News

As the Department of Health & Aged Care continue to release further details and documents on AN-ACC we will continue to update these here for you.

They have released updated and/or new guides on:

1. The Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) funding guide (.pdf)
2. Are AN-ACC assessments high quality? (.pdf)
3. How allied health care is supported under AN-ACC (.pdf)
4. What is the AN-ACC Transition Fund? (.pdf)
5. Subsidies and Supplements under AN-ACC (.pdf)
6. How is cognition assessed under AN-ACC? (.pdf)
7. Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN ACC) – Specialised status guide for residential aged care approved providers (.pdf)
8. Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) update – November 2022 (video)
9. AN-ACC assessments dashboard (.pdf)

Residential aged care services will receive a preview of their overall Star Rating and sub-category ratings by Monday 12 December 2022. Organisation Administrators nominated by providers in My Aged Care should have already received an initial email and will receive a provider preview for each residential aged care service they are linked to in My Aged Care.

If your service has not received a provider preview by Monday 12 December 2022, Organisation Administrators should contact the My Aged Care service provider and assessor helpline on 1800 836 799 and select option 4 ‘Star Ratings’.

If you’re uncertain about the overall Star Rating or sub-category ratings your service has received, please act by 17 December 2022.

Read more:

Star Ratings provider preview available

Key points:

• Providers should be alert to choking risks within your service
• Providers should ensure 24/7 onsite first aid capabilities
• All staff should understand how to manage a choking event
• Clinical staff should be able to access and use suction devices to remove food and liquid from the mouth and throat if required
• Suction devices should be checked regularly to ensure they are functioning properly
• All staff should be aware that an advance care directive not to resuscitate does not mean first aid shouldn’t be performed when needed e.g. during a choking episode.

The Commission is advising you as a residential aged care provider to be alert to choking risks and to ensure 24/7 onsite first aid capabilities within your service.

This alert comes after a South Australian coroner made recommendations in a recent report about managing a choking incident in a residential aged care service.

You should ensure there is onsite first aid capability at your service and that all staff within your service know how to access this at any time.

Read more:

Clinical Alerts: Ensuring first aid capabilities to manage choking risk in residential aged care

In this issue, read about the new online learning platform for My Aged Care, watch the latest webinar on AN-ACC, care minutes and 24/7 nursing and find out about the Home Care Packages program data report, now available.

News about the reforms:

• Star Ratings previews released
• Have your say: Exposure Draft of the Inspector-General of Aged Care Bill
• In-home aged care reform update for CHSP providers
• Webinar: Aged care sector reforms – current status and what’s next?

Home care:

• Home Care Packages Program Data Report available
• HCP price capping FAQs and webinar recording now available

Residential care:

• Watch the latest webinar on AN-ACC, care minutes and 24/7 nursing

Sector news:

• Specialisation Verification: Online application process and webinar recording
• New online learning platform for the My Aged Care Screening and Assessment Workforce
• Improving provider information on My Aged Care: Maintaining data

Read more:

Your Aged Care Update #31 (.pdf)

Highly regarded aged care executive Mr Ian Yates AM has been appointed as the Interim Inspector-General of Aged Care and will commence this role in January 2023.

Mr Yates’ appointment is a key step in addressing Recommendation 12 of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety (Royal Commission), which recommended the establishment of both an Interim and Statutory Inspector-General of Aged Care and supporting Offices.

As Interim Inspector-General, Mr Yates will undertake a range of key functions with the support of the Interim Office which is expected to include:

• engaging with stakeholders to assist with developing a review program for systemic investigations
• identifying priorities for the Inspector-General
• delivering education and raising awareness of the roles and functions of the interim and statutory Offices, and
• considering opportunities to report to Parliament, including on the implementation of Royal Commission recommendations

Read more:

Mr Ian Yates AM appointed as interim Inspector-General of Aged Care

Due to the successful implementation of the Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) on 1 October 2022, the AN-ACC Funding Helpdesk will be permanently decommissioned today, Friday 9 December at 5pm AEDT.

Any outstanding enquiries will be responded to by the department. Providers must direct all future queries to the My Aged Care contact centre on 1800 200 422. Visit My Aged Care for hours of operation.

For detailed funding information, providers are encouraged to use the Aged Care Funding Reform resources, including the AN-ACC Funding Guide.

Read more:

Preparing for the AN-ACC Funding Helpdesk closure

The Albanese Government is delivering on its promise to make aged care more transparent and accountable by introducing Star Ratings for residential aged care homes.

Preliminary Star Ratings, which are being issued to residential aged care providers today, show many aged care homes meet or exceed expectations – with 31 percent receiving 4 or 5 stars.

However, Star Ratings also show that 10 per cent of services have fallen short and received just 1 or 2 stars.

• 1 per cent of all aged care facilities in Australia received one star
• 9 per cent received two stars
• 59 per cent received three stars
• 30 per cent received four stars
• 1 per cent received five stars

Read more:

Star ratings for aged care released to providers

In this issue, learn about new requirements in place from 1 December, read about care minutes funding for enrolled nurses, and celebrate aged care volunteers.

News about the reforms:

• New requirements in place: Provider Governance, Code of Conduct for Aged Care, Serious Incident Response Scheme, Restrictive Practices
• Care minutes funding for enrolled nurses in residential aged care
• Suitability of key personnel in aged care providers

Other news:

• EngAged newsletter for older people in Australia
• Recognising and celebrating our aged care volunteers
• Free Equip Aged Care Learning Packages
• National Suicide Prevention for Seniors Program
• Grant Opportunity now open: Improving respite care for people with dementia and their carers
• Care and Support Sector Nursing Clinical Placements Program

Read more:

Your Aged Care Update #30 (.pdf)

In this edition:

• Recording of COVID-19 aged care update webinar
• Webinar – aged care COVID-19 update
• Festive season resources for providers
• The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission’s message to providers
• Reminder – expediting access to oral antiviral treatments
• Update – Reporting of aged care residents and aged care staff influenza vaccinations in 2022

Read more:

Protecting Older Australians: COVID-19 Update – 05 December 2022

The Report on the Operation of the Aged Care Act 1997 (the Act) meets the requirement of section 63–2 of the Act that the Minister present to Parliament a report on the operation of the Act for each financial year.

This report describes the operation of the Act during 2021–22 and includes additional information to aid an understanding of aged care programs and policies.

Read more:

2021–22 Report on the Operation of the Aged Care Act 1997 (.pdf)