Month: June 2019

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

‘I had no idea someone could do that’: Hidden cameras reveal shocking secrets

Aged Care Royal Commission hears of almost 300 serious assaults at Japara Healthcare homes

ROYAL COMMISSION: Bad care, poor reporting and lack of dignity

Royal Aged Care Commission: Daughter’s shock as elderly father’s abuse in care home caught on camera

Aged care in regions a ‘death sentence’, as royal commission told of neglect and isolation

Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander aged care system isn’t “culturally safe”, WA geriatrician tells Royal Commission

Retirement village residents unhappy about complex contracts and fees

Over 45% of aged care facilities in the red, latest StewartBrown reveals

Indigenous people believe aged care isn’t ‘culturally safe’, and ageing earlier

Some older Australians consider residential aged care a ‘death sentence’

ROYAL COMMISSION: Primary care is failing older people, My Aged Care needs fixing

Therapy Horse Stirs Childhood Memories In People Living With Dementia

Flu hits 21,000 people, as NSW hospitals flooded with cases

129,000 Older Australians Without Enough Home Care As Waiting List Grows

The Royal Commission will hold 2 new public hearings:

Darwin Hearing: ? Monday 8 July 2019 to Friday 12 July 2019

Cairns Hearing: ? Monday 24 June 2019 to Friday 28 June 2019

The Royal Commission will inquire into:

• aspects of care in residential, home and flexible aged care programs, including:

          • accessibility and availability

          • wound, medication and pain management

          • nutrition and hydration

          • continence care

          • mobility

          • social supports

• access to aged care for veterans

• rural and regional issues for service delivery of aged care

• quality of life for people receiving aged care

Read more:

Hearings

In July 2018, the Australian Government established a taskforce to simplify the aged care means assessment forms and processes.

These forms are now much shorter and simpler. Shortly, there will be a new digital form for people with straightforward financial affairs that is available online.

This webinar will provide an update on how and when to use the new aged care means assessment forms, including:

• Home Care Package Means Assessment Form
• Residential Aged Care Means Assessment Form
• The new Residential Aged Care property details form for Centrelink/DVA customers.

Read more:

Webinar: Navigating the new Aged Care Means Assessment Forms

Link: http://www.wolterskluwer.cch.com.au/aged-care-means-assessment/

The Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians, and Minister for Youth and Sport, Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck, has released the Home Care Packages Program Data Report covering the period from 1 January to 31 March 2019.

Read more:

Home Care Packages Program Data Report 3rd Quarter 2018-19

Home care packages program data report 1 January– 31 March 2019 (.pdf)

In this issue:

• New My Aged Care website launching soon
• New approved provider application forms from 1 July 2019
• Charter of Aged Care Rights online resources available
• Recent Aged Care Quality Reform Webinars now available
• Streamlined Consumer Assessment for Aged Care – discussion paper summary report now available

Home Care:

• Reminder: 1 July 2019 mandatory home care pricing requirements
• Returning unspent Home Care Package funds

Residential Care:

• Macular Disease Foundation Australia Digital training tools

Read more:

Information for Aged Care Providers – Issue 2019/07 (pdf)

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety released its fifth Background Paper as part of the Royal Commission’s work.
Most older Australians are not set up to direct the way they are cared for in the event they become incapable of communicating as a result of accident, dementia, or illness.

Information available to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety shows that even those aged 65-plus years are often ill-prepared, with only 3% having a statutory advance care directive in place.

The directives enable people to express how they want to be cared for, and that decisions and actions taken on their behalf are consistent with their goals, preferences and values, if they become incapable of making those decisions themselves.

Research on the uptake, benefits, issues and practices associated with advance care planning directives, as well as various arrangements in each state and territory, are briefly summarised in a background paper, Advance Care Planning in Australia, released today and available on the Royal Commission’s website.

It says: “Advance care planning has been shown to reduce unnecessary transfers from a residential aged care facility to a hospital and decrease a person’s level of worry and anxiety about their future.

Read more:

Advance Care Planning in Australia (.pdf)

As part of the 2018-19 MYEFO Boosting support for older Australians measure, the Government announced a reduction in basic daily fee, with a greater reduction for those on lower packages.

From 1 July 2019, the maximum basic daily fees for home care will reduce by:

• $400 for level 1
• $200 for level 2
• $100 for level 3

Read more:

Reduction in home care fees from 1 July 2019

Home care fees

Boosting support for older Australians

The recent webinar on key aged care quality reforms being implemented from 1 July 2019 is now available on the department’s website. The webinar included background and live question and answer sessions on the following topics:

• Aged Care Quality Standards
• Clinical Governance Framework
• Open Disclosure Framework
• Single Charter of Aged Care Rights
• Strengthened regulations to minimise the inappropriate use of restraint
• National Quality Indicator Program

Read more:

Now available – Aged Care Quality Reform Webinar

Aged Care Quality Reform Update Live Stream

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

Influenza cases just the ‘tip of the iceberg’, worse than reported figures, researcher says

New Aged Care Regulations Expected To Cause Spike In Non-Compliance

Elderly LGBTQI+ Aged Care Residents Say They’re Being Forced ‘Back Into The Closet’

Certain medication doubles the risk of falls and fractures in elderly

Minimum Wage increase concerns aged care peak body

Collins returns to aged care as Shorten takes on NDIS fight

This webinar will update service providers and the assessment workforce on key aged care quality reforms being implemented from 1 July 2019, including:

• Aged Care Quality Standards
• Clinical Governance Framework
• Open Disclosure Framework
• Single Charter of Aged Care Rights
• Strengthened regulations to minimise the inappropriate use of restraint
• National Quality Indicator Program

Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions about these topics to representatives from both the Department of Health and the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.

Read more:

Webinar: Aged Care Quality Reform – 6 June 2019

http://livestream.education.gov.au/health/6june2019