News

News about the reforms:

• Default AN-ACC classifications
• Palliative care entry arrangements under AN-ACC
• HCP Program Assurance Community of Practice: Live chat session
• Webinar: Introduction to aged care sector reforms – a regulatory perspective
• Webinar recording: Consumer Experience Interviews
• Consultation now open: The Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority’s Towards an Aged Care Pricing Framework

Other news:

• Webinar: Digital Transformation Tech Talk 6 September
• Aged care nursing and allied health scholarships now open
• Verifying your specialised services to help diverse older Australians find the care they need
• Safe and inclusive care for Forgotten Australians
• New palliative care resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families
• Webinar: Neuropsychological symptoms of dementia

For home care providers:

• Updated Home Care Package Pricing Report available
• Home Care Packages Program Data Report available

Read more:

Your Aged Care Update newsletter – Issue #2022/17 (.pdf)

In this edition:

• Commissioner’s message
• National reform program aims to deliver a better experience of aged care
• New resources to improve food and nutrition for aged care residents
• Quality and safety in home services – risks in focus: Care planning and assessment
• Best-practice feedback and complaints handling – training available
• Governing for Reform in Aged Care program
• Register now for educational workshops – updated courses available
• Consultation – aged care on-site pharmacists
• Aged Care Financial Report 2021–22 – new fact sheet available
• New and updated Commission resources

Read more:

Aged Care Quality Bulletin #44 – August 2022

Creating behaviour support plans that better support residents

Key points:

Providers should review their approach and governance of behaviour support plans (BSPs) to ensure they meet the criteria outlined below:

• Comprehensive ongoing person-centred assessments should be used to develop a BSP.

• BSPs should proactively prevent behaviour changes from occurring and support a resident should they experience changed behaviour.

• BSPs must be reviewed and updated on a regular basis, and after any change in the resident’s circumstances.

It’s been a year since it became a requirement for you as a provider to have a behaviour support plan (BSP) in place for residents who need one.

Read more:

Clinical Alerts: Behaviour Support Plans

Dear approved provider,

We are moving through a period of substantial change as the Australian Government’s aged care reform program is implemented to meet the needs and expectations of older Australians now and
into the future.

The new Aged Care and Other Legislation Amendment (Royal Commission Response) Act that received royal assent on 5 August 2022 implements nine measures to improve accountability and transparency and responds to 17 recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.

Read more:

31 August 2022 – Letter to approved providers regarding national aged care reforms (.pdf)

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

Read more:

Home Care Packages Program – helping you understand costs (.pdf)

How do I calculate my care minutes targets? (.pdf)

What are care minutes? (.pdf)

How do I calculate my residential respite funding under AN-ACC? (.pdf)

How do I calculate my AN-ACC care funding? (.pdf)

Home Care Packages Program Assurance Review – Report – Indirect and care management charges (.pdf)

ACFI Monitoring report – May 2022 (.pdf)

ACFI Monitoring report – April 2022 (.pdf)

Quarterly Financial Report (QFR) – Food and nutrition reporting explanatory notes (.pdf)

The Government has agreed an extension through to 31 December 2022 of key COVID-19 supports currently provided to the aged care sector. Additional funding has also been committed to the Aged Care Support Program extension grant to ensure current and future claims can be met. The Government will continue to review and adjust the COVID-19 response in aged care according to expert advice. The extended supports include:

• Extension of supply through the National Medical Stockpile
• Extension of access to RATs for residential aged care homes
• Aged Care Support Program Extension Grant – additional funding
• Continued pathology in-reach testing in residential aged care

Read more:

Aged Care COVID-19 support measures extended to end of 2022

Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission new and updated resources.

Read more:

Enjoying dining – Consumer fact sheet (.pdf)

Getting the dining experience right – Aged care staff fact sheet (.pdf)

Getting the dining experience right – Provider fact sheet (.pdf)

8 facts you need to know about each resident – poster (.pdf)

Know, Observe, Support, Act – poster (.pdf)

Dining in residential aged care – tips and tricks fact sheet (.pdf)

Getting the dining experience right – poster (.pdf)

Your dining experience – Consumer poster (.pdf)

Food and dining preferences – fact sheet (.pdf)

Prudential Standards – Governance Standard – fact sheet (.pdf)

Prudential Standards – Financial and Prudential Reporting Responsibilities fact sheet (August 2022) (.pdf)

Prudential Standards – Disclosure fact sheet (August 2022) (.pdf)

Home care letter to consumers advising of visit (.pdf)

Noticeboard poster advising of visit (.pdf)

Noticeboard poster unannounced visit (.pdf)

Site audit notice sent with reminder email (.pdf)

Site audit poster sent with reminder email (.pdf)

Form – Approved provider notification of a material change (.docx)

Fire safety is critically important, especially as Home Care and CHSP recipients may be vulnerable and may lack mobility.

A fire can take hold in just three minutes, yet it only takes seconds to prevent one. Already this winter, preventable fire fatalities have almost tripled with most fatal fires occurring in living areas and bedrooms.

Sufficiently operating sprinkler systems, smoke alarms, emergency exit signs, fire blankets, fire extinguishers, fire safety plans and other safety equipment must be addressed.

Fires are dark and disorientating and you can’t smell smoke in your sleep. A working smoke alarm is the only thing that will provide you with an early warning to escape.

People who are deaf or have a severe hearing loss may have difficulty in hearing conventional smoke alarms and evacuation systems. There are specialised smoke alarms available for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Read more:

Winter Fire Safety

The new Aged Care Payment System (ACPS) has now gone live, which means the online claiming channels including Aged Care Provider Portal (ACPP) and Aged Care Web Services are now open.

You may start lodging claims and submitting events such as ACFI, entry (including Palliative on entry), leave, and departures.

We encourage providers to use the range of resources about the new ACPS. These are available on the Services Australia Health Professional Education Resources page.

Read more:

New Aged Care Payment System, plus care minutes targets now available on support portal

Consumer Experience Interviews with older Australians residing in aged care will give vital insight into the quality of services they receive.

Consumer Experience Interviews are underway, due for completion by 31 October 2022. The information collected from Consumer Experience Interviews will contribute to facilities’ Star Ratings, due to be published in December 2022. Non-participation will lead to a low score.

Residential aged care services are being contacted to schedule a date for interviews. All interviews must be scheduled by 16 September 2022 in order to participate in the 2022 CEI program.

Please be responsive to requests from IQVIA and avoid rescheduling to ensure participation.

Read more:

Consumer Experience Interviews – act now