News

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.

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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

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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

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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.

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

COVID-19 flowchart posters (.pdf)

The Federal Government rejects assertions by the ABC that there have been no inspections in nursing homes since the COVID-19 outbreak – or a commitment to infection control.

This is backed up by the statement from the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, here.

There has never been closer interaction between Government, regulator and the sector.

The focus of all parties since the outbreak has been to ensure those most susceptible to the impacts of the virus have been protected and the sector prepared.

The Government has been engaging with the aged care sector since late January, issuing several fact sheets on COVID-19 and infection control and continues to meet with providers and peak bodies twice weekly to communicate related issues.

There has been seven specific training modules provided to the sector with over 58,000 aged care workers completing the basic module on infection control and 69, 527 completions across all modules as at April 1.

The Federal Government, the sector and its employees are actively engaged in preventing the spread of the virus.

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Working together to support Senior Australians in aged care

ACQSC Regulatory Response to COVID-19 Statement from Ms Janet Anderson PSM, Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner (.pdf)

Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for families and residents on restricted visits to residential aged care facilities (.pdf)

In this edition:

• Outbreak Management resource
• CHSP updates including flexibility provisions

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Protecting Older Australians: COVID-19 Update – 3 April 2020

In this edition:

• COVID-19 outbreaks and available assistance
• Wearing eye protection in Residential Aged Care Facilities
• Investment in CVS services
• Reminder of flu vaccinations for aged care workers

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Protecting Older Australians: COVID-19 Update – 2 April 2020

Aged Care workers are being urged to get their flu vaccination now ahead of the season in a bid to protect themselves and the Senior Australians they care for.

Minister for Aged Care Richard Colbeck said while every flu season is serious, the spread of COVID-19 means it’s critical every worker is vaccinated.

“Our Aged Care workers are doing an exceptional job caring for our most vulnerable Australians in very challenging circumstances,” Minister Colbeck said.

“Senior Australians are the most at risk from serious illness from the flu, which is why it is essential that care workers are vaccinated.

“We need our aged care workforce to be fit and healthy as we face this health emergency.

“This year it is even more important to be vigilant about the flu because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“While flu vaccination does not prevent COVID-19, a flu vaccination is critical to protecting the health of Senior Australians, who are more susceptible to contracting influenza.

“I am urging all care workers who work with older Australians, whether through residential facilities or in-home care, to heed this advice and get vaccinated against the flu.

“The more people caring for this vulnerable group who have a vaccination will result in less demand on our health care system.”

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Aged care workers must get flu vaccination

Flu (influenza) immunisation service

Published by: Anita Courtney, Dr Melanie Tan, Solomon Miller and Libby Pallot

To date, much of the focus within the aged care industry in relation to COVID-19 has been directed at residential care – the government directives exclusively so. However the home care sector is also facing unprecedented challenges arising from the COVID-19 crisis.

For example, last week the media reported a home care worker who had returned to work without disclosing recent overseas travel delivered home care packages and potentially put vulnerable clients at risk. The converse situation could also occur, whereby a client does not disclose COVID-19 exposure or infection to their home care provider putting the provider’s staff and other clients at risk.

Under the Aged Care Act approved home care providers are required to continue delivering agreed services to their clients, despite the current challenges. The security of tenure provisions under the User Rights Principles generally prevent a home care provider from ending an agreement on the basis of these types of challenges.

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8 legal issues for home care providers in the world of COVID-19

While washing hands with soap is considered to be the most effective way to practice good hand hygiene during the COVID-19 pandemic, hand sanitisers can play an important role in keeping hands as free from harmful microorganisms as possible.

How hand sanitisers work

Hand sanitisers contain antiseptic ingredients. An antiseptic is a substance that is used on the skin to kill microorganisms or prevent the growth of microorganisms.

Hand sanitisers can be either hand washes for use with water or handrubs for use without water, and are regulated as either a cosmetic or therapeutic good (see below) depending on how they are used, what they contain and what they claim to do.

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TGA – Hand sanitisers and COVID-19

Good hygiene for coronavirus (COVID-19)