News

Media Release: 06 March 2018

The Federal Court handed down a decision on 2 March 2018, to disallow Regis Aged Care from levying an “Asset Replacement Charge” on aged care residents.

This ruling confirms the Department of Health’s interpretation of the relevant legislation.

The decision is a reminder to aged care providers to ensure that they adhere to the legislation in regards to fees charged to residents.

An information sheet regarding the legislation can be found at the Department of Health’s website.

The Department notes the Federal Court’s decision has a 28-day appeal period.

Read more:

Federal Court Decision in Regis Aged Care Case (.pdf)

On 5 March 2018, the Australian Government announced funding of an additional $85.6 million over four years for the introduction of new services for carers.

This will provide carers with access to new early intervention supports and services to improve carers well-being and long-term outcomes.

Read more:

Integrated Carer Support Service

Supporting Carers

The Minister for Aged Care, the Hon Ken Wyatt AM, MP has released the third Home Care Packages data report on the operations of the new arrangements for home care. The report includes data from 1 October to 31 December 2017.

Read more:

Home Care Packages data report – 1 Oct – 31 Dec 2017

Home Care Record as Reforms Benefit Senior Australians

In this issue:

• Reminder: Aged Care Workforce Strategy submissions closing 16 March and Hobart community consultations
• Understanding Dementia – free online course

Residential Care:

• Free shingles vaccine for people 70-79 years
• Reminder to sign up to the quality indicator program

Read more:

Information for Aged Care Providers – Issue 2018/3 (.pdf)

The Australian Aged Care Quality Agency has released a new issue of their ‘Quality Standard’ newsletter.

Read more:

Quality Standard – February 2018 (.pdf)

Australian Aged Care Quality Agency

In Case You Missed It – Below are links to recent articles on Aged Care and Healthcare that may be of interest.

Healthcare IT News:

Ditch paper records, transition to integrated EHRs, improve patient data and embrace MyHR, study into Victorian hospitals says

“Alexa, call a nurse.” Special Report: AI voice assistants are infiltrating US healthcare with early success

Legal advice for healthcare as the notifiable data breach scheme is set to take force

Victoria to link public health patient data across the state with new tech investment

Australian Ageing Agenda:

Quality and funding dominate aged care agenda

Allow aged care residents to keep pets: welfare groups

Cameras in aged care bedrooms: providers warned of legal issues

Breaking the loneliness cycle in aged care

Studies to tackle superbugs in aged care

Providers back new quality body for aged care

Governments work on elder abuse plan

Simulation training helps staff manage challenging behaviours, study finds

Aged Care Guide:

Seniors and shy cat proving to be a purr-fect combination

Survey shows serious shortage for aged care respite

Other:

HCM – Stopping Elder Abuse: Attorney-General Announces National Plan To Address The “Critical Issue”

ITNews – How to opt out of Australia’s e-health record scheme

The Aged Care Sector Committee Diversity Sub-group is developing an action plan to address the specific barriers and challenges faced by older people from Culturally and Linguistically

Diverse groups when accessing aged care.

Read more:

Have your say – Culturally and Linguistically Diverse action plan

Aged Care Diversity Framework (.pdf)

Media Release: 16 February 2018

Protecting senior Australians in residential aged care from the threat of antibiotic resistant bacteria is the aim of two major research projects announced by the Turnbull Government today.

The rise of so-called “superbug” infections is a challenge for health care professionals, sometimes leaving them with limited or no available treatment options and is an increasing problem worldwide.

Read more:

Protecting senior Australians from superbugs (.pdf)

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

• Home Care: New provider video – support plan review requests
• Residential Care: Register on nbn’s Medical Alarm Register

Read more:

Information for Aged Care Providers – Issue 2018/2 (.pdf)

Posted 12/02/2018 by Alex Grove

The quality of residential aged care services (nursing homes) featured in the news again in 2017. Failures of care identified at the Oakden Older Persons Mental Health Service in Adelaide led the Australian Government to commission an independent review of aged care quality regulation known as the Carnell review.

Against this background, the Government has announced two changes to quality and compliance visits made to nursing homes by assessors from the Australian Aged Care Quality Agency (the Quality Agency). The first change is a result of a 2015–16 Budget measure to expand cost recovery arrangements for the Quality Agency, and the second is a direct response to a recommendation of the Carnell review.

Read more:

Changes to quality and compliance visits for nursing homes