Author: Ben

Released by DoH: 20 Nov 2015

“As the high risk season for major Australian weather events and bushfires approaches it is vital that all aged care services are well prepared and able to respond to a range of emergency events.
Maintaining quality care under these circumstances requires effective emergency risk management planning by providers and support from all levels of government.”

Read more:

Emergency Risk Management Plans 2015-16 (web)
Providers of Residential and Flexible Aged Care (.pdf)
Approved Providers of Home Care (.pdf)

The Department of Health has released a new edition of its ‘Information for Aged Care Providers’ newsletter.

Information for Aged Care Providers – Issue 29 – 13-Nov-2015 (.pdf)

The Aged Care Commissioner’s Annual Report 2014-15 describes key activities and initiatives undertaken during the year and reports on information required under the Aged Care Act 1997.

In addition, the Aged Care Commissioner reports on a variety of other measures, in the interests of transparency and increasing public understanding of the role and functions of the office.

Read more:

Annual Report 2014-2015 (.pdf)

Due to recent government changes, responsibility for ageing and aged care has moved to the Department of Health from 5 November 2015.

From Monday 9 November 2015, you will notice that we will be using Department of Health email addresses (@health.gov.au). However, Department of Social Services email addresses (@dss.gov.au) will continue to work until further notice.

Read more:

Ageing and Aged Care now part of Department of Health (link)

KPMG was engaged in March 2015 by the Department of Social Services to conduct an analysis of dementia programmes and services funded by the Department. The analysis is intended to inform future dementia programme and policy development by the Australian Government. This document is the final report for the project.

Read more:

Analysis of Dementia Programmes funded by the Department of Social Services – Final report (.pdf)

Proactive Complaints Management has sent out an update that there is a new Australia/New Zealand Standard – Guidelines for Complaint Management in Organisations, AS/NZS 10002:2014.

This new standard has been developed and supersedes, AS ISO 10002-2006 – Customer satisfaction: Guidelines for complaints handling in organisations.

Read more:

The PCM Report – Issue 10 – 29-10-2015 (.pdf)

The Australian Aged Care Quality Agency has released the October 2015 issue of their ‘Quality Standard’ newsletter.

You can view the .pdf of the newsletter here:

Quality Standard – October 2015 (.pdf)

DSS has released a new edition of its ‘Information for Aged Care Providers’ newsletter.

Information for Aged Care Providers – Issue 28 – 23-Oct-2015 (.pdf)

A new Turnbull Government initiative will provide a helping hand to aged care residents who exhibit severe behaviour as a result of their dementia and assist them to manage their symptoms.

Minister for Health and Aged Care Sussan Ley said the $54.5 million commitment to establish Severe Behaviour Response Teams (SBRTs) across Australia would better support residents with dementia to minimise them from being unnecessarily transferred to a higher security or acute facility.

Read more:

Media Release: Providing the helping hand for dementia severe behaviour (.pdf)

Commencement of Severe Behaviour Response Teams (link)

Severe Behaviour Response Teams Information Pack (.pdf)

Information for Aged Care Providers – Issue 27

DSS has released a new edition of its ‘Information for Aged Care Providers’ newsletter.
Information for Aged Care Providers – Issue 27 – 09-Oct-2015 (.pdf)