News

The NSW Government has ramped up its commitment to COVID safety, introducing a $5 million grants scheme to locally manufacture critical Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and create jobs.

Deputy Premier John Barilaro today launched the program to support domestic manufacturing of PPE in NSW by providing grants to local companies to help fund equipment, raw materials and recruitment of skilled staff.

“This scheme is part of the NSW Government’s commitment to ramping up domestic manufacturing in NSW, developing regular supply and creating vital jobs to meet the long haul challenge of COVID-19,” Mr Barilaro said.

Read more:

PPE manufacturing to skyrocket in NSW

Keeping aged care consumers engaged and healthy is an ongoing priority for all aged care providers, and has never been more important than it is now, during the pandemic. Nutrition deserves close attention in this regard.

Here are some simple steps to prevent, identify and manage malnutrition risk:

1. Screen for malnutrition risks
2. Continue dietitian visits
3. Social distance dining

Read more:

Nutrition during COVID-19

Tips recommended by The Lantern Project to manage the risk of malnutrition during COVID-19 visitor restrictions

🎥: Lantern Lockdown Tips

In its interim report, the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety identified food as a major quality and safety issue. Improving food and the social elements of eating can reduce people’s needs for other aged care services.

The department is partnering with the Maggie Beer Foundation to deliver a National Congress on food, nutrition and the dining experience in aged care.

In preparation for the Congress, the Maggie Beer Foundation is conducting a Survey of Food, Nutrition and the Dining Experience in Australian Aged Care Homes.

Read more:

National Congress on food, nutrition and the dining experience in aged care

Survey

From all the staff at Management Advantage, we would like to wish you a safe and Happy Easter, especially in these difficult times.

Due to COVID-19 and the safety of our staff, the Management Advantage Office has been closed until further notice.

The Manad Plus Help Desk is now operating remotely and will be open and available for support on both public holidays:

• Good Friday (Friday 10th April)
• Easter Monday (Monday 13th April)

Please note, while the office is closed and the phones are no longer monitored, if you have any questions/issues, please email support@manad.com.au.

Remember to always use the self-help tools for assistance first. Go to: Help > Help Centre.

Standardised signs are available to all health service organisations wishing to increase the awareness of healthcare workers, patients and visitors to the necessary precautions to be applied for all patients (Standard Precautions) and for those patients who require Transmission-based Precautions, due to their known or suspected diagnosis.

The signage is available in several formats using both pictures and icons.

Contact and Droplet Precautions are recommended to prevent or limit transmission of COVID-19 in healthcare settings (except for aerosol generating procedures or critically ill patients with high volume/high frequency, prolonged care).

Most jurisdictions have co-badged signage available with state and territory co-branding

Read more:

Infection Prevention and Control Signage

A guide to assist Home Care and Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) Providers who provide care to older people living at home is now available on the department’s website. This guide provides information and guidance on how to stay safe from COVID-19 including how providers can prepare their organisation, equipment and resources, and how staff and clients can manage COVID-19.

Other resource are available to assist the sector including online training modules and a collection of guides and fact sheets. These are being updated as the situation evolves.

Read more:

COVID-19 Guide for Providers of in home aged care

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guide for Home Care Providers (.pdf)

The Department of Health’s guide to outbreak management is available online. This resource outlines how to identify if there is an outbreak at your facility and the steps to take to manage the outbreak.

To determine an outbreak, apply the “two in three” rule. An outbreak is considered to have started if 2 people in 3 days become sick with the symptoms and at least one of these has a positive test for COVID-19. While this is a guideline, the state/territory public health unit will assist in deciding whether to declare an outbreak.

Read more:

Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak management in residential care facilities (.pdf)

Seven modules are now available for completion as part of the Department of Health’s eLearning program for Aged Care workers.

The training includes:

• Personal Safety, Families and Visitors,
• Outbreak Management and
• PPE

Read more:

Modules can be accessed here

In this edition:

• Aged care workers must get flu vaccination
• Update from the ACQSC – Contacts with home services
• Reminder for RACFs – Compassionate Visits
• Dementia behaviour support in a time of pandemic
• COVID-19 Guide for Providers of In-Home Care

Read more:

Protecting Older Australians: COVID-19 Update – 4 April 2020

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission is continuing to monitor and support providers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This message provides information about a new series of posters developed by the Commission to help providers in their preparation for a COVID-19 outbreak.

Purpose

The posters have been developed to supplement the CDNA National Guidelines for the Prevention, Control and Public Health Management of COVID-19 Outbreaks in Residential Care Facilities in Australia.

The CDNA guidelines include a flow chart for managing COVID-19 in residential facilities. The posters take this flow chart and present it in a way that may be easier for facilities to see what they need to do for their particular circumstances.

Read more:

Letter from the Commissioner – 3 April 2020 (.pdf)

COVID-19 flowchart posters (.pdf)