Month: July 2017

In Case You Missed It – Below are links to recent articles on Aged Care and Healthcare that may be of interest:

Read more:

ACG – Hens create happiness, and art, in aged care

ACG – Maggie Beer is ‘Creating An Appetite for Life’ in August

AAA – Call for sector to help improve literacy around death

SMH – Aveo’s new Freedom Aged Care program comes at a high cost

SMH – Calls for action on retirement villages grow louder

SMH – Aveo faces outcry over push into Freedom Aged Care

28 July 2017

The Turnbull Government will invest over $16 million to deliver the national roll-out of real time prescription monitoring for medicines to directly address the needless loss of life from misuse of these drugs.

The Real Time Prescription Monitoring system will provide an instant alert to pharmacists and doctors if patients received multiple supplies of prescription-only medicines.

This system will save lives and protect the community. This is something of absolute national importance.

Real time monitoring has been called for by the Australian Medical Association, Pharmacy Guild and by many families across the country who have been devastated by the loss of a loved one to misuse of prescription medicine.

We have listened to these calls and today we are taking action.

Read more:

National approach to prescription drug misuse (.pdf)

The Aged Care Complaints Commissioner has recently made quarterly data available to the public.

Read more:

National Quarterly Bulletin – Detailed contacts: March quarter 2016 – March quarter 2017 (.pdf)

Complaints by State – March 2017 (.pdf)

Aged Care Complaints – National Quarterly Bulletins

The Department of Health has released a new edition of its ‘Information for Aged Care Providers’ newsletter.

Read more:

Information for Aged Care Providers – Issue #2017/13 (.pdf)

The Australian Aged Care Quality Agency has released the July 2017 issue of their ‘Quality Standard’ newsletter.

Read more:

Quality Standard – July 2017 (.pdf)

Australian Aged Care Quality Agency

In Case You Missed It – Below are links to recent articles on Aged Care and Healthcare that may be of interest:

Read more:

AAA – Providers told to ‘up their game’ on customer service

AAA – Physios call on minister to improve services to residents

AAA – Empowered staff the key to sector innovation: Report

ACG – Nurses, carers and health care professionals cry-out over fears of future penalty cuts

TWS – Law firm advertises class action against Aveo

AAG – Commission knocks back bid for more flexible part-time contracts

AAG – OPAN wins tender to run national advocacy program

ACG – Young Australians ‘Get Into’ aged care thanks to new pilot program

ACG – Graffiti and street art tour teaches seniors how to ‘Grow Bold’

TWS – KPMG survey: up to 80% of aged care providers fail to answer potential customer calls

A public discussion paper on future care at home reform is now available on the Consultation Hub.

We are seeking your views on how future reform can best support older Australians to remain living at home and in their communities.

We would also welcome your early views and feedback on the February 2017 changes to home care to give consumers more choice in selecting a provider and introduce a nationally consistent process for assigning packages to consumers.

Read more:

Seeking your views – Future care at home reform

Future reform – an integrated care at home program to support older Australians

Future care at home reform

Released: 11 July 2017

New policies and processes have been implemented to make life easier for all consumers, particularly older people with diverse needs, and health professionals who use My Aged Care.

My Aged Care is the Australian Government’s one-stop shop for aged care support.

Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt said one of the most important changes to My Aged Care was clarification of who can speak on a consumer’s behalf, and under what circumstances.

“If a person is capable of consenting to someone speaking and acting on their behalf in My Aged Care, he or she now has greater flexibility in appointing a regular representative, and who that person can be,” Minister Wyatt said.

“In those cases where a person may not be capable of providing such consent, the consumer will need to have an authorised representative appointed for them.”

Read more:

Streamlined My Aged Care improves consumer support and access (.pdf)

The department held an open funding round in February-March this year seeking a single provider to deliver the new National Aged Care Advocacy Program (NACAP).

From 1 July 2017, the Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) has been engaged to provide free, confidential and independent advocacy support to older people (including their families and representatives) who are receiving, or seeking to receive, Australian Government funded aged care services.

Read more:

New National Aged Care Advocacy Program

The National Aged Care Advocacy Program

Released: 11 July 2017

The Australian Government has released $34 million in funding grants to support innovation in dementia care and other aged care services.

Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt said the grants would help the aged care system to meet the challenges ahead.

“The projects to be funded are cutting-edge and will strengthen the capacity of the aged care sector to respond to consumer-directed care and the challenges of dementia,” Minister Wyatt said.

“We know Australia’s population is ageing, and we know the aged care system must adapt to meet the community’s changing needs.”

42 projects will receive grants, with the focus on six priority areas.

“The Australian Government is committed to supporting the aged care sector as it moves towards consumer-directed care,” Minister Wyatt said.

“Supporting these projects will identify barriers that restrict access and choice and help ensure the special needs of consumers from diverse backgrounds are met.”

Read more:

Innovation Grants Support Dementia and Aged Care Choices (.pdf)