Aged care news highlights from the week ending 23 March 2021, 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.

Aged Care Royal Commission 

New Aged Care Act two years away, minister says

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, it’s unlikely there will be a new Aged Care Act ahead of the two-year deadline set by the royal commission, aged care services minister Richard Colbeck has indicated. In a keynote address to CEDA last Friday, Mr Colbeck said some of the royal commission’s recommendations will take time, including calls for brand new aged care legislation.

Unions lobby MPs on workforce reform

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, a group of aged care workers and union representatives calling for the May Budget to include mandated staffing has failed to secure meetings with government decision-makers during lobbying in Canberra this week. The 30-strong delegation of nurses and personal care workers from the United Workers Union and the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation sought meetings over three days with key decision-makers including Prime Minister Scott Morrison, advisors for health and aged care minister Greg Hunt, aged care services minister Richard Colbeck and Deputy PM Michael McCormack.

Responding to the Royal Commission’s recommendations on dementia care

In this guest post on Inside Ageing, Tamar Krebs – Founder and Co-CEO of Group Homes Australia, shares insight into their approach to dementia care, and how these learnings can be applied to recommendations in the Royal Commission’s Final Report.

Free education program to help improve dementia care

According to the Department of Health, the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety Final Report highlighted dementia care and use of restrictive practices as areas for immediate attention.

Residential aged care providers are encouraged to take part in a free dementia education program currently being delivered by NPS MedicineWise. The program is focused on person-centred care approaches and the role of psychotropic medicines in managing changed behaviours in people with dementia.

The program has been developed in partnership with the aged care sector. The program supports:

• nurses and pharmacists working in residential aged care facilities
• residential care providers to deliver safe, effective care and meet their regulatory requirements.

This free continuing professional development (CPD) accredited program includes:

• access to high quality online learning and educational resources
• in-facility training on person-centred care, the role of psychotropic medicines and how to implement and sustain change
• ongoing support to help consolidate learnings throughout the program.

Over 400 facilities have participated in this fully-funded program. Don’t miss this opportunity to receive free CPD-accredited training.

To find out more and register your interest, visit the NPS MedicineWise website.

Call to collaboratively design RC’s dental scheme

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, the government needs to work with stakeholders to ensure the design of the proposed dental scheme for aged care residents is fit for purpose, the head of a dental peak body has told Australian Ageing Agenda. The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety made 148 recommendations in its final report Care, Dignity and Respect, including for the government to establish a Senior Dental Benefits Scheme to start from 2023. The scheme would fund dental services to older people living in residential aged care and in the community for services necessary to maintain functional dentition, which is 20 or more teeth, and dentures.

ACIITC and AIDH join forces

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, the sector’s technology council has partnered with Australia’s digital health peak body to support digital transformation in aged care. The collaboration between the Aged Care Industry Information Technology Council and the Australasian Institute of Digital Health was formed following the 1 March release of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety’s final report. The groups will explore strategies for the aged care sector to utilise the health care sector’s successes with digital health and health informatics.

Minister announces $20m for culturally tailored respite

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, the government will provide almost $20 million of additional funding for tailored centre-based respite care for culturally and linguistically diverse older Australians. The announcement comes after the aged care royal commission said in its final report that the availability and quality of respite care is often lacking. Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services Richard Colbeck said the funding, amounting to $9.67 million a year for two years, would help seniors from culturally diverse communities live independently in their own homes by giving carers a break.

Coronavirus/COVID-19 News

Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine: Information on side-effects with second dose

(Note: this excerpt is from the Department of Health newsletter. We cannot provide a link to the full version of this story until the Department of Health uploads it to their website.)

According to the Department of Health, COVID-19 vaccine information published by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) indicates that mild to moderate side-effects are more commonly reported following the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine than the first.

Residential aged care facilities and vaccine workforce providers are advised this does not change the process for monitoring and reporting adverse events. As with the first dose, residents must be monitored for at least 15 minutes following a vaccination.

Adverse events, especially unexpected or significant, should be reported to local state or territory health units or to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

New resources on the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine

(Note: this excerpt is from the Department of Health newsletter. We cannot provide a link to the full version of this story until the Department of Health uploads it to their website.)

According to the Department of Health, new resources on the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine are now available from ATAGI. The new resources are available on the Department of Health’s website:

• Information on COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine
• After your AstraZeneca vaccine.

On 16 March 2021, the TGA issued a response on the pausing of AstraZeneca vaccinations in some countries. The TGA is in close contact with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) which is investigating the issue overseas. As at 15 March 2021, the TGA has not received any reports of blood clots following administration of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in Australia. Read the TGAs full response.

Requirements of vaccine workforce providers

(Note: this excerpt is from the Department of Health newsletter. We cannot provide a link to the full version of this story until the Department of Health uploads it to their website.)

According to the Department of Health, vaccination workforce providers must meet strict requirements to administer a COVID-19 vaccine in each state and territory. This includes that vaccine workforce providers must:

• have the authority to vaccinate in their relevant state and territory, as required by their respective drugs and poisons regulations
• undertake the Commonwealth accredited COVID-19 vaccination training modules, run by the Australian College of Nursing (ACN)
• have a valid police check in place
• meet requirements regarding flu vaccination in line with State and Territory requirements
• comply with any screening processes in place at each residential aged care facility. This may include a temperature check and/or evidence of influenza vaccine.

Applications now open for residential aged care facilities to vaccinate staff

(Note: this excerpt is from the Department of Health newsletter. We cannot provide a link to the full version of this story until the Department of Health uploads it to their website.)

According to the Department of Health, the department is seeking submissions from residential aged care facilities interested in vaccinating their residential aged care staff with the AstraZeneca vaccine. Facilities must be able to demonstrate that they have the capability and capacity to vaccinate their staff across at least five residential aged care facilities. For further information on the Request for Tender please see the AusTender website.

COVID-19 vaccine myth buster

(Note: this excerpt is from the Department of Health newsletter. We cannot provide a link to the full version of this story until the Department of Health uploads it to their website.)

According to the Department of Health, there are new COVID-19 vaccine developments every day, so it’s normal to have questions or concerns. The Department of Health has launched a COVID-19 vaccine myth buster webpage which provides accurate, evidence-based answers to questions about COVID-19 vaccines. We encourage you to share this resource with staff, residents, their families and substitute decision-makers.

GPs join the Phase 1B COVID-19 vaccine rollout

(Note: this excerpt is from the Department of Health newsletter. We cannot provide a link to the full version of this story until the Department of Health uploads it to their website.)

According to the Department of Health, more than 1,000 general practices will join the COVID-19 vaccination program from next week – as part of Phase 1B of Australia’s COVID-19 vaccine program. This will allow people to locate their nearest general practice providing General Practice Respiratory Clinic vaccinations and link through to their online booking system or phone number to make the appointment. Read the media release for more information.

Save the date: Aged care webinar – Friday 26 March

(Note: this excerpt is from the Department of Health newsletter. We cannot provide a link to the full version of this story until the Department of Health uploads it to their website.)

According to the Department of Health, the department will host a webinar ‘COVID-19 vaccine rollout across aged care’ on Friday 26 March from 2pm-3pm AEST.

Panellists include Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Michael Kidd AM, the Department of Health’s Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer Adjunct Professor (Practice) Alison McMillan and Assistant Secretary COVID-19 Vaccine Aged Care Taskforce, Ms Lisa Peterson.

More information will be shared on the department’s website shortly.

Campaign aims to attract thousands of new recruits

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, the Aged Care Workforce Industry Council has launched a series of short videos promoting aged care roles and careers as part of a sector-wide recruitment drive. The federally funded “Bring Your Thing” campaign, which launched on Tuesday, highlights the diverse range of skills and professions in aged care, such as support workers, chefs, care managers, maintenance staff, volunteers, team leaders and social coordinators. The campaign includes videos depicting aged care workers’ experiences of human connection and is based on the idea that people can draw on their existing skills and personality for a rewarding role in aged care.

QLD: Aged Care Restrictions in Greater Brisbane

(Note: this excerpt is from the Department of Health newsletter. We cannot provide a link to the full version of this story until the Department of Health uploads it to their website.)

According to the Department of Health, the Queensland government’s Aged Care Direction no.25 came into effect at 12pm AEDT on March 13 2021. Visitors are restricted to enter residential aged care facilities within the Local Government Areas of:

• City of Brisbane
• City of Ipswich
• Logan City
• Moreton Bay Region
• Redland City.

Read further information about these restrictions.

Aged Care Providers are reminded to stay up to date with advice and Directions on the Queensland Government website and to check for these updates regularly.

NSW: Updated advice for residential aged care facilities and home care services

(Note: this excerpt is from the Department of Health newsletter. We cannot provide a link to the full version of this story until the Department of Health uploads it to their website.)

According to the Department of Health, NSW Health advice for aged care providers has been updated as at 19 March. Providers are encouraged to read the directions in full:

• the latest advice for RACFs in NSW
• the latest advice for home care providers in NSW.

The key messages for this update are:

• New Zealand was removed from the Current Areas of Concern effective 01am on 18 March 2021
• Locations of concern are identified for Sydney and Brisbane arising from recent cases acquired in hotel quarantine.

Webinar: COVID-19 Response Update for Carers

(Note: this excerpt is from the Department of Health newsletter. We cannot provide a link to the full version of this story until the Department of Health uploads it to their website.)

According to the Department of Health, the department will broadcast a webinar on Tuesday March 23 2021 to provide an update on the COVID-19 response for carers.

The webinar is part of a series on the COVID-19 response and the vaccination rollout. The panel will provide key updates and answer participants’ questions.

The panel includes:

• Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, Professor Michael Kidd AM
• CEO, Carers Australia, Liz Callaghan
• Group Manager, Department of Social Services, Luke Mansfield
• Director, Vaccine Taskforce, Department of Health, Bridget Carrick.

The webinar is open to the general public and viewers are not required to register or RSVP in advance. Details: Tuesday March 23 2021 12.15pm- 1.15pm AEDT. Join the webinar: COVID-19 response update for Carers - 23 March, 2021

Legislation

Guardianship and Administration Amendment (Advance Care Directives) Bill 2021 (No. 4 of 2021) [TAS] – Bill introduced to Assembly 18 March 2021

The Guardianship and Administration Amendment (Advance Care Directives) Bill 2021 (the Bill) inserts provisions into the Guardianship and Administration Act 1995 (the Principal Act) to provide for the making and implementation of advance care directives in Tasmania.

The Bill provides that a person with decision-making ability may make decisions and give directions about their future health care by giving an advance care directive. The advance care directive may be given in writing or by any other means. Witnessing requirements are prescribed in the Bill and witnesses are required to attest that the person giving the advance care directive is not acting under any form of duress or coercion. The advance care directive may contain both binding and non-binding directives. Refusals or instructions to withdraw health care that are clear and unambiguous are binding. All other directives are non-binding. Non-binding directives must be complied with to the extent that it is reasonably practicable to do so. The Bill makes provisions for circumstances in which a health practitioner is not obliged to comply with the terms of the advance care directive.

Resources and Upcoming Events

Webinar: Emergency management arrangements for NSW residential aged care services

According to the Department of Health, the need for the webinar was identified following the 2019/20 bushfire response, where there was wide variation in the emergency preparedness of residential aged care services across affected districts in NSW. We will be providing general information for NSW residential aged care services about emergency management arrangements.

Issues covered will include:

• emergency management concepts
• information on hazards
• information on the roles and responsibilities of different agencies during emergencies.

The webinar will be presented by the NSW Government agencies Resilience NSW, the NSW Rural Fire Service and the Australian Government Department of Health.

When: 2.00pm (AEDT) Thursday 18 March 2021

You are not required to register for the webinar and can watch it by clicking on the following link: Emergency management arrangements for NSW residential aged care services webinar.

The event will also be recorded for those who are unable to watch it live, we will provide a link in the Information for the Aged Care Sector Newsletter as soon as it is available.

Governance in Aged Care: Beyond the Royal Commission – 2-day digital conference, 14 and 15 April 2021

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, with the imminent release of the Royal Commission into Quality and Safety in Aged Care, providers are at a critical turning point. Now is the time to carve out a new way forward to better support older Australians and their families, while ensuring a strong and sustainable industry.

Designed in partnership with COTA and ACSA, the Governance in Aged Care: Beyond the Royal Commission conference brings together experts, advocates and leaders from across Australia to unpack the Final Report and tackle the biggest issues for effective governance. The conference is taking place online, on 14th & 15th April 2021.

Webinar series: Changes to regulatory arrangements for residential aged care providers supporting NDIS participants from 1 December 2020

According to the Department of Health, Residential Aged Care (RAC) providers supporting National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants will need to be registered* with the NDIS Commission from 1 December 2020. This also applies to RAC providers who start supporting NDIS participants after 1 December 2020. *Note that registration will be automatic for RAC providers with NDIS participants as at 1 December 2020.

Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA) is currently delivering a series of webinars to help RAC providers with the transition and to understand their responsibilities.

Flu vaccination poster

The Department of Health has issued this Flu Vaccination Poster. Residential aged care facilities may wish to display the attached poster at entrances, to alert anyone entering the facility of the flu vaccination requirements that came into effect on 1 May 2020.

Older Person’s COVID-19 Support Line

According to The Department of Health, a new Older Person’s COVID-19 Support Line has been set up to provide information, support and check on older Australians during the period of social distancing measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. COTA Australia, National Seniors, Dementia Australia and the Older Person’s Advocacy Network have banded together to deliver this service with support from the Australian Government.

Senior Australians, their families and carers can freecall 1800 171 866 if they:

• would like to talk with someone about what COVID-19 means for them or a loved one
• are feeling lonely or distressed
• are caring for a someone and need some information or a listening ear about what COVID-19 means for your circumstances
• are worried about COVID-19 means for their usual aged care service
• are worried about a friend or family member living with dementia.
• are unable to access information on the internet and would like up-to-date advice.

Home care services providers can also use the number and dial option 1 to refer home care clients who would like a call from an independent organisation to check on their wellbeing.

The service will include outbound and inbound calls to provide contact, reassurance and practical advice on connecting to services to maximise social engagement and wellbeing whilst at home.

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.

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.

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?