Published: December 23, 2019
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Changes to our Assessment methodology now in effect

In addition to the changes to our assessment methodology announced in October’s Quality Bulletin, a new requirement relating to key documents also came into effect on Monday 9 December 2019.

Providers will now be requested to make key documents and information available at the commencement of performance assessments. There is an information sheet on the key documents in the Resources section of our website. It is expected that these documents will be provided to the Assessment Team within one hour of the conclusion of the entry meeting. Early access to this information by the team supports increased effectiveness of time on site.

The other changes announced in October included the introduction of evidence domains for the purpose of collecting and organising evidence during a performance assessment. The use of evidence domains will guide who the Assessment Teams select for interview, the questions asked, the observations made, the documents reviewed, which types of evidence are pursued and lines of inquiry.

Read more:

Changes to our Assessment methodology now in effect

Information sheet for providers – Initial documents requested (.pdf)

Regulatory Bulletin – Aged Care Quality Standards performance assessment methodology 5.2 (.docx)

Improvements in quality assessment methodology (OCT)

Published: December 23, 2019
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Aged Care Quality Bulletin #12, Dec 2019

In this edition:

• Commissioner message
• New independent analysis of consumers’ aged care experiences
• Changes to our Assessment methodology now in effect
• From the Chief Clinical Advisor
• New storyboards illustrate the Standards
• Assessing the Standards workshops
• Commission website updates
• Sector news

Read more:

Aged Care Quality Bulletin #12, Dec 2019

Published: December 20, 2019
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Update on the Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) Trial

The AN-ACC trial commenced in November 2019, with the first facilities commencing assessments on 25 November 2019.

The department has recruited four assessment organisations to manage the trial assessors:

• Access Care Network Australia
• Aspire4Life
• Care Tasmania
• Healthcare Australia

As at 17 December 2019, 620 assessments have been uploaded to the department across all states. Territories will commence early in 2020.

Read more:

Update on the Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) Trial

Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC): Factsheet (.pdf)

Published: December 19, 2019

Updates to Guidance and Resources for Providers to support the Aged Care Quality Standards

New content added to:

• Standard 1f
• Standard 2a
• Standard 2b
• Standard 2d
• Glossary – Advance care directive
• Glossary – Advance care planning
• Standard 5b

New Resources for:

• Advance care planning
• Clinical care
• Consumer-centred care
• Medication safety

New:

• online format to increase navigation and accessibility

Read more:

Updates to Guidance and Resources for Providers to support the Aged Care Quality Standards

Published: December 18, 2019

Meeting future demand for residential aged care places

Senior Australians in areas of need will benefit from the availability of new government subsidised aged care places released as part of the 2020 Aged Care Approvals Round (ACAR).

Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians, Richard Colbeck, said the Government is committed to delivering further targeted aged care places and investment in quality building-stock.

Ten thousand new residential care places and 750 short-term restorative care spots will be offered under the 2020 ACAR.

Another $60 million will be used to assist residential aged care providers with building works.

A targeted stakeholder consultation for the 2020 ACAR starts today and remains open until January 31, 2020.

“The consultations will help identify unmet needs for residential aged care in terms of both geographic locations and the types of people whose needs should be targeted,” Minister Colbeck said.

“Increasing the number of residential places in areas where they are in short supply will help to ensure people have a safe option, as close to home as possible.

“We also want to make sure that care is accessible for people who may be missing out — whether it’s because they are homeless, they have dementia, or they come from different cultural backgrounds.”

Read more:

Meeting future demand for residential aged care places

Published: December 18, 2019
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2020 ACAR announced – Have your say

The Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians Richard Colbeck, announced today that thousands of new aged care places will be made available for allocation to approved providers in 2020.

The 2020 Aged Care Approvals Round (ACAR) will offer:

• 10,000 residential aged care places
• 750 short-term restorative care places
• up to $60 million in capital grants for residential aged care.

The application period will open in March 2020 and close in May 2020.

Read more:

2020 ACAR announced – Have your say

Consultation Hub – 2020 ACAR – Identifying Residential Aged Care Needs

2020 Aged Care Approvals Round (ACAR)

Published: December 17, 2019
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Canberra Hearing Transcripts (9 December 2019 to 13 December 2019)

The Royal Commission held a public hearing in Canberra from Monday 9 December 2019 to Friday 13 December 2019.

The Royal Commission looked into the interface between aged care system and health care system, including:

• the challenges faced by people living in residential aged care services attempting to access health services funded under Medicare or by the states and territories
• whether there is a need to improve access to primary health care services (particularly general practitioners, nurse practitioners and primary care nurses) for older people in residential aged care, and if so, how this could be achieved
• whether there is a need to improve access to high quality secondary and tertiary (sub-acute and acute) health care services for older people in residential aged care, and if so, how this could be achieved
• the challenges faced by people living in aged care in accessing medical specialists, and the harms arising from inadequate access
• whether it is necessary or desirable to improve how older people are transferred to and from aged care and hospitals, including the appropriateness of rehabilitation and transition care services post hospital attendance
• whether there is a need for improved data collection, communication and planning in relation to the health needs of older people accessing aged care services, including the interoperability of care management systems
• the sufficiency of access to state and territory funded palliative care services for people living in residential aged care

Read more:

Transcript – Monday 9 December 2019 (.pdf)

Transcript – Tuesday 10 December 2019 (.pdf)

Transcript – Wednesday 11 December 2019 (.pdf)

Transcript – Thursday 12 December 2019 (.pdf)

Transcript – Friday 13 December 2019 (.pdf)

Published: December 17, 2019
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New education workshops available in 2020

The Commission has made changes to its program of courses and workshops to support the new Aged Care Quality Standards and provide the best possible education opportunities for providers.

Taking into account feedback following the ‘Getting to know the Standards’ information sessions and the ‘Preparing for the new Standards’ workshops conducted during 2018 and 2019, the Commission will be launching a new workshop series ‘Assessing the Standards’ in early 2020.

These workshops will replace the former ‘understanding accreditation’ and ‘quality review’ workshops.

Read more:

New education workshops available in 2020

Assessing the Standards: residential aged care services – REGISTER

Assessing the Standards: aged care home services – REGISTER

Published: December 17, 2019

Consumers’ experience of residential aged care, Australia 2017–19

For the first time, the Commission has engaged the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) to conduct an independent analysis of its residential consumer experience reports (CER) data gathered over a two-year period.

Consumer experience of residential aged care is assessed in a 10-question survey administered by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.

Consumer (resident) responses during 2017–19 were predominantly positive, especially regarding feeling safe, being treated with respect, and having healthcare needs met.

Analysis indicates that personal mobility, resident group birthplace characteristics, facility size and organisation type (not-for-profit, government or private) are factors that affect consumers’ responses.

Read more:

Consumers’ experience of residential aged care, Australia 2017–19 (.pdf)

Published: December 16, 2019
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Heatwave Conditions (South Australia & Western Australia)

The South Australian State Emergency Service has issued a Community Readiness Alert for South Australia in response to the forecast of very hot weather for the remainder of the week.

The WA Department of Health has activated the State Hazard Plan Heatwave based on forecast temperatures for the remainder of the week, for the Perth metropolitan area. Forecasts for parts of regional WA are also unusually high for this time of year.

Read more:

Heatwave conditions in South Australia

SA Health Heatwave Information

Heatwave conditions in Western Australia

WA State Hazard Plan Heatwave activated: reminder to take care in the heat

Residential Aged Care Service – Caring for Older People in Warmer Weather (.pdf)

Residential Care Service – Preparing for an Emergency Event (.pdf)

Residential aged care services – heatwave ready resource (.pdf)

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