Aged care news highlights from the week ending 10 June 2022, 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

COVID still a harsh reality for aged care sector

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, while life has returned to a semblance of normality in the community as Australia moves on from COVID, that’s not reflected in aged care settings where strict protocols and workforce pressures remain. Speaking to Australian Ageing Agenda, Whiddon CEO Chris Mamarelis said: “We’re still seeing a lot of challenges – in the context of the workforce in particular … both in terms of shortages and the wellbeing of the workforce.”

Winter dose clinics for residents and eligible workers a priority for all aged care facilities

According to the Department of Health, residential aged care facilities are responsible for ensuring residents have access to the recommended additional winter booster dose as soon as they are eligible:

• from 4 months after receiving an initial booster dose, or
• from 3 months after a COVID-19 infection if this occurred after the initial booster dose.

This also applies to any vulnerable workers at your facility who are eligible as being at risk of severe illness from COVID-19.

The Department is monitoring weekly reporting by all providers. If providers are not updating your data at a minimum each Tuesday, compliance action will be taken by the Department.

For more information on reporting winter doses, including a fact sheet, quick reference guide and instructional webinar, go to the Department's website on Mandatory COVID-19 vaccination reporting.

Other News

Ministers move forward with wage case

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, newly appointed Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler and Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells have written to the Fair Work Commission asking that the Labor Government make a formal submission in the case for a 25 per cent pay rise for aged care workers. In order for that to happen, the FWC has agreed to extend the submission timetable. The government proposes that a submission could be provided to the FWC no later than 8 August 2022.

The final oral hearings for the matter are scheduled for 24 and 25 August 2022 in Melbourne, and then 1 September 2022 in Sydney.

Fixing the aged care crisis won’t be easy

According to UTS, a recent report based on a survey of 1,192 residential aged care homes and 55,821 home care packages, shows providers are struggling to improve staffing levels.

Aged care residents face high rates of sexual violence

According to Aged Care Insite, recent data has shown that more than 500 people living in residential aged care were sexually assaulted in the last three months of 2021. The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission said it received 530 reports of unlawful sexual conduct or inappropriate sexual contact from October to December. The figures show only a minor improvement since the royal commission, which found around 50 sexual assaults occur in a residential aged care facility each week.

Aged Care Alert: Webinar: Update on the upcoming Quarterly Financial Report (QFR)

The Department of Health is hosting a free webinar on the new Quarterly Financial Report (QFR). We recommend aged care finance owners, including CFOs, finance and account

Presenters will discuss all segments of the QFR, including viability questions, quarterly financial statements, care costs and labour hours, and food and nutrition. Grant Corderoy, from StewartBrown, will provide information about the technical detail on the completion of care minutes.

The webinar will be held on 16 June 2022 from 11.00am to 12.30pm AEST.

Register or read more about the Quarterly Financial Report webinar. If you have any questions or need help accessing the webinar, please contact ffbconsultation@health.gov.au.

Peaks welcome government’s aged care appointments

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, the Aged & Community Care Providers Association was among the peak bodies to react to the appointment earlier this week of a number of new aged care ministers. Heading the portfolio, is Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler. No newbie when it comes to aged care affairs, Mr Butler held the post of Minister for Mental Health and Ageing for three years between 2010 and 2013 under prime ministers Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd.

Voluntary assisted dying laws in Australia explained

According to Aged Care Guide, voluntary assisted dying, also known as VAD, has caused a lot of discussion in Australia for a number of years as more States and Territories debate the issue and put in place laws.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, 15 June

According to the Department of Health, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on 15 June is an important opportunity to promote a better understanding and prevention of the abuse and neglect of older persons. Resources available to support health and aged care workers to recognise and address elder abuse include the Abuse of the Older Person: eLearning program for Health and Aged Care Professionals and #ReadyToListen project. For more information on elder abuse awareness, you can visit the Compass website or contact 1800 ELDERHelp (1800 353 374).

Webinar: Recognising and Responding to Elder Abuse 

According to the Department of Health, join Swinburne’s Wellbeing Clinic for Older Adults for their upcoming free webinar on ageing. The webinar will be held at 4.45‑6pm AEST on Friday 24 June. It is aimed at people employed in aged care, as well as psychologists, social workers, counsellors and volunteers who work with older adults. Find out more information and register for the webinar.

Workforce Planning Tool

According to the Department of Health, the Aged Care Workforce Industry Council’s Workforce Planning Tool is now available. The tool has been co-designed with and for the aged care sector. It is confidential, easy to use, and will fit with the daily demands of those responsible for workforce planning. To access the tool, visit the Aged Care Workforce Industry Council’s website.

Preventing dementia explained in 10 languages

According to the Department of Health, the National Ageing Research Institute has developed a range of animated videos in 10 languages, to make information about dementia more accessible for people from non-English speaking backgrounds. The videos are available in Arabic, Cantonese, Mandarin, Tamil, Spanish, Vietnamese, Greek, Italian, Hindi and English. Find and share the animations.

About ME one-page story workshops for aged care organisations

According to the Department of Health, Helping Hand Aged Care offers free online workshops to aged care organisations to help them create and implement About ME one-page stories for their clients. These stories can help you provide culturally safe, appropriate, and inclusive care. To arrange an About ME one-page story workshop for your organisation, contact Meg Schwarz by calling 0418 976 129 or emailing mschwarz@helpinghand.org.au

Apply to claim specialisation for care of older Australians from diverse backgrounds

According to the Department of Health, we are implementing the Specialisation Verification Framework to help older Australians with diverse aged care needs choose the care that best suits them. From 27 June, aged care providers who specialise in delivering care that is sensitive to the needs of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences will be able to apply for verification. To claim specialisation, you will need to provide evidence that meets the criteria in the Specialisation Verification Framework.

Online aged care mental health training

According to the Department of Health, until 30 June 2022, the Australian Psychological Society is offering two free online courses for people working in residential aged care facilities.

Applied Mental Health in Residential Aged Care: Practical Program for Clinicians is for psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists, mental health nurses, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers. Register for the applied mental health course for health professionals.

A separate course, Supporting the mental health of older people in residential aged care: Mental health awareness training is available for non-mental health trained workers in residential aged care, for example registered nurses, physiotherapists, audiologists, speech pathologists, dieticians, personal care workers, attendants and peer workers. Read more and register for the course for non-mental health trained workers.

Services Australia – getting ready for the new AN-ACC funding model changes

According to the Department of Health, Services Australia is preparing for the new AN-ACC funding model changes due to commence on 1 October 2022. The internal Aged Care Payment System is also being upgraded, which will impact residential aged care providers and software developers. To help you get ready for these changes you can read helpful tips for providers and software developers. Providers need to allow up to 10 days for activation of their web services device after they have submitted a completed registration form. Your software developer can help you complete the Register or update for Aged Care Web Services form (AC027).

Legislation

No significant developments this week.