Aged care news highlights from the week ending 5 May 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 

Nurse raises awareness of Covid-related hearing loss

According to Aged Care Insite, registered nurse and lecturer at the University of South Australia, Kim Gibson, is spreading awareness about hearing loss as a possible symptom of Covid-19. Studies suggested that the Covid virus could attack the tissue and cells in the inner ear, causing problems with hearing and balance.

Other News

Pay rise to be fully funded

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, in a pre-budget announcement – and in line with the Fair Work Commission’s ruling – the federal government has confirmed today the 15 per cent pay rise for aged care workers will be fully funded, representing an additional $11 billion for the sector over four years.

Fully funded pay rise welcome, but concerns providers will stash cash

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, sector stakeholders have welcomed the government’s pre-budget announcement that it will fully fund the 15 per cent pay increase to aged care workers. Meanwhile – while welcoming the government’s funding commitment – the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation expressed serious concerns that some workers may be denied the increase because the government has failed to impose rules on how providers allocate the cash.

Updated information about 24/7 registered nurse and care minutes responsibilities

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, new updates have been made by the department to the Care minutes and 24/7 registered nurse responsibility guide. These include a new section (section 1.6) on the regulation of the 24/7 registered nurse responsibility from 1 July 2023 and mandatory care minutes from 1 October 2023, regulated by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. New information in the Questions and Answers on the 24/7 registered nurse responsibility can also be found on the department’s website. Eligible residential aged care providers can also apply for an exemption from the 24/7 registered nurse responsibility. Applications opened 3 April 2023.

For more information, see:

• Care minutes and 24/7 registered nurses in residential care
• Commission’s website.

Updated Star Ratings for residential aged care now published

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, updated Star Ratings for residential aged care services are now publicly available to view through the ‘Find a provider’ tool on the My Aged Care website. The first quarterly update to Star Ratings shows some improvement with the majority of aged care homes meeting or exceeding the level of care expected – with 41 per cent receiving 4 or 5 stars. However, it also shows that 5 per cent of services are still falling short – with 125 services receiving just 1 or 2 stars. We encourage providers to download the Star Ratings Improvement Manual which provides guidance on improving care quality. Visit the department’s Star Ratings for residential aged care webpage for more information and to access our suite of resources.

Aged care facilities’ star rating trending upward

According to Aged Care Insite, forty-one more aged care facilities have been awarded top marks in the government's star rating system following its first major update since December. The October to December quarter update revealed an additional 34 facilities received five stars and seven a four-star rating.

Albanese Government delivers yet again with launch of New Aged Care Industry Labour Agreements – including fast two-year path to permanent residency

According to The Weekly source, on the back of confirming that it would fully fund the Fair Work Commission’s 15% wage increase for aged care workers, the Albanese Government has launched New Aged Care Industry Labour Agreements, offering migrants a faster pathway to permanent residency if they work in aged care.

Skilled migration change to attract global health workers

According to Hospital and Healthcare, Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neill has announced that Australia’s skilled migration system will be simplified and red tape reduced, in a strategy welcomed by the Australian Private Hospitals Association (APHA).

Aged care commissioner dismisses closure concerns

According to Yahoo News, the aged care commissioner says she would be surprised if providers would need to shut their doors due to new nursing staffing levels. New legislation requires aged care facilities to meet around-the-clock nursing requirements from July 1. Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner Janet Anderson said she did not expect the legislation would lead to closures despite industry concern.

Hundreds of billions of dollars of govt funding not evaluated: report

According to Aged Care Insite, a lack of proper evaluation of federal government-funded programs may be contributing to the significant issues in aged care, experts have said. Of the annual $64bn government funding towards community services programs, including aged care, $61bn was not adequately checked whether it was achieving its purpose.

The sector’s budget wish list

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, earlier in the week, aged care providers shared their budget wish list with Australian Ageing Agenda. With a fully funded pay rise – plus on-costs – top of the agenda, no doubt they’ll be welcoming the government’s pre-budget announcement today.

Report offers 12 worker insights to support decision-making

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, men working in aged care are more likely to be happy with their pay and workload than their female counterparts, according to a new report bringing together the demographics and views of workers to aid workforce planning. The Aged Care Workforce Industry Council report – Frontline Insights from Aged Care Workers – explores data from 172,000 workplace survey responses from 2009 to 2022 to deliver 12 key insights with related advice for providers.

Draft legislation for review: Increasing transparency of provider information

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, we are improving the information about aged care providers that is available to older people and their representatives. Draft legislation is now available for review, with comments due by Tuesday 16 May. This legislation will enable the department to publish certain information about the operations of providers of residential care and home care. Visit the Strengthening provider governance in aged care webpage for more information.

New booklets available on reforming aged care in Australia

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, two new booklets on reforming aged care in Australia are available for you to download and order for free from the department’s website. These include:

• Reforming aged care in Australia – for older people and their families and carers
• Working in aged care in Australia – for aged care workers.

These resources can help older people using your aged care services, as well as their families and carers, or your staff, learn more about the aged care reforms and how they might impact them.

Get involved: Provider workforce survey

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, the Australian Government’s Aged Care Provider Workforce Survey is opening in May and is critical for monitoring the aged care workforce. The data will support development and evaluation of workforce policy decisions. A sample of providers has been selected to complete the online survey. Providers can also volunteer to participate. For more information about the survey visit the SRC website. For questions or to volunteer to participate, contact acwprovidersurvey@health.gov.au

Continence Aids Payment Scheme (CAPS) eligibility changes: Organisation update

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, with the introduction of the Australian National Aged Care Classification funding model in October 2022, permanent residents of residential aged care facilities are not eligible for CAPS and will instead receive continence products directly from their facility as required. This excludes residents receiving respite, short-term restorative care or flexible care who will continue to be eligible.

Permanent residents of residential aged care facilities who were eligible to receive CAPS before 1 October 2022 will have their CAPS eligibility end on 30 June 2023, unless they become ineligible due to a change in circumstances, before that date.

Organisations who provide information on CAPS via a website or printed material must ensure they are using the updated CAPS Application Guidelines and Form. Please read the organisation update on the department’s website.

If you have any questions regarding the CAPS eligibility changes, or the CAPS Application Guidelines and Form, please email Continence@health.gov.au

Webinar: Safe and inclusive care for Forgotten Australians, Care Leavers and older people with complex trauma

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, join Swinburne’s Wellbeing Clinic for Older Adults for its upcoming webinar on safe and inclusive care for Forgotten Australians, Care Leavers and older people with complex trauma on Friday 12 May at 4.45pm‑6pm AEST. Find out more information and register for the webinar.

Vision Australia webinar: Introduction to accessible communications and marketing

According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, Vision Australia invites Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) providers to take part in a free webinar about accessible communications and marketing, with a number of sessions to take place during May. Each webinar session has availability for 30 attendees. Please select your preferred date from the registration page. You will receive a Zoom link before the webinar date.

Before the webinar, participants are required to undertake the one-hour on-demand introduction to digital accessibility course. For further details, complete the expression of interest form. Email questions to reeni.ekanayake@visionaustralia.org

Social justice advocate to chair Aged Care Council of Elders

According to Aged Care Insite, an experienced social justice advocate has been tasked to lead the group responsible for advising the government on all aspects of aged care reform. Last week, Anne Burgess was appointed as chair of the Aged Care Council of Elders by Aged Care Minister Anika Wells.

Back to the drawing board for aged care pharmacists

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, the federal government will undertake consultation with the sector on the design of enhanced outreach medication management programs for aged care residents, Australian Ageing Agenda understands. This information follows an announcement made last week by Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler that the onsite pharmacists program would no longer be delivered by aged care facilities, but community pharmacies instead.

See also, from the Weekly Source: Government scraps aged care in-house pharmacists

Safer use of medicines in aged care project awarded $1.5m

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, a four-year collaborative project led by UniSA will build and test a system to provide an ongoing snapshot of medicines use and safety in aged care homes in a bid to reduce unintended harm.

Home Care News

No significant developments this week.

Legislation

No significant developments this week.