Author: Jesse

In this edition:

• Webinar – aged care COVID-19 update
• COVID-19 isolation requirements for high-risk settings
• Aged care settings

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Protecting Older Australians: COVID-19 Update 14 October 2022

The State Government released the Retirement Villages Amendment Bill 2022 Exposure Draft on Saturday 8 October 2022. There is an initial consultation period until 28 October 2022, when the Government will go into caretaker mode. The next stage of consultation will then depend upon the outcome of the State election.

The Bill significantly re-writes the Retirement Villages Act 1986 (Vic) and makes many fundamental changes across all stages of the resident’s journey through a village, from pre contract disclosure, to operational matters during resident occupation, through to resident vacation including reinstatement/refurbishment obligations, payment of exit entitlements, termination rights and dispute resolution processes.

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Victorian Retirement Villages Amendment Bill

Thank you, Anne – Rosalind and Daniel- and thank you Dr Graeme Blackman AO, for your opening address and recognise your commitment to this sector and his work as Chairman of the Aged and Community Care Providers Association.

I acknowledge the traditional owners of this land, the Kaurna people of the Adelaide Plains.

Together, Australians stand on the shoulders of 1600 generations of First Nations people and that is our shared history.

As Minister for Aged Care, alongside my parliamentary colleagues here Senator Ruston and Senator Rice … and as representatives of Australia’s Aged Care providers, it must sit with us all collectively to do better for First Nations people.

We need aged care, particularly residential aged care, to be accessible and a welcoming place for all Australians… no matter their circumstances.

And the Albanese Government is working to deliver a First Nations reform agenda for First Nations Elders, led by in-depth consultation with Elders, their families and carers, providers and workers, and relevant community organisations.

We do this in genuine partnership, under the Closing the Gap National Agreement.

The group gathered here today is important.

We need your input, solutions, and efforts to reform aged care.

We need to do this once and do it well.

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Address to the Aged and Community Care Providers Association Conference – 12 October 2022

News about the reforms:

• Code of Conduct for Aged Care now available
• Reminder: Aged Care Quality Standards consultation webinar
• HCP Program Assurance Community of Practice: Live chat session
• Reminder: Aged care reform pulse survey

Other news:

• Dementia Australia webinar and BrainTrack app launch
• National Aged Care Data Strategy consultation: A chance to have your say
• Employer Engagement Webinars: Expanding the Aged Care Workforce through Australian Apprenticeships (Traineeships)
• National Suicide Prevention for Seniors Program

For residential care providers:

• Submitting ACFI appraisals after 1 October 2022
• My Aged Care Service and Support Portal: Explainer videos and systems process map
• National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program data due 21 October 2022
• Specialist Dementia Care Program Grant Opportunity now open for two Queensland regions
• Reminder: Accommodation costs for a low-means resident in an extra service place

For home care providers:

• Reminder: Wellness and Reablement Report for CHSP providers

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Your Aged Care Update newsletter – Issue #2022/22 (.pdf)

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

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Summaries of My Aged Care system changes – October 2022 (.pdf)

Council of Elders communique – 16 September 2022 (.pdf)

Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) – Accessing care minutes targets in the My Aged Care Service and Support Portal

Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) – classifications, reclassifications and reconsiderations in the My Aged Care Service and Support Portal

Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) – palliative care entry process in the My Aged Care Service and Support Portal

My Aged Care – Service and Support Portal User Guide Part 2 – Team Leader and Staff Member Functions (.pdf)

How to access and use the Service and Support Portal for Serious Incident Response Scheme – Residential Aged Care services (.pdf)

New Arrangements for Aged Care from 1 July 2014 – Home Care (.pdf)

New Arrangements for Aged Care from 1 July 2014 – Residential Care (.pdf)

Schedule of Subsidies and Supplements for Aged Care – 1 October 2022 (.pdf)

Exposure draft of the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Amendment (Code of Conduct and Banning Orders) Rules 2022 (.pdf)

Care and Support Sector Code of Conduct and Consultation Summary Report (.pdf)

Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission new and updated resources.

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Serious Incident Response Scheme Guidelines for residential aged care providers (October 2022) (.pdf)

Effective serious incident investigations guidance for providers (October 2022) (.pdf)

Reportable incidents workflow (October 2022) (.pdf)

SIRS reportable incidents – Unreasonable use of force (October 2022) (.pdf)

SIRS reportable incidents – Unlawful sexual contact or inappropriate sexual conduct (October 2022) (.pdf)

SIRS reportable incidents – Neglect (October 2022) (.pdf)

SIRS reportable incidents – Psychological or emotional abuse (October 2022) (.pdf)

SIRS reportable incidents – Stealing or financial coercion by a staff member (October 2022) (.pdf)

SIRS reportable incidents – Inappropriate use of restrictive practices (October 2022) (.pdf)

RB 2021-12 Reconsideration of reviewable decisions (.docx)

The following aged care sector performance information includes statistics about residential aged care and home services. The performance information includes data from the Commission’s aged care quality regulatory and complaints functions.

Most frequently cited requirements where non-compliance was found:

1. 3a – Safe and effective personal and clinical care
2. 7a – Number and mix of workforce
3. 3b – High impact or high prevalence risks managed effectively
4. 8c – Effective governance systems
5. 8d – Risk management systems and practices
6. 2e – Regular reviews of care and services
7. 2a – Assessment and planning informs safe and effective services
8. 8e – Clinical governance framework
9. 7d – Recruitment training and support for workforce
10. 6d – Feedback and complaints reviewed for improvement

Top 10 complaint issues:

1. Medication administration and management
2. Personal and oral hygiene
3. Personnel number/sufficiency
4. Representative/family consultation
5. Falls prevention and post fall management
6. Change of clinical status/deterioration
7. Lack of consultation/communication
8. Food and catering – quality and variety
9. Constipation and continence management
10. Physical environment – cleanliness

Read more:

Sector performance report: April – June 2022 (.pdf)

Services Australia continues to prepare for the transition to the Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) on 1 October 2022.

While Services Australia transitions to a new system, they are carefully monitoring to ensure payment accuracy with claims processing. This means claims may take longer to process. All eligible August claims will be processed and paid to enable advance payments to be paid as usual for October 2022.

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Getting ready for AN-ACC – Services Australia

The Schedule of Subsidies and Supplements has been updated to reflect changes due to the introduction of the Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) from 1 October 2022 (the date of effect). The updates are to residential aged care subsidies and supplements.

Please note that there is no change to home care subsidies and supplements. The rates that came into effect on 1 July 2022 for home care remain current.

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Updated residential aged care subsidies and supplements to reflect the introduction of the AN- ACC care funding model on 1 October 2022

Schedule of Subsidies and Supplements for Aged Care – 1 October 2022 (.pdf)

In this edition:

• Commissioner’s message
• Update on preparations for reforms with regulatory implications
• Consultation process on draft revised Quality Standards
• Important SIRS reporting form changes on 3 October
• More site audits being undertaken
• Quality and safety in home services risks in focus – clinical care
• Everybody has a story: Delivering culturally inclusive care
• Recognising the signs of sepsis early can save lives
• Prudential Disclosure Standard – new fact sheet available
• Aged care scholarship applications close soon
• Webinar on upcoming changes to Specialisation Verification
• New and updated Commission resources

Read more:

Aged Care Quality Bulletin #45 – September 2022