Aged care news highlights from the week ending 6 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 vaccination of residential aged care workers

According to the Department of Health, The Australian Government is working closely with the states and territories to implement the National Cabinet decision to mandate that at least the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by administered by mid-September 2021 for all residential aged care workers.

In an effort to ensure national consistency, the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee has considered the key parameters and endorsed the approach to defining who the relevant directions will apply to and the targeted exemptions that may be available. States and territories are currently finalising their draft public health orders and directions. We expect further information on the specific application of these orders, including processes for managing exemptions and compliance with the orders, will be released soon.

Residential Aged Care worker COVID-19 Vaccination in regional NSW

(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, on 28 July 2021, the NSW Government announced Pfizer doses would be redirected from state-based vaccination sites in some rural and regional areas to south west and western Sydney in order to vaccinate Year 12 students in the LGAs most affected by the current COVID-19 outbreak. Further information on this can be found on the NSW Health website.

This redistribution should not affect a worker’s ability to be vaccinated ahead of the 17 September 2021 deadline for mandatory vaccination.

Please note the following when communicating with your workforce:

• GPs will continue to supply Pfizer vaccinations in regional NSW as their supplies from the Commonwealth Government remain unaffected by this reallocation. AstraZeneca remains available from GPs, NSW Health clinics and a number of pharmacies
• Residential aged care workers are prioritised for Pfizer vaccinations, irrespective of age, at all primary care clinics and should have an appointment allocated to them within 7 days of their request
• The Commonwealth vaccine service providers and PHNs are working together to plan the delivery of in-reach clinics and static vaccination hubs at which workers can receive a first and/or second dose
• Additional Pfizer is being provided for GPs, Commonwealth Vaccination Clinics and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services to prioritise vaccines for residential aged care workers
• NSW Health has provided an assurance that those who have had a first Pfizer dose will receive their second dose

Single site funding support for COVID-19 impacted areas in NSW expanded and extended in Victoria

According to the Department of Health:

Single site workforce arrangements and funding support has been activated for the following areas Local Government Areas in NSW:

• City of Cessnock
• City of Lake Macquarie
• Dungog Shire
• Maitland
• Muswellbrook Shire
• Newcastle
• Port Stephens Council
• Singleton Council.

Given the current number of COVID-19 cases in NSW and following the widened COVID-19 NSW hotspot declaration by the Australian Government Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly, workers at residential aged care facilities in impacted areas are asked to limit their work to a single facility to reduce the risk of transmission and protect workers and residents.

Australian Government grant funding is now available to support implementation of these arrangements in the above areas from 5 August to 11 September 2021.

Single site workforce arrangements and funding support extensions for Victoria

Given the ongoing risk, including cases of community transmission, single site workforce arrangements and support funding have also been extended to 27 August 2021 for Greater Melbourne, Moorabool Shire, City of Greater Geelong, Borough of Queenscliff and Surf Coast Shire. The Golden Plains Shire has been added.

NSW Health - Updated advice

(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 screening advice for residential aged care facilities and home care service providers has been updated for 4 August 2021. The key messages for this update include:

• There are new requirements for staff working for aged care home service providers, as of 4 August they have the same surveillance testing requirements as residential aged care facility staff living or staying in:
• Canterbury-Bankstown LGA and City of Fairfield (Fairfield LGA) and Cumberland City (Cumberland LGA), need to have surveillance testing every 72 hours
• other LGAs in Greater Sydney do not require regular surveillance testing to go to work. Only staff who are working more than 50 km from Greater Sydney are required to be tested every 7 days.  
• The restrictions for Orange, Blayney and Cabonne have been removed.
• Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia remain affected areas with close and casual contact places of high concern.
• Exclude visitors who have been to the Queensland areas of concern, except those providing essential caring functions or for end of life care
• Until further notice, staff who have been to the Queensland areas of concern since 21 July 2021, must self-isolate until they receive a negative test and have a test every 72 hours after that.

This information can change rapidly so please check the NSW Health website at least daily for updates.

Qld Updated fact sheet - Testing of asymptomatic RACF workers in Brisbane and Sunshine Coast

(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 Australian Government, in consultation with Queensland Health, is supporting asymptomatic testing of staff in residential aged care facilities in Greater Brisbane and Sunshine Coast regions. Residential aged care services in these areas will be contacted to be offered in-reach testing for aged care workers. Services in hotspot locations will be prioritised. Please see the updated fact sheet for the latest information.

Support for Senior Australians as COVID-19 restrictions continue

(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 Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, Richard Colbeck has issued a reminder that senior Australians affected by ongoing lockdowns can access vital support services to ensure they stay socially connected and maintain their health. You can read the Minister's full statement.

Aged care services remain open and available to those who need them, especially for isolated Australians.

Senior Australian COVID-19 support numbers and advocacy services

• Older Persons COVID-19 Support Line - 1800 171 866
• Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement - 1800 22 22 00
• My Aged Care Contact Centre - 1800 200 422
• Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) - 1800 700 600 opan.com.au

A translation and interpreter service is available to access the above numbers. Senior Australians who require an interpreter can call 131 450, select the language they speak and provide one of the COVID-19 support numbers to access the information in their own language.

12 Covid-19 cases at Hardi Aged Care facility at Summer Hill

According to Aged Care Insite, Hardi Aged Care at Summer Hill has been revealed as the aged care facility in Sydney’s inner west that is experiencing a Covid-19 outbreak. The facility, on Grosvenor Crescent, has now reported 12 cases of coronavirus after NSW registered 239 local infections overnight.

Infected staff member worked across multiple aged care sites, COVID continues to spread through homes

According to Aged Care Insite, there have been 21 cases of COVID-19 at a Sydney aged care home as of Tuesday morning, as it was confirmed that an infected nurse worked across multiple sites. On Tuesday August 2, the NSW Department of Health confirmed that 19 residents and two staff tested positive at the Hardi Wyoming nursing home at Summer Hill in the inner west.

Aged care workers experiencing rental crisis exacerbated by COVID-19

According to Aged Care Guide, COVID-19 essential workers, such as the aged care workforce, are facing a rental affordability crisis with most workers in major cities putting a large portion of their weekly pay towards their rent.

Other News

Survey: evaluation of the Aged Care Quality Standards

The Department of Health invites providers, consumers, sector representatives and other key stakeholders working in the aged care sector to complete an online survey about the Aged Care Quality Standards.

In addition, you can nominate to participate in an online focus group on the Quality Standards.

KPMG is conducting the survey and focus groups on behalf of the department to obtain feedback on the current Quality Standards, including the impact of the standards on consumers, providers and other key stakeholders.

The survey forms part of a broader evaluation of the Quality Standards.

How to participate:

The survey is open until midnight (AEST) on 3 September 2021 and only takes 15 minutes to complete.

Find more details about the survey.

Find more details about the focus groups.

The largest trade deal in history: a threat to aged care reform?

According to Aged Care Insite, a new free trade deal could make it more difficult to improve conditions in aged care, experts have warned. Australia, along with 14 other countries including China, New Zealand, Japan and Indonesia, signed the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) last year. Aged care was excluded from the government’s list of services exempt from trade liberalisation. Health care, child care and public transport were all included. This detail could potentially deregulate the sector further, making it easier for foreign investors to knock back reforms for better staffing ratios and increased transparency.

ACAR ends but providers can seek places during transition

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, Thompson Health Care, Signature Care and TLC Healthcare have collectively picked up almost 800 of the 4,000 residential aged care places in the final round of offers but providers will have opportunties to apply for places before the new system starts. The 2020 Aged Care Approvals Round (ACAR), announced last Friday, allocated 4,098 residential aged care places and 1,028 short-term restorative care (STRC) places worth $380 million a year combined, plus $150 million in capital grants. The finalisation of the 2020 ACAR marks the start of the transition period to a new system, where residential care places will be allocated directly to care recipients from 1 July 2024.

Most specialist care residents return to mainstream services

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, most aged care residents with very severe dementia-related behaviours are able to transition back to mainstream services after a year in specialist dementia care, a 10-year review of a HammondCare service shows.

REMINDER: public consultation on the SIRS for in‑home aged care services

According to the Department of Health, consultation on the expansion of the Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS) to in-home aged care services closes COB Monday 9 August 2021.

This consultation will inform the development of specific design elements to expand the SIRS to in-home aged care services from 1 July 2022. Have your say on the department’s Consultation Hub by:

• completing the online survey OR
• uploading a submission

Legislation

No significant developments this week.