Aged care news highlights from the week ending 27 August 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.

Coronavirus/COVID-19 News

Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccinations for Residential Aged Care Workers

Vaccinations are not mandatory until the state/territory enacts a public health order to that effect. The status of the orders in the states/territories as at 24 August 2021, is as follows:

There are exemptions and complications within all the rules. For more information see Department of Health: Mandatory COVID-19 vaccination in residential aged care.

Rapid antigen testing kits for high-risk NSW Local Government Areas

According to the Department of Health, the NSW Government has mandated a new public health order for all aged care workers who live or work in high-risk Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Greater Sydney and Western NSW.

Under this order, residential, community and in-home aged care workers in these areas who have not had their first vaccination dose can only work if they undergo a rapid antigen test at their work-site.

Providers can order a kit through the Rapid Antigen Testing Order Form online.

Identified high-risk LGAs include:

• Greater Sydney: Bayside, Blacktown, Burwood, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool, Parramatta, Strathfield, and Penrith.
• Western NSW: Western Plains Regional, Mid-Western Regional, Bogan, Bourke, Brewarrina, Coonamble, Gilgandra, Narromine, Narromine and Walgett.

The kits will be distributed under National Medical Stockpile arrangements. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) sets out regulations that apply to rapid antigen test kits and conditions of supply. The TGA website publishes frequently asked questions about the supply of rapid antigen tests. Further information will be available shortly on the Department’s website.

Peaks launch vaccination support service

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, aged care provider peak bodies Aged and Community Services Australia and Leading Age Services Australia have joined forces to boost staff vaccinations in the lead up to the mid-September target. Around a third of residential aged care workers are yet to have a COVID-19 vaccine, just over three weeks before it becomes mandatory, according to government figures. The ACSA and LASA Staff Vaccination Support Service is targeting residential aged care providers who are experiencing low staff vaccination uptake or at risk of failing to get staff vaccinated by the 17 September deadline agreed to by National Cabinet.

Special COVID-19 Webinar Residential Aged Care Workers in NSW

According to the Department of Health, all residential aged care workers in New South Wales are invited to a special live webinar on Wednesday 1 September from 2.30pm – 3:30pm AEST.

This webinar is for NSW residential aged care workers to get information about COVID19 vaccines and vaccine safety, find out how to access a priority COVID-19 vaccination and to understand more about mandatory COVID-19 vaccination and how it will be applied from 17 September 2021.

Join From the event link

https://health-au.webex.com/health-au/j.php?MTID=m6db39f24b5b9c1e59e73cf656ddb453a

Ventilation key part of COVID-19 aged care toolkit, say experts

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, good ventilation and quality air purification are key to minimising the airborne spread of COVID-19 in indoor areas including in aged care homes, experts have told a virtual forum on indoor air quality. Experts weighed in at Rentokil Initial’s virtual event on Friday about indoor air quality and how businesses including aged care operators could provide protection against the airborne spread of COVID-19.Ventilation key part of COVID-19 aged care toolkit, say experts

Peak calls to mandate COVID jabs for retirement living staff

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, the peak body for retirement living operators is calling for COVID-19 vaccinations to be mandatory for people working in retirement villages and facilities including home aged care workers. The vaccine is mandatory for all people working in residential aged care homes from 17 September, but there’s still almost a quarter of staff who are still unvaccinated, according to government figures.

Other News

Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Bulletin – August 2021

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission’s latest Bulletin covers:

• Delivery of care during an outbreak & upcoming webinar
• New outbreak management planning modules in Alis
• Supporting providers with their restrictive practices obligations
• Next milestone in rollout of SIRS – reporting of Priority 2 incidents
• From the Chief Clinical Advisor
• Changes to the way we seek your feedback on our complaints process
• Reminder – Commission online workshop sessions still available
• New and updated Commission resources

Regulator warns ‘no grace period’ on behaviour plans

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, new restrictive practices rules mean aged care providers must be prepared to have behaviour support plans in place by September for residents exhibiting dementia-related behaviours, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner has warned. The new laws, which commence on 1 September, aim to minimise the use of restrictive practices and eliminate inappropriate use of physical and chemical restraint.

Call to speed up aged care royal commission recommendations for nurses

According to Inside Ageing, the nurses’ union has welcomed a move from Victorian Independent Dr Helen Haines to mandate a 24/7 registered nurse in aged care and speed up services in the bush. Following a recommendation from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety to ensure an RN is onsite at all times by mid-2024, the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation yesterday called on the Australian Government to implement it as soon as possible.

Minister denies aged care sector being left out of reform process

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, aged care minister Richard Colbeck has denied claims the aged care sector has been left out of the picture since the government unveiled its sweeping plans for reform in response to the aged care royal commission. Leading Age Services Australia (LASA) has slammed the government for failing to engage with the aged care sector and lagging on reform.

“Web scraping” of My Aged Care Portals not permitted

According to the Department of Health, the department is aware of organisations promoting the use of third-party software to collect data from the My Aged Care Portals (Portals). This includes the Assessor Portal, Service Provider Portal and Online Account (Client Portal). Users are reminded that they are subject to a number of obligations with respect to the handling of information in the Portals. This includes obligations under the Privacy Act 1988 and where relevant, the Aged Care Act 1997 and the User Rights Principles 2014.

Legislation

Public Health (COVID-19 Aged Care Facilities) Order 2021 [NSW] – commences 17 Sep 2021

The object of this Order is to provide that from 9am on 17 September 2021 persons employed at residential aged care facilities and contractors providing health and personal care services in those facilities may only enter the facility if they have received at least 1 dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.