Month: January 2020

My Aged Care and Program Administration:

• Consumers can now apply for an assessment online
• Recent updates to the My Aged Care website
• Retirement of AUSkey March 2020
• Aged care content on the department’s new website
• Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI) Authorised Officers – Legislation Amendments
• Update on the Specialist Dementia Care Program

Consultations and RFTs:

• Reminder: Residential Aged Care Funding Reform – Assessor Training Strategy – Request for Tender
• Public consultation on the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission Draft Roadmap

Resources and Training:

• What Matters Most – New person centred care resources
• Aged Care Education and Training Incentive (ACETI) Program closing

Read more:

Information for the Aged Care Sector – Issue 2020/01 (.pdf)

The department understands that a number of Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) providers may have been impacted by recent and ongoing bushfires. In response, we are extending the due date for responses to the Wellness and Reablement Report. The responses will now be due on 21 February 2020 for all CHSP service providers in all states and territories.

Read more:

2019 Wellness and Reablement Report for CHSP providers – extension to 21 February 2020

In this edition:

• Commissioner message
• Getting to know the Standards – Standard 5 Organisation’s service environment
• Regulatory Bulletin update
• Transition of Compulsory Reporting to the Commission
• From the Chief Clinical Advisor
• New resources for consumer engagement now available
• Still time to register interest in new online learning solution
• Assessing the Standards workshops – still time to book
• Re-accreditation of residential services

Read more:

Aged Care Quality Bulletin #13 Jan 2020

The department has prepared factsheets for aged care staff, residents and families to assist in control of the outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). These factsheets have been cleared through the Communicable Disease Network Australia and will be updated as new information becomes available.

While most infections are transmitted by people with symptoms of the disease, there are cases of coronavirus infection diagnosed in persons with minimal or no symptoms and it may be transmitted by people who have no symptoms. These factors highlight the need to take a highly precautionary approach.

Read more:

Novel Coronavirus – important information for aged care workers, residents and families

Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) resources

Throughout 2020, Ansell Strategic Operations Team will be releasing regular newsletters focusing on operational challenges we are recognising across the sector. We will explore the intent of each Standard and consider the issues faced by providers, and how to overcome them. We will also share examples of best practice and innovation.

In this edition of Out In Front, Ansell Strategic considers the need for aged care services in Australia to move beyond the Aged Care Quality Standards. We explore how the intent of the Standards must be understood in order to interpret them and translate their intent into aged care practice.

There is mounting data to evidence the magnitude of providers who are struggling to comprehend and practice in a way that aligns with regulatory and consumer expectations and standards. These Standards should be the baseline, not the benchmark.

Read more:

Out in Front – Making the New Standards Matter (.pdf)

New research on international systems and innovations in aged care has identified many opportunities for improvement in Australia, according to researchers at Flinders University

In Research Paper 3: Review of Innovative Models of Aged Care, the authors examine approaches to aged care that are not widely available in Australia. The authors identify a range of approaches that could potentially have benefits in Australia including:

• Supports, such as individualised training, for people with dementia living at home and their carers. There is some evidence such supports delay functional decline and reduce depression among carers.
• System navigators or care coordinators who facilitate streamlined access to care for people with dementia or other chronic health conditions.
• Small, domestic residential care homes that maximise the independence of residents and their participation in daily activities. These small homes can be adapted for specialised needs such as people with dementia.
• Respite services provided in settings aligned to people’s backgrounds, such as farm settings for people with dementia living in agricultural areas.
• Training and accreditation practices to increase awareness and availability of culturally appropriate services for people with diverse backgrounds.
• Telehealth communications that enable better access to health and other care services for people less able to travel or who live in remote regions.
• Remote support of independent living through ‘health smart homes’ that use sensors to monitor a person’s health conditions and signs they need assistance.

Read more:

Research Paper 3 – Review of Innovative Models of Aged Care (.pdf)

Technical Report – Review of Innovative Models of Aged Care (.pdf)

New research on international systems and innovations in aged care has identified many opportunities for improvement in Australia, according to researchers at Flinders University

In Research Paper 2: Review of International Systems for Long Term Care of Older People, the authors examine aged care systems in 22 countries. The report uses available data and assessment of each country’s aged care policies such as financing, accessibility and regulation. The authors note country comparisons are complex and require some judgement.

The authors point to Denmark and Sweden as countries likely to have good quality long term care systems. Both have government expenditure on long term care for older people greater than 4% of Gross Domestic Product (based on OECD data), whereas Australia spends around 1.2%. Both countries fund long term care through local authorities with federal grants and local taxes. Both focus on providing long term care in people’s homes with a moderate proportion of care recipients in residential care institutions.

The report notes the need to think of a care system from the social rather than just economic perspective and highlights some key areas where the authors consider that care for older Australians can be improved:

• Increasing support for home-based care and informal carers – more high level Home Care Packages and more general leave provisions and financial assistance for informal carers.
• Increased involvement of local or regional authorities in the regulation and monitoring of long term care services.
• Increased professionalism of the workforce, for example mandatory training or registration of care workers.
• Increased transparency in staffing levels.
• Mandatory reporting and public availability of quality of care indicators, which could include standardised assessments such as the InterRAI or Australian clinical quality registers.
• Better integration with the healthcare system to improve the management of chronic diseases including dementia.
• Stronger focus on rehabilitation and maintaining function to delay and avoid disability.
• Incorporation of principles of human rights in the aged care standards.

Read more:

Research Paper 2 – Review of International Systems of Long-term Care of Older People (.pdf)

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety will hold a series of hearings during the first half of 2020.

The first hearing will be conducted as a workshop and will focus on the redesign of the aged care system.

It will be held in Adelaide on Monday 10 February and Tuesday 11 February 2020.

This workshop follows the release in December 2019 of Consultation Paper 1 on program redesign, a call for submissions in response to that paper and consultation with stakeholders and experts in preparation for the workshop.

The workshop will be held at Adelaide Convention Centre from 10.00am (ACDT).

About the workshops:

Hearings in the form of workshops will be used to gather evidence from witnesses in a less formal setting than the public hearings held in 2019. Workshops will not be held in a hearing room or court-like setting. Workshops may involve multiple sessions over several days.

Counsel Assisting will facilitate discussion between workshop participants. The Commissioners will moderate the proceedings.

Read more:

Royal Commission hearings in 2020

Workshops

Hundreds of aged care workers in bushfire-affected communities have been recognised for their tireless efforts to keep our oldest and most vulnerable Australians safe.

During a visit to the hardest-hit regions in southern New South Wales, Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians, Richard Colbeck, has thanked staff for going above and beyond.

More than 750 people were evacuated from aged care centres as fires threatened townships.

But it was the efforts from committed workers that Minister Colbeck said showcased the determined spirit of locals.

“Some staff members stood outside with hoses, others came in to work even as fire threatened their own homes,” Minister Colbeck said.

“These people chose to remain at work and ensure the care of residents.

“It is a remarkable and humbling effort.”

The same staff continue to provide essential care as communities start the long process of recovery, Minister Colbeck said.

Read more:

Thank you to our aged care workers

This section focuses on government funded care and support services for older people and their carers, which are provided at home, in the community and in residential care facilities.

Total government expenditure reported on aged care services in 2018-19 was $20.1 billion. This comprised expenditure of $13.2 billion on residential care services, $5.9 billion on home care and support services and $1.0 billion on other services, such as flexible care and assessments.

As at June 2019, there were 213,397 operational places (excluding flexible places) in residential care services, and 106,707 recipients of Home Care Packages Level 1–4.

During 2018-19, there were 85,915 older clients receiving Home Care Packages Level 1 2, 66,775 older clients receiving Home Care Packages Level 3 4 and 826,335 older clients of the Commonwealth Home Support Program.

There were also 236,213 older clients who received permanent care and 64,117 who received respite care in a residential aged care facility during that period.

Read more:

Report on Government Services 2020 – Aged Care Services (PART F, SECTION 14) (.pdf)