News

In Case You Missed It – Below are links to recent articles on Aged Care and Healthcare that may be of interest:

Respite care access on the rise and residential care admissions down

Family Portraits Capture Aged Care Residents In A Favourite Location

Respecting residents’ privacy

“We Recruit For Kindness”

Communication between departments key to long-lasting change

Has RUCS Spelt The End Of Physiotherapy In Aged Care?

Hidden camera captures abuse of resident

Time running out for aged care sector before baby boomers descend

Aged Care Royal Commission hears Japara Healthcare CEO dismiss patient assault numbers

Nurses, physio reveal aged care deficiency

The Perth Hearing is currently taking place this week.

Read more:

Perth Hearing: Person-centred care

Transcript – Monday 24 June 2019 (.pdf)

Transcript – Tuesday 25 June 2019 (.pdf)

Transcript – Wednesday 26 June 2019 (.pdf)

To access video recordings of previous public hearings

The Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2017 (VAD) (Vic) (Act) commenced in Victoria on 19 June 2019.

Russell Kennedy have prepared a short video to keep you updated on the information you need to know and be aware of:

• What is VAD and who does it apply to?
• What is the role of aged care providers?
• What do you need to do to prepare?

Watch here:

Voluntary Assisted Dying Victoria – Video Update

The Perth Hearing is currently taking place this week. The Royal Commission will inquire into:

• how aged-care services can be provided in a way which is person-centred, including care which values the identity, experience and autonomy of the person accessing care and promotes choice and control
• the factors that influence whether aged care services are delivered in a person-centred manner, including:
• the relationships between the person accessing care, people providing support (including family and other members of the community) and the service provider
• broader societal attitudes towards older people
• the perspective and experience of people who access aged care, including the ways in which aged care services are, or are not, person-centred
• good practice care models for providing person-centred aged care
• the role of advance care planning to support the provision of quality aged care services
• the extent to which people accessing aged care services are able to access palliative care
• the quality of palliative care services available to people accessing aged care services

Read more:

Perth Hearing: Person-centred care

Transcripts and Witness List

An update of the schedules for residential and home care fees and charges, as well as subsidies and supplements will take effect from 1 July 2019. This is in line with changes to the age pension and indexation rates.

The new rates are now available on the department’s website

The Department of Human Services’ quarterly review of fees and charges for all care recipients will be effective from 1 July 2019. Care recipients and providers will receive letters letting them know if there is a change to a person’s fees and charges or if a refund may be due.

Read more:

Indexation rates for Residential Aged Care and Home Care Packages and changes to the Maximum Permissible Interest Rate (MPIR)

In Case You Missed It – Below are links to recent articles on Aged Care and Healthcare that may be of interest:

‘I had no idea someone could do that’: Hidden cameras reveal shocking secrets

Aged Care Royal Commission hears of almost 300 serious assaults at Japara Healthcare homes

ROYAL COMMISSION: Bad care, poor reporting and lack of dignity

Royal Aged Care Commission: Daughter’s shock as elderly father’s abuse in care home caught on camera

Aged care in regions a ‘death sentence’, as royal commission told of neglect and isolation

Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander aged care system isn’t “culturally safe”, WA geriatrician tells Royal Commission

Retirement village residents unhappy about complex contracts and fees

Over 45% of aged care facilities in the red, latest StewartBrown reveals

Indigenous people believe aged care isn’t ‘culturally safe’, and ageing earlier

Some older Australians consider residential aged care a ‘death sentence’

ROYAL COMMISSION: Primary care is failing older people, My Aged Care needs fixing

Therapy Horse Stirs Childhood Memories In People Living With Dementia

Flu hits 21,000 people, as NSW hospitals flooded with cases

129,000 Older Australians Without Enough Home Care As Waiting List Grows

The Royal Commission will hold 2 new public hearings:

Darwin Hearing: ? Monday 8 July 2019 to Friday 12 July 2019

Cairns Hearing: ? Monday 24 June 2019 to Friday 28 June 2019

The Royal Commission will inquire into:

• aspects of care in residential, home and flexible aged care programs, including:

          • accessibility and availability

          • wound, medication and pain management

          • nutrition and hydration

          • continence care

          • mobility

          • social supports

• access to aged care for veterans

• rural and regional issues for service delivery of aged care

• quality of life for people receiving aged care

Read more:

Hearings

In July 2018, the Australian Government established a taskforce to simplify the aged care means assessment forms and processes.

These forms are now much shorter and simpler. Shortly, there will be a new digital form for people with straightforward financial affairs that is available online.

This webinar will provide an update on how and when to use the new aged care means assessment forms, including:

• Home Care Package Means Assessment Form
• Residential Aged Care Means Assessment Form
• The new Residential Aged Care property details form for Centrelink/DVA customers.

Read more:

Webinar: Navigating the new Aged Care Means Assessment Forms

Link: http://www.wolterskluwer.cch.com.au/aged-care-means-assessment/

The Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians, and Minister for Youth and Sport, Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck, has released the Home Care Packages Program Data Report covering the period from 1 January to 31 March 2019.

Read more:

Home Care Packages Program Data Report 3rd Quarter 2018-19

Home care packages program data report 1 January– 31 March 2019 (.pdf)

In this issue:

• New My Aged Care website launching soon
• New approved provider application forms from 1 July 2019
• Charter of Aged Care Rights online resources available
• Recent Aged Care Quality Reform Webinars now available
• Streamlined Consumer Assessment for Aged Care – discussion paper summary report now available

Home Care:

• Reminder: 1 July 2019 mandatory home care pricing requirements
• Returning unspent Home Care Package funds

Residential Care:

• Macular Disease Foundation Australia Digital training tools

Read more:

Information for Aged Care Providers – Issue 2019/07 (pdf)