The Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) is supporting the department with raising awareness and providing education about the new Charter of Aged Care Rights which takes effect from 1 July 2019.
OPAN is delivering a number of educational webinars and events for consumers and service providers.
Read more:
Influenza activity has been increasing in South Australia over recent weeks, and the number of cases is likely to keep rising as we move further into the influenza season.
Residential care facilities are particularly susceptible to outbreaks of influenza, and the Communicable Disease Control Branch of SA Health has provided information for South Australian residential care services.
This information includes details on how to report any suspected influenza outbreaks to SA Health, where to go for further advice on managing influenza outbreaks, and links to relevant guidelines and resources.
Read more:
Influenza Outbreaks in South Australian Residential Care Services
Letter from SA Health to South Australian residential care facilities
As a Provider of Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) services, we invite you to participate in a project to help design training for CHSP service providers to successfully apply wellness and reablement. By participating, you will be helping to:
• Identify the people capabilities that lead to successfully applying wellness and reablement in CHSP services
• Pinpoint the current level of capability within the many segments of the provider workforce
• Shape the future training program on wellness and reablement in the provider workforce
Read more:
Participate in a CHSP wellness and reablement – workforce capability development project
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission have released a new Standards consumer outcomes poster.
Read more:
The Royal Commission has released its first newsletter.
Read more:
Newsletter from the Royal Commission Issue 1, May 2019 (.pdf)
Following the re-election of the Liberal Party, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has shuffled the cabinet positions around, removing Member of Parliament, Mr Ken Wyatt from his spot as Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians.
Taking over the Aged Care and Senior Australians portfolios from Mr Wyatt is Tasmanian Senator, Mr Richard Colbeck, previously the Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources.
Senator Colbeck says, “It is an important time in aged care, particularly with the Aged Care Royal Commission underway and the need to support senior Australians in their later life.
Read more:
Cabinet reshuffle results in new Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians
Updated: 27 May 2019
Glossary
• Update to entry for Consumer-centred care – Care and services that are designed around an individual’s needs, preference and background. It includes partnership between consumers and providers.
Updated: 15 May 2019
New legislation:
• Aged Care Quality Act 1997 (Cth), User Rights Amendment (Charter of Aged Care Rights) Principles 2019
• Quality of Care Amendment (Minimising the Use of Restraints) Principles 2019
New content added to:
• Standard 3 – Requirement (3)(b): ““minimising restrictive practices – These interventions have high potential for harm and are practices that organisations can avoid with positive changes in how they assess, plan and deliver personal and clinical care for consumers. If an organisation uses restrictive practices such as physical or chemical restraint, these are expected to be consistent with best practice and used as a last resort, for as short a time as possible and comply with relevant legislation.”
• Standard 8 – Requirement (3)(d): “Records show how staff are trained and supported to assess or evaluate the use of restraints in order to minimise or eliminate their use.”
• Standard 8 – Requirement (3)(d): “Evidence of how the organisation monitors and reports on the use of restraints.”
• Standard 8 – Requirement (3)(e): “(ii) Minimising the use of restraint – Restraint means any practice, device or action that interferes with a consumer’s ability to make a decision or restricts a consumer’s free movement. Where restraint is clinically necessary to prevent harm, the organisation should have systems to manage how restraints are used. This is in accordance with legislation and the organisation’s policies on reporting the use of restraints.”
• Standard 8 – Requirement (3)(e): “Evidence of appropriate authorisation and consent for the use of restraints in compliance with legislation.”
Glossary – Restrictive practices: “The use of interventions and practices that have the effect of restricting the rights or freedom of movement of a person with disability. These primarily include restraint and seclusion.Chemical restraint means a restraint that is, or that involves, the use of medication or a chemical substance for the purpose of influencing a person’s behaviour, other than medication prescribed for the treatment of, or to enable treatment of, a diagnosed mental disorder, a physical illness or a physical condition. Physical restraint means any restraint other than: (a) a chemical restraint; or (b) the use of medication prescribed for the treatment of, or to enable treatment of, a diagnosed mental disorder, a physical illness or a physical condition. This guidance adopts the general principle that restrictive practices are only implemented as a last resort; are implemented for the least amount of time possible; are recorded, monitored and reviewed; have tight safeguards in place that are focused on minimising risk to consumers, staff, and others; and are undertaken with a focus on ensuring decency, humanity and respect at all stages.”
Glossary – Clinical governance: “An integrated set of leadership, behaviours, policies, procedures, responsibilities, relationships and monitoring and improvement mechanisms that are directed towards ensuring good clinical outcomes. Effective clinical governance systems ensure that everyone – from unregulated care providers, to employed or external regulated health practitioners, to managers and members of governing bodies such as boards – is accountable to consumers and the community for the delivery of clinical care that is safe, effective, integrated, high quality and continuously improving.”
Read more:
Updates to Guidance and Resources for Providers to support the Aged Care Quality Standards
In this issue:
• New Charter of Aged Care Rights
• Reablement-focussed Assessment Trial Commences
Residential Care:
• Participate in the 2019 Aged Care National Antimicrobial Prescribing Survey (AC NAPS)
• Macular Disease Foundation Australia Digital training tools
• Aged Care Pricing Commissioner – 2019 online updates
Read more:
The department is seeking feedback on a new funding model proposed for residential aged care and other findings and recommendations of the Resource Utilisation and Classification Study (RUCS).
Submissions are currently open on the department’s Consultation Hub. Feedback on the consultation paper should be submitted to RUCS@health.gov.au and is due by 31 May 2019.
Read more:
Consultation on residential aged care funding reform
From 1 July 2019, providers must give consumers a copy of the new Charter of Aged Care Rights signed by the provider. They must also ensure that the consumer or their representative has been given a reasonable opportunity to sign a copy of the Charter.
Asking for the consumer’s signature allows them to acknowledge they have received the Charter and had assistance to understand it. Consumers are not required to sign the Charter and can commence, and/or continue to receive care and services, even if they choose not to sign the Charter.
Read more:
Translated Charter of Aged Care Rights – template for signing
Management Advantage Pty Ltd
Suite 2, 430 Rae Street
Fitzroy North
VIC 3068
1300 62 62 32
info@manad.com.au