In this edition:
• Commissioner’s message
• Governing and managing the use of high-risk medications
• Home services consultation survey closes soon
• Upcoming changes to the SIRS online reporting form
• Complying with your Quality Standards responsibilities
• Inaugural Council of Elders members announced
• Partnerships in care tackle social isolation safely
• New and updated Commission resources
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Due to the increasing COVID-19 cases across the country, all residential aged care providers are strongly encouraged to prepare for the possibility of COVID-19 exposure or an outbreak in their facility. We again thank you for the enormous work you are doing in caring for aged care residents during the pandemic.
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The COVID-19 Aged Care Support Program Extension Grant reimburses providers for additional eligible costs incurred in managing a direct impact of COVID-19.
The grant has now been extended to 30 June 2022. Amendments to the Grant Opportunity Guidelines and updated Frequently Asked Questions, published on GrantConnect, outline a range of increased supports for providers.
These include:
• Extending the closing date for applications to 30 June 2022 and increasing the total grant funding available to $108.1 million.
• For impact periods that include or commence after 1 December 2021, the cost of purchasing Rapid Antigen Tests prior to, but used within, an eligible impact period is eligible for the grant.
• For impact periods that include or commence after 1 December 2021, the cost of purchasing PPE prior to, but used within, an eligible impact period is eligible for the grant.
• For impact periods that include or commence after 1 December 2021 onward, the cost of accommodation and travel for usual employees of a service to support them to continue working in an outbreak environment are eligible for the grant.
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Additional support available under COVID-19 Aged Care Support Program Extension Grant (GO4863)
Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission new and updated resources.
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RB 2021-15: Plan for continuous improvement requirements (.pdf)
To Dip or Not to Dip flyer (.pdf)
In this edition:
• COVID-positive staff must not work in residential aged care facilities
• Reminder: Home Care Package providers can access grant funding for COVID-19 vaccination support
• Recording of webinar for NSW residential aged care providers available online
• SA Health – Interim guidance for COVID-19 outbreak management
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Protecting Older Australians: COVID-19 Update – 27 January 2022
The Morrison Government has welcomed the first meeting of the Aged Care Council of Elders.
A key recommendation of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, the Government established the Council of Elders as part of new governance arrangements arising from our aged care reforms.
The role of the council will be to consult with senior Australians to provide advice to Ministers on a range of matters including aged care quality and safety, the needs of senior Australians and their families and carers and the rights and dignity of senior Australians.
Attending the first meeting today, Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, and Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, Richard Colbeck, said the Council of Elders will play a critical role in making sure that those most central to the aged care system, senior Australians, have significant input into shaping the future of aged care.
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Bringing the voices of senior Australians to the centre of aged care reform
News about the reforms:
• More nurses now eligible for Aged Care Registered Nurses’ Payment
• Get involved: Aged care services encouraged to pilot new quality measures
• Support at Home Assessment Trial Living Lab and Advisory Group
Other news:
• Have your say: improving communications with the home services sector
• Survey closing soon: My Aged Care screening and assessment training
• Congratulations to “Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds”
• Centre for Cultural Diversity webinar series
• Pacific Labour Scheme workforce: webinar recording available
• Suicide Prevention for Seniors Program (NSW)
For residential care providers:
• Apply now: Business Improvement Fund Round 2
• Choices for younger people living in residential aged care
For home care providers:
• Improved Payment Arrangements: January key tips
Read more:
Aged Care Alert: Information for the Aged Care Sector Newsletter – Issue #2022/01 (.pdf)
This Alert was previously published in ACSA Weekly.
Copyright is not usually high on the list of concerns for retirement village operators and providers of residential aged care. However, it is raising concerns in connection with the screening of films for residents. There is some confusion as to when operators and providers need to obtain a licence to avoid infringing copyright laws.
This Alert provides important information regarding when your retirement village or aged care facility may need to obtain a licence and how to go about it.
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In this edition:
• COVID-19 vaccination boosters in residential aged care facilities
• Benefits of a COVID-19 booster vaccine for senior Australian
• Support with costs managing COVID-19
• Update from the ACT Chief Health Officer – 18 January 2022
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Protecting Older Australians: COVID-19 Update – 21 January 2022
In this edition:
• Interim Guidance on managing public health restrictions on residential aged care facilities
• Interim Guidance on permissions and restrictions for workers in aged care
• Boosters to be mandatory for all residential aged care workers across Australia
• ATAGI – new definition on ‘up-to-date’ status for COVID-19 vaccination
• New HealthDirect Line for residential aged care facilities managing COVID-19
• Rapid Antigen Test Kits – update on supply for residential aged care facilities
• Streamlined changes to reporting a COVID-19 outbreak or exposure in residential aged care
• Factsheet on managing your workforce affected by Omicron
• Oral antivirals for RACFs – link to webinar held on Monday 7 February 2022
Read more:
Protecting Older Australians: COVID-19 Update – 21 January 2022
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