Month: November 2019

Since 1 July 2019, residential aged care providers have had specific responsibilities in the Quality of Care Principles 2014 relating to the use of physical and chemical restraint. These requirements put explicit obligations on the use of restraint by residential aged care providers.

The Australian Government has announced further strengthening of the regulation of chemical restraints in residential aged care.

The Government’s legislation now:

• makes it clear restraint must only be used as a last resort
• refers to state and territory legislation which regulates the responsibility of prescribers to gain informed consent for chemical restraint
• requires a review of the first 12 months of the operation of the restraint regulations to ensure aged care facilities are minimising the use of inappropriate restraint.

Read more:

Minimising physical and chemical restraint in residential aged care

Quality of Care Principles 2014

Quality of Care Amendment (Reviewing Restraints Principles) Principles 2019

Self-assessment tool for recording consumers receiving psychotropic medications (.docx)

Scenarios involving physical and/or chemical restraint (.pdf)

Regulatory Bulletin 2019-8.0 – Regulation of physical and chemical restraint (.pdf)

The Canberra hearing will inquire into interfaces between the aged care system and the health care system, including both Commonwealth and state/territory programs.

It will examine whether older people, particularly those living in residential aged care facilities, are able to access the health services they need as they age.

• Date: 9 – 13 December 2019
• Location: The Vibe Hotel, Canberra, 1 Rogan St, Canberra ACT 2609
• Time: 9:30am local time

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Hearings

The department is trialling a new assessment framework for residential aged care funding.

The Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) tool will soon be used to assess around 10,000 aged care residents as part of the trial.

The department invites additional residential aged care providers in Tasmania to submit expressions of interest to take part in the trial. We are aiming to include up to 700 more Tasmanian residents in the trial.

Read more:

Residential aged care funding reform trial

Resource Utilisation and Classification Study – RUCS Overview and Reports

Funding for the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) is being extended from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2022.

Some program changes will start on 1 July 2020 to help CHSP providers to better meet the care needs of clients and the community. These include:

• allowing CHSP providers to reallocate up to 50 per cent of their funding across different service types and between CHSP subprograms, to meet changes in demand
• improving performance monitoring arrangements, including reporting templates and new data entry standards.

Read more:

CHSP funding extension 2020–2022 – update

The Royal Commission held a public hearing in Hobart from Monday 11 November 2019 to Friday 15 November 2019 focusing on the governance of particular approved providers of aged care services, and the impact of that governance on the quality and safety of care.

Read more:

Transcript – Monday 11 November 2019 (.pdf)

Transcript – Tuesday 12 November 2019 (.pdf)

Transcript – Wednesday 13 November 2019 (.pdf)

Transcript – Thursday 14 November 2019 (.pdf)

Transcript – Friday 15 November 2019 (.pdf)

The department is seeking written submissions responding to its
consultation paper on proposed measures to improve clarity around additional service fees charged in residential aged care homes by 17 December 2019.

Have your say by lodging a written submission by email to: agedcarefeesandpayments@health.gov.au

Read more:

Provide feedback on proposals to clarify additional service fee arrangements in residential aged care

Additional service fees in residential aged care

Consultation paper – Additional service fees in residential aged care (.docx)

In this issue:

• Material change form revision and key personnel
• Invitation to participate in consultation – National Framework for Action on Dementia 2015–2019

Home Care:

• Home Care Package Survey: Live on Monday

Residential Care:

• Future Quality Indicators (QIs) pilot – Nominations are now open

Commonwealth Home Support Programme:

• CHSP Booklet now available in 18 languages
• Short-term services for older people during a period of reablement

Read more:

Information for the Aged Care Sector – Issue 2019/18 (.pdf)

Canberra Community Forum – Monday 25 November 2019

• Location: QT Canberra, 1 London Circuit, Canberra, ACT, 2061.
• Date: Monday 25 November 2019.
• Time: 1.30pm to 4.30pm
• Book: https://aged-care-royal-commission-forum-canberra.eventbrite.com.au

Newcastle Community Forum – Wednesday 27 November 2019

• Location: NEX @ Wests City (Newcastle Exhibition & Conference Centre), 309 King Street, Newcastle West NSW 2302.
• Date: Wednesday 27 November 2019.
• Time: 9:30am to 12:30pm.
• Book: https://aged-care-royal-commission-forum-newcastle.eventbrite.com.au/

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Community Forums

A two-year education program that will create incentives for allied health professionals to work in regional areas and better equip them with the skills needed for rural practice was today announced in Dubbo.

Minister for Regional Services, Decentralisation and Local Government, Mark Coulton said the Allied Health Rural Generalist Workforce and Education Scheme will drive improvements in allied health recruitment and retention rates in the regions and provide professional development opportunities for allied health professionals.

“Allied health professionals in regional areas can be dealing with a baby one minute, and then a frail or aged person the next, so this scheme is about improving their capabilities to better deal with the varied nature of rural work,” Minister Coulton said.

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New program upskills allied health professionals for regional work

The Morrison Government supports all 23 recommendations made by the report of Inquiry into Events at Earle Haven, which was produced by Ms Kate Carnell AO and released today.

Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians Richard Colbeck commissioned the inquiry to examine the circumstances leading up to the collapse in provision of aged care services at the facility, and the impact of the events on the safety and wellbeing of the affected residents.

The report found that effectively what led to the forced evacuation of the residents was a breakdown in the relationship between the approved provider of aged care services at Earle Haven, People Care Pty Ltd, and the company engaged to deliver these services, Help Street Villages (Qld) Pty Ltd.

The report’s recommendations have a significant focus on greater regulatory oversight of approved providers and their commercial arrangements.

Read more:

Carnell report into Earle Haven completed