News

For the first time, the Commission has engaged the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) to conduct an independent analysis of its residential consumer experience reports (CER) data gathered over a two-year period.

Consumer experience of residential aged care is assessed in a 10-question survey administered by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.

Consumer (resident) responses during 2017–19 were predominantly positive, especially regarding feeling safe, being treated with respect, and having healthcare needs met.

Analysis indicates that personal mobility, resident group birthplace characteristics, facility size and organisation type (not-for-profit, government or private) are factors that affect consumers’ responses.

Read more:

Consumers’ experience of residential aged care, Australia 2017–19 (.pdf)

The Commission has made changes to its program of courses and workshops to support the new Aged Care Quality Standards and provide the best possible education opportunities for providers.

Taking into account feedback following the ‘Getting to know the Standards’ information sessions and the ‘Preparing for the new Standards’ workshops conducted during 2018 and 2019, the Commission will be launching a new workshop series ‘Assessing the Standards’ in early 2020.

These workshops will replace the former ‘understanding accreditation’ and ‘quality review’ workshops.

Read more:

New education workshops available in 2020

Assessing the Standards: residential aged care services – REGISTER

Assessing the Standards: aged care home services – REGISTER

The Royal Commission held a public hearing in Canberra from Monday 9 December 2019 to Friday 13 December 2019.

The Royal Commission looked into the interface between aged care system and health care system, including:

• the challenges faced by people living in residential aged care services attempting to access health services funded under Medicare or by the states and territories
• whether there is a need to improve access to primary health care services (particularly general practitioners, nurse practitioners and primary care nurses) for older people in residential aged care, and if so, how this could be achieved
• whether there is a need to improve access to high quality secondary and tertiary (sub-acute and acute) health care services for older people in residential aged care, and if so, how this could be achieved
• the challenges faced by people living in aged care in accessing medical specialists, and the harms arising from inadequate access
• whether it is necessary or desirable to improve how older people are transferred to and from aged care and hospitals, including the appropriateness of rehabilitation and transition care services post hospital attendance
• whether there is a need for improved data collection, communication and planning in relation to the health needs of older people accessing aged care services, including the interoperability of care management systems
• the sufficiency of access to state and territory funded palliative care services for people living in residential aged care

Read more:

Transcript – Monday 9 December 2019 (.pdf)

Transcript – Tuesday 10 December 2019 (.pdf)

Transcript – Wednesday 11 December 2019 (.pdf)

Transcript – Thursday 12 December 2019 (.pdf)

Transcript – Friday 13 December 2019 (.pdf)

The South Australian State Emergency Service has issued a Community Readiness Alert for South Australia in response to the forecast of very hot weather for the remainder of the week.

The WA Department of Health has activated the State Hazard Plan Heatwave based on forecast temperatures for the remainder of the week, for the Perth metropolitan area. Forecasts for parts of regional WA are also unusually high for this time of year.

Read more:

Heatwave conditions in South Australia

SA Health Heatwave Information

Heatwave conditions in Western Australia

WA State Hazard Plan Heatwave activated: reminder to take care in the heat

Residential Aged Care Service – Caring for Older People in Warmer Weather (.pdf)

Residential Care Service – Preparing for an Emergency Event (.pdf)

Residential aged care services – heatwave ready resource (.pdf)

The Maximum Permissible Interest Rate (MPIR) applicable to accommodation prices and to refund periods for refundable deposit balances and accommodation bond balances will decrease from 4.98% to 4.91% for the period of 1 January 2020 to 31 March 2020.

The Base Interest Rate remains unchanged at 3.00%.

Read more:

Schedules of Fees and Charges (1 January 2020) Update to Maximum Permissible Interest Rate

Schedule of Fees and Charges for Residential and Home Care From 1 January 2020 (.pdf)

Schedule of Fees and Charges for Pre 1 July 2014 Residents (.pdf)

A pilot to trial two new QIs in residential aged care services starts early next year.

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) is assisting the department to develop the new QIs:

• medication management
• falls and fractures.

Participation in the pilot is an opportunity for your service to trial and provide feedback on these QIs and help shape the future of the QI Program, ahead of the implementation of these additional mandatory QIs from 1 July 2021.

Read more:

Nominate your service for the new Quality Indicators (QIs) pilot

National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program (QI Program) pilots – Expression of Interest

About the National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program

The Federal and NSW Governments have joined forces at Australia’s first Bilateral Regional Health Forum to decide how their combined investment of more than $2 billion can be maximised to boost NSW rural healthcare.

Deputy Prime Minister and Member for Riverina Michael McCormack, Minister for Regional Services Mark Coulton, NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard, NSW Mental Health Minister Bronnie Taylor and NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Health Natasha Maclaren-Jones have gathered with officials and medical experts at the forum today in Wagga Wagga.

The more than $2 billion comprises recent Federal and NSW commitments on workforce, primary care and mental health initiatives that will be discussed at the forum.

The forum will focus on measures to attract doctors to the bush and increase support for people with mental health concerns, in the current climate of severe drought and bushfires.

Read more:

Boosting bush healthcare top of agenda at first rural health forum

The Australian Government is taking action on elder abuse so all senior Australians are safe and supported as they age.

Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians, Richard Colbeck, said a key benchmark of any society is how it treats and protects its older citizens, particularly those who may be vulnerable to abuse.

“A new elder abuse awareness video and the ElderHELP mobile phone app will help prevent abuse of older people,” Minister Colbeck said.

“Elder abuse can take many unacceptable forms—physical, social, financial, psychological, and sexual, as well as mistreatment and neglect.

“The video and the mobile app mean more people will have better access to key information and practical assistance about aged care rights and support.

“The video will assist aged care staff and volunteers to identify and report abuse of older people and the free mobile phone app, ElderHELP, will assist anyone who cares for and supports older people.

Read more:

Supporting action on elder abuse

Leading up to and following commencement of the Quality Standards in July this year, the Commission has given priority to providing useful information, guidance and resources for providers.

Another resource is now available – in the form of an app which gives users instant, on-the-go access to information on the Standards via your mobile device.

The app includes all the key information about each of the Quality Standards, including the consumer outcome and organisation statement, and the requirements that underpin the Standards. As well as a glossary, the app also has links to further information, guidance and resources on the Commission’s website. There is a feedback function, so users can let the Commission know what additional content they would like to see on the app.

Over time, the app will be further developed to include more information for providers and consumers to ensure that anyone needing Quality Standards content will be able to access it anywhere, anytime.

Read more:

Commissioner message – App

Download:

Google Play – Quality Standards

Apple App Store – Quality Standards

In this edition:

• Commissioner message
• Getting to know the Standards – Standard 4, Services and support for daily living
• ‘From the Chief Clinical Advisor’
• Preparing for performance assessment
• Accountabilities webinar video now available

Read more:

Aged Care Quality Bulletin #11 Nov 2019