Month: March 2019

The Morrison Government has moved to significantly strengthen the regulations that apply to the use of physical and chemical restraints in aged care homes.

In January this year, I said we would strengthen regulations because we will not tolerate the use of physical and chemical restraints. Restraint must only be used as a last resort.

The regulatory changes I intend to sign into law next week set out specific provider responsibilities in relation to the use of physical and chemical restraint in aged care homes to apply from 1 July 2019.

We have moved quickly, working with a group of key stakeholders to inform a regulatory approach to minimise the inappropriate use of restraints, treating chemical and physical restraints as separate issues.

Read more:

Stronger Restraint Regulations to Protect Senior Australians (.pdf)

KPMG has delivered a report outlining options for a Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS) for government-subsidised aged care providers.

Following a recommendation of the Carnell Paterson Review, the Department engaged KPMG to undertake extensive stakeholder consultation and analysis to develop a report outlining options for Government consideration.

Read more:

Options for a Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS) for aged care

Strengthening protections for older Australians – Options for a national aged care Serious Incident Response Scheme report (.pdf)

The Morrison Government will provide $300,000 for development of a new learning framework to help nurses working with senior Australians from many cultures.

The framework will be particularly relevant to nurses working in aged care or providing health care to the significant and growing proportion of senior people in Australia who come from migrant and refugee backgrounds.

Our health system, including the aged care system, must be able and ready to respond to the needs of every person in our increasingly diverse society.

In 1981, 25 per cent of people aged 65 and over were born overseas. By 2011 this had grown to 36 per cent, with 61 per cent of these senior people born in non-English speaking countries.

Read more:

Culture Training for Nurses working with Seniors (.pdf)

In this issue:

• Resources to support Care Leavers in aged care
• Tip sheets for palliative aged care

Residential Care:

• Proposed New Residential Care Funding Model
• Macular Disease Foundation Australia digital training tools

Home Care:

• New legislative requirements for home care providers – Pricing Information

Read more:

Information for Aged Care Providers – Issue 2019/5 (.pdf)

The Morrison Government has released a new report detailing options for a Serious Incident Response Scheme for aged care, including findings that a broader range of incidents should be reported.

The report, Strengthening protections for older Australians – Development of models and options for a Serious Incident Response Scheme for Commonwealth-funded aged care service providers is available at the Department of Health’s website. The report was prepared by KPMG.

Options canvassed of what should be considered a reportable incident include: physical, sexual or financial abuse; seriously inappropriate, improper, inhumane or cruel treatment, and neglect.

Read more:

Stronger Aged Care Protections for Senior Australians (.pdf)

The Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care, the Hon Ken Wyatt AM, MP announced a new Charter of Aged Care Rights (the Charter).

This single charter of rights across aged care is part of the Single Aged Care Quality Framework and will take effect from 1 July 2019. It replaces the four current charters that relate to care recipients’ rights and responsibilities.

Read more:

New Charter of Aged Care Rights

Single Charter of Aged Care Rights

Australia signs up for new era of Aged Care Rights (.pdf)

New laws will compel all aged care providers to sign and conform to a single, strengthened Charter of Rights, under the Morrison Government’s latest aged care quality and safety reforms.

For the first time, providers will have to provide a personally signed copy of the Charter to every one of their residents and care recipients, at the same time giving them – or their authorised representative – the opportunity to co-sign the document.

“Together, we’re standing up for our most vulnerable senior Australians and we won’t tolerate anything less,” said Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Ken Wyatt AM.

“The co-signing makes providers’ commitments and obligations under the charter clear to clients, and ensures that clients are aware of their rights.

“The comprehensive new Charter covers 14 fundamental protections – from safe, quality care, to independence, information, personal privacy, control, fairness and choice.”

The Charter replaces and strengthens four previous charters that covered various forms of aged care, building on the Morrison Government’s new Aged Care Quality Standards which also come into effect from 1 July 2019.

I have the right to:

1. safe and high quality care and services;
2. be treated with dignity and respect;
3. have my identity, culture and diversity valued and supported;
4. live without abuse and neglect;
5. be informed about my care and services in a way I understand;
6. access all information about myself, including information about my rights, care and services;
7. have control over and make choices about my care, and personal and social life, including where the choices involve personal risk;
8. have control over, and make decisions about, the personal aspects of my daily life, financial affairs and possessions;
9. my independence;
10. be listened to and understood;
11. have a person of my choice, including an aged care advocate, support me or speak on my behalf;
12. complain free from reprisal, and to have my complaints dealt with fairly and promptly;
13. personal privacy and to have my personal information protected;
14. exercise my rights without it adversely affecting the way I am treated.

Read more:

Australia signs up for new era of Aged Care Rights (.pdf)

Charter of Aged Care Rights (.pdf)

Work is underway on an impact analysis to understand potential implications of moving to an alternative model for allocating residential aged care places that encourages greater consumer choice. There will be upcoming consultation opportunities for you to have your say about possible alternative models.

Read more:

Update: Impact analysis of alternative allocation arrangements in residential care

Better Access to Care – impact analysis of allocating residential aged care places to consumers instead of providers (.pdf)

Impact analysis of alternative arrangements for allocating residential aged care places

The Antipsychotic Tracking Tool (APTT) has been developed for use in aged care settings to monitor antipsychotic usage.

The APTT can be used to generate regular audit reports and graphs and to determine the prevalence of use of antipsychotic medications.

State-based benchmark percentages from a national study (the RedUSe study) are included within the APTT graphs which may be a useful comparator when interpreting results.

Facilities can follow changes in the use of antipsychotic usage over time for all residents within an aged care setting, regardless of whether the person is living with dementia or not.

Read more:

Antipsychotic Tracking Tool – monitor usage within your facility

An update of the schedules for residential and home care fees and charges, as well as subsidies and supplements will take effect from 20 March 2019. This is in line with changes to the basic age pension and indexation rates.

The updated schedules also give effect to the measures announced on 17 December 2018 by the Prime Minister, the Hon Scott Morrison, of a 30 per cent increase to the Viability Supplement for eligible residential aged care providers and a 30 per cent increase to the Homeless Supplement.

The updated schedules also give effect to the measures announced on 10 February 2019 by the Prime Minister, the Hon Scott Morrison, of a $320 million temporary general subsidy boost for residential aged care services and a permanent $35.7 million increase in home care supplements for dementia and cognition and veterans.

Read more:

Indexation rates for Residential Aged Care and Home Care Packages and changes to the Maximum Permissible Interest Rate (MPIR)

Schedule of Fees and Charges for Residential and Home Care from 20 March 2019 (.pdf)

Schedule of Fees and Charges for Pre 1 July 2014 Residents from 20 March 2019 (.pdf)

Schedule of Subsidies and Supplements from 20 March 2019 (.pdf)