News about the reforms:
• Webinar: Q&As on aged care wage increase
Sector news:
• Provider Governance: new resources available
• Commission webinar: Stronger Standards, Better Aged Care Program
• Webinar: Voluntary assisted dying – what you need to know
• National Suicide Prevention for Seniors Program
For residential care providers:
• Reminder: Quality indicator reporting via GPMS due 21 July
• Emergency leave for aged care residents extended to 31 December 2023
Read more:
In this edition:
• Updated Sector Code for Visiting in Aged Care Homes
• Changes to Paxlovid oral antiviral eligibility
• COVID-19 Infection Control Online Training for Aged Care Workers
• Top 3 Questions from aged care COVID-19 Webinar on 26 June 2023
• Pfizer original COVID-19 vaccines no longer available in Australia
Read more:
News about the reforms:
• New reporting requirements for residential and approved home care providers using GPMS
• Consultation on new model for regulating aged care now closed
• Preparing for the 24/7 registered nurse responsibility
Sector news:
• Webinar: Digital Transformation Tech Talk
• eNRMC Adoption Grant Round 2 now open
• Aged Care Provider Workforce Survey: Closing date extended
• Better connected care through My Health Record
For home care providers:
• HCP providers: Price caps to care and package management increasing with indexation
• CHSP providers: Complete wellness and reablement reporting by 31 July
• CHSP providers: 2023-24 Manual now available
• New changes to the Home Care Workforce Support Program
For residential care providers:
• Hotelling supplement for residential aged care
Read more:
The RACGP has released its first ever GP standards for residential aged care facilities (RACFs), describing them as a ‘timely response’ to the findings of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
According to the college, the new standards aim ‘to address the many challenges GPs face when delivering care in RACFs’.
‘The Standards … do not seek to replace existing requirements for accreditation against the Aged Care Quality Standards as set by the Department of Health,’ the authors wrote.
‘They are voluntary and highlight the inextricable link between the GP and the RACF, and demonstrate how the GP and broader RACF care team are connected to RACF systems and its infrastructure.’
Read more:
GP aged care standards launched for the first time
Standards for general practice residential aged care – 1st edition (.pdf)
The ability to offer and charge for Additional Services has been available since 1997 with the commencement of the Aged Care Act. However, it was not until 2014 that the regulators accepted Additional Services as a way of increasing the choice available to all residents, in preference to the more exclusive Extra Services available to the wealthier few.
Additional Services programs have become more popular and prevalent. The legal framework for these programs has been reasonably well settled for a while now, with some variations depending upon the approach of the regulators from time to time. It is pleasing to see that the Australian Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (Commission) has now summarised its position on the legal framework in a Regulatory Bulletin released on 9 June 2023.
Read more:
Additional Services in Residential Aged Care: What you need to know
In this edition:
• Commissioner’s message
• Our reports
• Aged care reforms update
• Food, nutrition and dining
• Clinical update
• Webinars
• Governing for reform
• Training and resources
Read more:
Sector news:
• Webinar reminder: Greater transparency about aged care providers and services – new reporting requirements
• Webinar: Writing illness – A narrative approach to the psychological challenges of illness
For home care providers:
• Reforming in-home aged care webinar recording and FAQs now available
For residential care providers:
• Updated resources on the 24/7 registered nurse responsibility
• Free food and nutrition training modules for aged care homes
Read more:
This report includes information, data and insights into how aged care providers performed in Quarter 3 (Q3) 2023. Q3 covers the period from 1 January to 31 March 2023.
The report uses information collected by the Aged Care Safety and Quality Commission.
Most frequently cited requirements where non-compliance was found
1. 3a: Safe and effective personal and clinical care
2. 8c: Effective governance systems
3. 8d: Risk management systems and practices
4. 3b: High impact or high prevalence risks managed effectively
5. 7a: Number and mix of workforce
Most common complaint issues
1. Medication administration and management
2. Personal and oral hygiene
3. Personnel – number/sufficiency
4. Representative/family consultation and communication
5. Falls prevention and post fall management
Read more:
In this webinar, Lisa Peterson PSM, Assistant Commissioner Sector Capability, discussed how the program will support the rollout of the strengthened Quality Standards, developed as part of the review of the Aged Care Quality Standards.
The webinar will also cover how the program will help:
• older people receiving care understand what they should expect from their providers
• providers be clear about their obligations to the people receiving their care
• the Commission be prepared to implement the new audit methodology.
Watch:
Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission webinar – Stronger Standards, Better Aged Care program
Slides:
Stronger Standards, Better Aged Care Program webinar slides – 20 June 2023 (.pptx)
In this edition:
• Upcoming Webinar: Aged care COVID-19 update – 26 June 2023
• Deputy CMO interview with OPAN’s Val Fell
• 2023 COVID-19 vaccination booster dose
• How to get your 2023 COVID-19 booster
• Reminder: IPC Lead Nurse training grants closing 30 June 2023
• Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) kits
• Triple capability RAT kits TGA approved
Read more:
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