Aged care news highlights from the week ending 30 June 2023, 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.
COVID-19 News
Study links long-term impact of Covid-19 on the ageing brain
According to Aged Care Insite, a recent study has revealed a potential link between Covid-19 and neurological symptoms, such as brain fog, and has raised concerns about the long-term consequences for older people. Research conducted by scientists at Macquarie University uncovered that the SARS-CoV-2 virus could fuse brain cells so they would either malfunction or stop working altogether.
Macquarie University's Professor Lars Ittner said it could explain common neurological symptoms in Covid patients, including brain fog, headaches, and loss of taste and smell. "If this is an underlying mechanism of the neurological symptoms we see, it could have a much longer and more serious impact on brain function," professor Ittner said.
Letter to aged care providers on COVID-19 booster dose vaccination
According to the Department of Health, the Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health and Aged Care, Professor Paul Kelly together with the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner, Janet Anderson, have issued a joint letter to aged care providers on the importance of the 2023 COVID-19 booster dose.
With just over half of eligible aged care residents having received a booster dose, they are seeking your support in ensuring all eligible aged care residents receive a booster dose and continue to protect residents from serious illness or hospitalisation from COVID-19.
You can read the joint letter and share the message with your colleagues.
Other News
Rural homes struggling to prepare for 24/7 nurses
According to Aged Care Insite, rural and regional aged care facilities say they are still grappling with acquiring enough nurses to fill the 24/7 nurse deadline due to start this week. The mandate, due to start 1 July, requires every aged care home in the country to have a registered nurse on-call and on-duty 24 hours for seven days.
Regional and rural homes, however, said they were finding it hard to meet the deadline due to nationwide staffing shortages. Whiddon's chief Chris Mamarelis said the homes are trying to hire as many nurses as possible but are still falling short. "It takes an average of two months to find a registered nurse, and in places like Moree, Bourke, Wee Waa, and Narrabri, it can go on for six months," Mr Mamarelis said.
Free food and nutrition training modules for aged care homes
According to the Department of Health, in May 2023, the Maggie Beer Foundation was awarded a $5 million grant to deliver an education and training program for aged care chefs and cooks over the next three years. The Maggie Beer Foundation previously developed 11 online training modules for cooks, chefs and others focused on improving the food experience for older people in residential aged care. These are now free to access via the Maggie Beer Foundation website.
Updated resources on the 24/7 registered nurse responsibility
According to the Department of Health, from 1 July, every residential aged care home must have a registered nurse (RN) on-site and on duty at all times. To help prepare providers, the department has updated the Care minutes and 24/7 registered nurse responsibility guide. This includes a new Section 1.4 with definitions of on-site and on duty, case studies in Appendix 4, and updates to Section 5 on the 24/7 RN supplement and Section 6 on 24/7 RN reporting.
Reminder: Upcoming Webinar: Writing illness – A narrative approach to the psychological challenges of illness
According to the Department of Health, Swinburne’s Wellbeing Clinic for Older Adults is hosting a free webinar on ageing on Friday 7 July at 4.45‑6pm AEST. This webinar is for people employed in aged care, as well as psychologists, social workers, counsellors and volunteers who work with older adults.
Emeritus Professor of English Richard Freadman outlines the role stories play in shaping our experience of illness. Professor Freadman will discuss how writing about illness, and exploring one’s experience of illness with others, can be therapeutic.
Taskforce sets out remit
According to Australian Ageing Agenda, the need to address long-term funding of the aged care sector was among the topics discussed at the inaugural meeting of the aged care taskforce last week. Chaired by Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells – and attended by industry stakeholders – the taskforce was established to review financing of the industry and to oversee the final design of the new in-home care program.
According to a communique issued by the Department of Health and Aged Care, the taskforce will adopt a “data-led approach” to its deliberations and engage with the community and “aged care thought leaders” throughout the process.
Campaign calls on dementia carers to reach out
According to Australian Ageing Agenda, a national television campaign has been launched to help carers of people living with dementia. Called Dementia affects us all – and developed by Dementia Support Australia – the hard-hitting campaign shines a particular focus on the increasing number of people living with dementia being cared for in their own homes.
“The campaign is deliberately confronting in its message to enable people to understand the importance of reaching out for help,” said DSA head of dementia professional services Marie Alford. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, dementia is the leading cause of disease burden for older Australians.
Aged care homes warned over uptick in flu cases
According to Aged Care Insite, Australia is facing a sharp rise in influenza cases across several states, including New South Wales and Queensland, putting health authorities on alert.
While the number of active Covid cases in Australian aged care facilities decreased by 35 per cent compared to last week rising flu cases pose a significant risk to older people. Influenza is associated with higher hospitalisations and deaths among people aged care 65 and can cause severe illness.
Updated Schedules
According to the Department of Health, updated Schedules for residential and home care will apply from 1 July 2023.
View the updated Schedules of fees and charges for care recipients who started care:
View the updated Schedule of subsidies and supplements.
Quarterly Review
According to the Department of Health, Services Australia’s quarterly review of residential and home care fees will take effect from 1 July 2023, updating care recipients’ fees to align with any changes in their financial circumstances.
The quarterly review for residential and home care will take place on 15 July 2023. The online claiming system for home care and residential care will be unavailable from 8pm Friday 14 July to 8am Monday 17 July.
Care recipients and providers will receive letters advising any fee changes or refunds resulting from the quarterly review. View more information for residential care and home care on the Services Australia website.
Change to Maximum Permissible Interest Rate (MPIR)
According to the Department of Health, the MPIR will increase to 7.90% for the period 1 July to 30 September 2023 for calculating:
- residential care accommodation prices
- interest on refunds of accommodation lump sum balances.
View current and past rates.
Aged care leaders can apply for a $10,000 travel fellowship
According to Australian Ageing Agenda, the Innovation in Aged Care International Fellowship – which aims to up-skill leaders in the aged care system – is seeking two more fellows to research the latest innovations abroad. The fellowship is designed to support people to travel overseas for two-four weeks to research the latest aged care sector innovations and disseminate the findings in Australia. The initiative is open to any leaders in the aged care system who can identify areas of research that can promote positive change.
This round of applications closes Friday 28 July.
Help make aged care equitable
According to Australian Ageing Agenda, researchers from Monash University are calling on staff who work in or visit residential aged care facilities to complete a survey about how they communicate with residents with limited English.
The research project – which received a grant from the Medical Research Future Fund – aims to support aged care residents who experience day-to-day life with a limited ability to communicate or understand English.
The anonymous Communicating with aged care residents with limited English proficiency survey takes around 20 minutes to complete. All respondents go in the draw for one of 10 $50 eGift Cards.
Home Care News
New campaign sheds light on ‘unseen struggles’ faced by dementia caregivers
According to Aged Care Insite, caregivers of people with dementia could be lacking adequate support, according to a prominent Australian dementia organisation chief. It's estimated that 70 per cent of people with dementia live at home and receive support from their families and carers.
The 'Dementia affects us all' campaign by Dementia Support Australia (DSA) sheds light on carers' often-unseen struggles. "Most people don't realise that support is available for family carers and people living with dementia at home, as well as home and community care providers," DSA Head of Professional Services Marie Alford said. "We want caregivers to get help before they reach their limit."
Sadler joins Meals on Wheels
According to Community Care Review, former aged care provider and peak chief Paul Sadler has been appointed chair of the board of meal delivery service Meals on Wheels Australia.
Mr Sadler’s previous roles include chief executive officer of aged care provider peak body Aged & Community Services Australia – and interim CEO of the entity that replaced it the Aged Care & Community Providers Association – and CEO of aged care provider Presbyterian Aged Care.
Mr Sadler said he was excited to be starting with the iconic organisation, which has been supporting older Australians with delicious and nutritious meals for 70 years. “Meals on Wheels services are the backbone of Australia’s home care system. I’m a strong advocate for the quality nutrition and social connection that Meals on Wheels provides.”
Getting care management right
According to Community Care Review, a robust and holistic assessment tool, the aged care taskforce, technology, and provider innovation are key to quality care management in home care, an industry conference has heard.
At the Aged Care Week conference in Sydney last week, Therese Adami – Catholic Healthcare’s general manager of Home and Community – led a discussion with three provider executives about care management and its role in aged care.
Currently, providers must deliver care management to all home care package recipients including those who are self-managing. It includes things like regularly assessing their needs, goals and preferences and reviewing care agreements and plans and ensuring services align with other supports. However, under the new in-home program – which the aged care taskforce is overseeing the final design of – not everyone is going to get care management.
Legislation
Aged Care Legislation Amendment (July Indexation and Other Measures) Instrument 2023 [CTH] – Commenced 1 July 2023
This Instrument increases the amount of subsidies and supplements payable to approved aged care providers, increases income thresholds for home care subsidy reductions, and increases the maximum daily prices for home care management and package management. In addition to normal indexation, this Instrument also increases residential care and home care basic subsidies by additional amounts.
Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Subsidies) Instrument 2023 [CTH] – Commenced 1 July 2023
This instrument amends the Subsidy Principles 2014, Aged Care (Subsidy, Fees and Payments) Determination 2014, Aged Care (Transitional Provisions) Principles 2014 and Aged Care (Transitional Provisions) (Subsidy and Other Measures) Determination 2014 to provide for amounts for the new hotelling supplements and registered nurse support supplements updated for subsidies payable from 1 July 2023, and a per resident per day additional sum to rectify calculations for flexible care anomalies for 3 small facilities.
.png)
