Month: April 2018

Media Release: 16 April 2018

Australia’s inaugural Advance Care Planning Week begins today, encouraging people of all ages to prepare their personal end of life care plans, to give certainty to themselves and their families.

Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt AM said the Turnbull Government understood the rapidly growing importance of Advance Care Planning and was supporting Austin Health with $4.1 million to run a three-year awareness and commitment program.

“Research shows that around half of us will be incapable of making our own medical decisions as we approach the end of our lives,” Minister Wyatt said.

“Despite this, less than 15% of Australians have recorded an Advance Care Plan.

Read more:

Tough Talk: Australians Urged to Plan for End Of Life Care (.pdf)

In this issue:

• My Aged Care website enhancements
• Aged Care Workforce Strategy Taskforce employee survey closing soon
• My Aged Care ‘how-to’ videos updated
• Guidance for providers on My Aged Care complaints
• Help older Australians get online – join Be Connected

Read more:

Information for Aged Care Providers – Issue 2018/6 (.pdf)

In the next few days you’ll notice some changes to the My Aged Care website. The updates include a new homepage and simpler navigation across the website to guide users through the steps to accessing aged care services.

Read more:

My Aged Care website enhancements

Media Release: 9 April 2018

The Turnbull Government is providing funding to 90 Men’s Sheds across the country to support the mental health and overall wellbeing of Australian men.

Men’s Sheds will receive grants totalling $395,000 under round 16 of the National Shed Development Programme to help them buy tools, maintain sheds and host community activities focused on men’s health issues.

Men’s Sheds are helping Australian men to stay healthy and strong in every way.

They offer a friendly, welcoming environment where men can connect with each other without pressure. They can work on projects or just hang out.

Read more:

More funding for Men’s Sheds across Australia (.pdf)

Details of all the new grants can be found at the:

Australian Men’s Shed Association website

Residential aged care providers are reminded of their responsibilities when providing physiotherapy services, and when fees can apply.

Providers must provide rehabilitation support (including physiotherapy) to all care recipients who need it. Fees do not apply to rehabilitation support.

Providers must also provide maintenance therapy and more intensive therapy (including physiotherapy), whether provided by, or as directed by, a health professional.

Read more:

Physiotherapy for aged care residents – provider responsibilities

Additional guidance can be found in the:

Care and services in aged care homes – Information for approved providers (.pdf)

View the first 2018 communique from the Queensland Department of Health on seasonal influenza for residential aged care providers.

Advice from the Australian Government’s Chief Medical Officer on seasonal influenza in residential aged care facilities will be available in April 2018.

Read more:

Preparing for seasonal influenza in residential aged care

Queensland Department of Health – Seasonal Influenza (.pdf)

Both our Android & iOS Apps have received an update with some bug fixes and speed improvements. This new version is now available in both App Stores.

The current Manad Plus Mobile App versions are now:

• Android devices: 1.8.115.0

• Apple devices: 1.8.115.0

These are both compatible with the new desktop version: v5.5.53231.0 or higher.

Residential Care:

• Federal Court ruling – ‘asset replacement charges’
• ACFI appraisals – the seven-day rule

All:

• Keep your staff details current in the Provider Portal
• ACFA Respite Care consultation closing soon
• Reminder: please use ‘My Aged Care’ not ‘MAC’

Read more:

Information for Aged Care Providers – Issue 2018/5 (.pdf)

The Australian Aged Care Quality Agency has released a new issue of their ‘Quality Standard’ newsletter.

In this issue…

• Introduction of unannounced re-accreditation audits
• Nominate in April for our Better Practice Awards!
• 2018 Better Practice Conference
• Prepare now for flu season
• Developing and testing guidance for new Aged Care Quality Standards
• Education on the new standards
• Celebrating Harmony Day
• In Brief: new resources, courses, events and announcements

Read more:

Quality Standard – March 2018 (.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.

SMH – Medical records exposed by flaw in Telstra Health’s Argus software

ITNews – Health breached privacy law in open data bungle: OAIC

ACG – GPs visiting aged care homes say it’s a “frustrating experience”

ACG – Advocacy group pulls through in protecting pensioners on Opposition proposal

NZH – Vulnerable elderly restrained in chairs all day: documents

TWS – AACQA data reveals big rise in aged care complaints and serious risk decisions