News

The Australian Government supports residential and in-home aged care providers to protect older people during COVID-19 outbreaks.

A 2023 summer supply of bulk personal protective equipment (PPE) packs will be deployed to all residential aged care homes from the National Medical Stockpile (NMS).

Deployment to begin early September

PPE pack deliveries are scheduled to commence in early September 2023, starting with rural and remote aged care homes. Deployment will be completed by December 2023. This will be the last seasonal PPE bulk deployment from the NMS to aged care homes.

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2023 summer bulk PPE pack deployment

The Albanese Government has been working with older people, their families and carers, the aged care sector and design experts to improve the design of residential aged care accommodation.

The Government is now seeking feedback on the draft National Aged Care Design Principles and Guidelines, which have been developed in response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.

The Government wants to encourage flexibility and innovation in accommodation design and support providers to create safe and comfortable living environments that promote independence, function and enjoyment.

The draft Principles and Guidelines consider a range of design elements, including:

• accessibility
• dementia-friendly design principles
• the role of ‘small home models’ with residents living together in smaller ‘households’
• needs of diverse communities.

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Improving quality of life through accommodation design

News about the reforms

• Residential aged care pricing activities – access for the Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority

Sector news

• Webinar: Digital Transformation Tech Talk
• Webinar: Neuropsychological aspects of dementia
• COVID-19: Additional vaccine dose recommendation

Residential care

• 24/7 registered nurse reporting for August now due
• Changes to care minutes allocations
• Grant opportunity: Specialist Dementia Care Program

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Your Aged Care Update: Issue 34

The Albanese Government is ensuring older Australians have tasty and nutritious food in aged care thanks to a free training program for aged care cooks and chefs.

A $5 million investment in the Maggie Beer Foundation is delivering the free Improving Food in Aged Care through Education and Training program.

All aged care providers are invited to participate, encouraging a whole of sector uplift in food and nutrition.

Program opportunities include:

• Online learning modules
• Food Satisfaction Questionnaire
• State and Territory Training Hubs
• Trainer Mentor Program
• Professional Community.

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Free training to deliver better food and nutrition in aged care

In this edition:

• Commissioner’s message
• Aged care reforms update
• Food, nutrition and dining
• Clinical update
• Webinars
• Governing for reform
• Training and resources

Read more:

Aged Care Quality Bulletin #56 – August 2023

News about the reforms:

• Reminder: have your say on the new Aged Care Act

Sector news:

• COVID-19: processing times for Aged Care Support Program Extension grant
• Nursing, allied health and personal care worker scholarships
• New Aged Care Knowledge Hub
• Volunteers and Volunteer Managers: new training and resources available

For residential care providers:

• Medication management
• 24/7 registered nurse supplement monthly payment
• Care minutes: check your allocations before they become mandatory
• Coming soon: care minutes and 24/7 registered nurse coverage in residential aged care to be published
• Webinar reminder: mandatory care minutes for residential aged care

Read more:

Your Aged Care Update – #Issue 33, 2023 (.pdf)

News about the reforms

• Reminder: Provider operations reports due by 31 October
• New standards for data collection and reporting
• Webinar: Digital Transformation Tech Talk

Sector news

• Webinar series: Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing
• Webinar: Delirium and trauma in older adults’ lives

Residential Aged Care News

• Stocktake on the design of residential aged care accommodation
• Residents’ Experience Survey: Have your say
• Consultation: Pricing framework for residential aged care services closing soon
• Webinar: Mandatory care minutes for residential aged care support
• COVID-19: PPE pack deployment

Read more:

Your Aged Care Update – #Issue 32, 2023 (.pdf)

News about the reforms

• Code of Conduct banning orders
• Shape the future of aged care for First Nations people

Sector news

• Rural and remote providers: management training
• Free translation service for aged care providers
• 2023 COVID-19: Aged Care Support Program grant
• COVID-19: Aged Care Worker Leave Payment grant
• Financial Report on the Australian Aged Care Sector 2021-22
• Consultation: pricing framework for residential aged care services closing soon
• Commission webinar: informed decision making for board members and leaders

Read more:

Your Aged Care Update – #Issue 31, 2023 (.pdf)

The Albanese Government is delivering on its commitment to put nurses back into nursing homes.

Registered nurses are now on-site in aged care homes 98 per cent of the time as a result of the Albanese Government’s 24/7 nursing commitment.

This Government promised Australians we would restore dignity to aged care residents, and our first month with 24/7 nursing has revealed a major increase in care with registered nurses in residential homes for 23.5 hours a day on average.

After just 15 months in office, our reforms have led to continuous improvement, with Quality Indicators and Star Ratings also showing positive increases.

24/7 registered nursing was a key recommendation of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety – it was ignored by Peter Dutton and the Coalition.

24/7 nursing improves the safety and quality of care for residents and prevents unnecessary trips to hospital emergency departments.

95 per cent of facilities have now reported their first month of data regarding 24/7 nursing.

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Nurses are back in nursing homes

Australians now have a simple and efficient way to report food concerns in aged care, with the launch of a dedicated Food, Nutrition and Dining Unit hotline at the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.

The hotline is active and callers will have access to experts in the areas of food, nutrition, and dining, including dietitians and speech pathologists.

A good meal with good nutrition is crucial to quality of life for everyone but especially older people.

The Food, Nutrition and Dining Hotline is also available to aged care providers to access food and nutrition advice, support and education to deliver improved food, nutrition and dining experiences for older people in their care.

Older people, their families and carers, providers and aged care workers can call the Food, Nutrition and Dining Hotline on 1800 844 044.

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Hotline to report food quality in aged care now live