that commence later this year, the Health Transparency Act will become law on 1 March 2020. The Act will:

  • establish a legal framework for collecting and publishing information about public and private hospitals and residential aged cared facilities (RACFs), and
  • introduce a minimum nurse and support worker skill mix ratio and minimum average daily resident care hours in public RACFs.

 

Health Legislation Amendment Regulation 2020 (Qld) – Regulations commenced 21 February 2020

The Health Legislation Amendment Regulation commenced on 21 February. One of the purposes of this regulation was to amend the Hospital and Health Boards Regulation 2012 to implement the operational aspects of the aged care ratios for public RACFs by prescribing requirements for a minimum percentage of nurses and registered nurses, and minimum average daily resident care hours.

 

Resources and Upcoming Events

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?

 

Women in Healthcare Leadership Summit – 17-20 February 2020, Sydney

Criterion Conferences would like to personally invite you to the Women in Healthcare Leadership Summit taking place from the 17th-20th February 2020. This is your chance to gain real advice from real healthcare leaders to learn not only how to survive in the industry, but truly thrive as a leader.

 

LASA Tri-State Conference: Ageing Well: From Policy to Practice – 24-25 February 2020, Albury Entertainment Centre

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, LASA’s 2020 conference will cover:

  • Building the workforce of the future
  • Board governance and your responsibilities
  • Managing consumer dignity and choice
  • Diversity and inclusion
  • Feedback and Complaints
  • Meeting the Aged Care Quality Standards to be audit ready.

 

ITAC 2020 Transforming Independence Through Innovative Technology – 3,4 March 2020, Royal ICC Brisbane

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, exhibitors at this year’s conference include:

  • Souped Up Catering software
  • Telstra Health and
  • Webstercare

 

Webinar: Update on new aged care assessment arrangements – 11 March 2020, 2.00 pm – 3.00 pm (AEDT)

According to The Department of Health, this webinar will provide an update on the development of new aged care assessment arrangements and address common themes arising from stakeholder questions during the December 2019 webinar. The new arrangements will start from April 2021, providing a streamlined process for consumers to access aged care services.


5th Quality in Aged Care Conference – 18-19 March 2020, Sydney

Criterion Conferences is combining the two areas of Quality and Customer Experience into one streamed event. After a year of public scrutiny and negative publicity, and with the Royal Commission Final Report on the horizon, this is your chance to join with industry leaders and experts and unpack key issues with a vision for person-centred, best practice approaches.

 

Dementia Australian National Symposium – 24 March 2020, The Fullerton Hotel Sydney

According to Aged Care Insite, we are bringing an impressive line-up of local and international leaders to equip you to lead industry transformation. You will leave inspired, equipped and ready for change.

 

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.

 

2nd 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.

Share this
About the Author

ACE Editorial Team

ACE is published by Ideagen. CompliSpace is Ideagen’s SaaS-enabled solution that helps organisations in highly-regulated industries to meet their governance, risk, compliance and policy management obligations.

Resources you may like

Article
Recommendations of the Aged Care Task Force: A Summary for Residential Aged Care Providers

In June 2023 the Government established an “Aged Care Taskforce” to review the aged care system and...

Read More
Article
The ACE Wrap 15 March

Aged care news highlights from the fortnight ending 15 March 2024, aggregated by Ideagen.

Read More
Article
24/7 Registered Nurses (RNs) in Aged Care: Update March 2024

With so many aged care reforms looming in the near future, it’s easy to lose track of the daily...

Read More

simplify the way you meet your obligations, get in touch today.

Contact Us