Month: May 2022

It is a great honour to announce that Management Advantage has been doing business in the aged care sector for an unbelievable 30 years.

It was founded in 1992 by Ruth Staples, and it has been helping and continues to help aged care homes provide better care through both the professional services we initially offered and now through software.

Thank you to everyone who has been working with us over the years and continues to help us evolve our software application Manad Plus, Manad Plus Finance and our Manad Plus Mobile App.

We look forward to the next 30!

Peter Staples
CEO

Residential aged care facilities

Whilst the current Commonwealth government has not made it clear whether they will mandate flu vaccinations in aged care in 2022, Victoria, Western Australia and the Northern Territory have all introduced new mandates to varying degrees in respect of residents, visitors, employees and volunteers in residential aged care facilities. Other States and Territories have not elected to introduce mandates at this stage, but many recommend up to date flu vaccinations for people attending facilities.

This follows the Australia Health Protection Principal Committee’s ‘Statement on winter season preparedness’ which noted:

1. all residents are strongly recommended to receive an influenza vaccination,
2. aged care workers are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated against influenza; and
3. visitors are strongly recommended to receive an influenza vaccine.

Read more:

Aged Care Alert | Flu vaccination mandates in the aged care sector in 2022

In this edition:

• Winter preparedness webinar series
• Reminder – Vaccinations for influenza and COVID-19
• Reminder – Aged Care Emergency and Crisis Management Training Program available until 30 June 2022

Read more:

Protecting Older Australians: COVID-19 Update – 27 May 2022

A list of new and updated resources – including apps, audio and video resources and other publications – about aged care.

Read more:

COVID-19 Winter dose Information kit for residential aged care providers (.pdf)

COVID-19 vaccination – Booster information for residential aged care workers – are you up to date? (.pdf)

AN-ACC Shadow Dashboard (.pdf)

COVID-19 vaccination – Guidance for residential aged care providers on reporting resident and workforce COVID-19 vaccinations (.pdf)

COVID-19 vaccination – winter doses for senior Australians (.pdf)

Questions and Answers from AN-ACC roadshow (.pdf)

Residential Aged Care Funding Reform – Transitioning from ACFI to AN-ACC and Care Minutes (link)

Use of Tamiflu in residential aged care (.pdf)

COVID-19 vaccination – Vaccine dose policy (.pdf)

Reducing heater burn risks in residential aged care services

Key points:

• Hydronic heaters can cause severe burns to aged care service residents
• Providers are advised to review hydronic heater risks and take appropriate action e.g. move beds away from heaters, install guards to prevent direct contact, monitor heat settings and conduct regular maintenance.

Serious burns incidents from the use of hydronic heaters in residential aged care services are reported to the Commission each year.

As the weather becomes cooler, providers and service staff are reminded to regularly review and check the use of this equipment to ensure the safety and wellbeing of your residents throughout the winter season.

Read more:

Clinical Alerts: Heaters and burns

Vaccinations for influenza and COVID-19

Vaccines save lives. The best way to protect yourself, your residents, their families and carers and your staff from influenza (flu) and COVID is to get vaccinated.

This winter we expect an increase in influenza cases and with COVID continuing to circulate at the same time, it is important to be protected against flu and COVID.

We strongly encourage you to engage with residents and workers to discuss vaccination options and support the consent process to achieve optimum vaccination coverage.

You should also be assisting in-home and community care recipients and workers to understand how they can access flu and COVID vaccinations.

Having your arrangements in place early so that you can offer vaccinations and boosters to your residents and staff will help to minimise potential outbreaks and severity of disease.

Read more:

Managing Influenza and COVID-19 in residential aged care

Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission new and updated resources.

Read more:

Do you have a concern or complaint? poster (languages link)

Do you have a concern or complaint? poster English (.pdf)

The reform agenda anticipated in the wake of the Aged Care Royal Commission Final Report has been halted by the election.

Last year the Aged Care and Other Legislation Amendment (Royal Commission Response No. 1) Act 2021 (Act No. 1) commenced, however this Act introduced only a few changes, some of which were problematic.

The Aged Care and Other Legislation Amendment (Royal Commission Response No. 2) Bill 2021 (Bill No. 2), which was introduced late last year and had commencement dates in March 2022 was expected to implement more significant reforms. However, the Bill is no longer proceeding.

Read more:

Aged Care Alert | Aged care reform on hold; the Aged Care Royal Commission Response Bill no 2. no longer proceeding.

In this edition:

• Recording available – Leadership and Governance for RACFs webinar
• Winter preparedness webinar series
• Pulse Oximeters available for home care clients
• NSW Health – updated guidance

Read more:

Protecting Older Australians: COVID-19 Update – 19 May 2022

This video provides information about the transition from the Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI) to the Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) funding model and the separate care minutes policy.

📺 Watch:

Residential Aged Care Funding Reform – Transitioning from ACFI to AN-ACC and Care Minutes