News

In this edition:

• Aged Care Emergency and Crisis Management Training Program 2021 –
• Group and 1-2-1 Mentoring Now Available
• WA Health seeks feedback from IPC Leads on new IPC Guidelines
• Queensland Health – Vaccine requirement for in-home care workers
• Victorian Health – new website and resources
• NSW Health Update
• ACT Chief Health Officer (CHO) Update
• SA Health
• Updated Directions for aged care providers in SA
• Particulate Filter Respirator (PFR) Fit Check education for SA RACFs

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Protecting Older Australians: COVID-19 Update – 15 November 2021

Reforms:

• New My Aged Care face-to-face services launched with Services Australia
• Extension of Aged Care Navigator Trials to help more Senior Australians
• Extension: Have your say about changes to allocation of residential aged care places
• Reminder: Get involved with the development of quality indicators
• What we’ve heard: Home care provider research findings

General:

• My Aged Care partnership to better support bereaved family members
• Free interpreting service for aged care providers

Residential Care:

• Education program to reduce medicine-related problems in older people
• Reminder: Do not discharge temporarily relocated residents

Home Care:

• Home Care Package Provider Stocktake closes 19 November
• Improved Payment Arrangements – tips
• September 2021 National Summary of Home Care Prices

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Information for the Aged Care Sector – Issue 2021/21 (.pdf)

Today, the Australian Government’s COVID-19 booster vaccination rollout program officially gets under way, with the initial focus on residential aged care and disability facilities.

Everyone living in Australia aged 18 and over who has completed their primary two-dose course of vaccination at least six months ago is now eligible to have an additional booster shot.

The booster rollout program will initially target population groups that were prioritised for early vaccination because the great majority of people within these cohorts are now ready for their booster vaccination, having had their second dose six or more months ago.

As is the case for the primary course of vaccination, booster doses will be administered for free.

In relation to residential aged care facilities, the booster program will start with in-reach clinics delivered primarily by vaccine administration providers under contract arrangements with the Commonwealth.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has recommended the Comirnaty (Pfizer) vaccine be preferred for the booster dose – irrespective of what vaccine a person received for their primary course of vaccination.

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Start of COVID-19 booster vaccination program

Published by: Victor Harcourt, Anita Courtney, Anthony Massaro and Matthew Goessler

Last Friday 29 October, Victoria moved to Phase C of the National Plan: the Vaccination Consolidation Phase. The focus of Phase C is to minimise serious illness, hospitalisations and fatalities as a result of COVID-19 with baseline restrictions. As part of the shift to baseline restrictions, restrictions on visitation in Victorian residential aged care facilities have relaxed.

Summary of the Directions

The Care Facilities Directions (No 48) (Directions) support the removal of restrictions on visitation at residential aged care facilities. The purpose of the Directions remain: “to make provision for restricted access to care facilities…balancing the need to limit the spread of SARS-CoV-2 against the broader responsibilities of care facilities to the physical, emotional and psychological wellbeing of their clients”.

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New Directions for Aged Care Visits in Victoria

In this edition:

• Editorial
• Case: Managing poisoning, maintaining poise
• Expert Commentary: We have seen it all before
• Resource: Poisons Information Centre
• Preventing Unwanted Sexual Behaviour in Aged Care
• Communiqué Podcasts
• COVID-19 Publications from Health Law and Ageing Research Unit

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Residential Aged Care Communiqué Volume 16 Issue 4 November 2021 (.pdf)

A new aged care assessment model incorporating a new assessment tool and assessment process is being developed as part of the new Support at Home program.

A trial to test and improve the assessment model will occur in the first half of 2022. An Advisory Group of up to 15 members will provide ongoing advice to support this process.

We are seeking expressions of interest for the Advisory Group from individuals representing:

• aged care service providers who deliver CHSP, HCP, STRC or residential respite services
• experienced aged care assessors
• geriatric and allied health professionals
• senior Australians and their family and carers who have experience with home care services.

Read more:

EOI: Support at Home Assessment Trial Advisory Group

Reform to in-home aged care

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

Read more:

AN-ACC Shadow assessments – Frequently asked questions for providers (.pdf)

Restrictive practice use in aged care facilities – Overview (.pdf)

Types of restrictive practices (.pdf)

Informed consent for the use of restrictive practice (.pdf)

Steps to enter an aged care home (.pdf)

Your Guide to Short-Term Restorative Care Booklet (.pdf)

Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Grief and trauma support resources – Order form (.pdf)

COVID-19 vaccination – Priority access for Residential Aged Care Workers (.pdf)

How to get your COVID-19 Vaccination (.pdf)

The Department of Health, together with our medical experts and colleagues across the country, want to thank all workers across our aged care sector.

Every single day your professionalism and commitment to caring for senior Australians is appreciated.

Over the past 18 months in particular, through COVID-19 outbreaks and necessary pandemic restrictions, your diligence and dedication to caring for senior Australians, and their families and loved ones, has been simply inspiring. Your work has been extraordinary.

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Thank you to Australia’s aged care workers

Join Russell Kennedy to find out what you need to know about Asset Management Plans for retirement villages.

From 1 September 2021, retirement village operators must comply with the Retirement Villages Amendment (Asset Management Plans) Regulation 2021 (“the Regulation”).

In this webinar, our experienced retirement living team will provide an update on the compliance requirements introduced by the Regulation and how they may impact retirement village operations. Our team will provide practical insights into what operators can be doing now to manage and mitigate risks of non-compliance.

Webinar Details

• Date: Tuesday 17 August 2021
• Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM AEST

Read more:

NSW Retirement Living Webinar – Get your Assets in Gear

Register