News

A new 30-minute educational video for service providers has been produced to support compliance with new Aged Care Quality Standards. The resource is a collaboration between the Commission and online training services provider, Altura Learning.

The video is another valuable resource for aged care services as they prepare for the new aged care Quality Standards coming into effect from 1 July 2019.

Aged care services are encouraged to use the video to help educate staff about how the new Standards apply in both residential and home care settings.

What you will learn from the Aged Care Quality Standards video:

• Understand the framework that supports the Standards
• Identify the eight standards that make up the Standards
• Explain how service provider’s performance is assessed against the Standards
• Recognise the role of the organisation in meeting the Standards

? Watch the video here

Several Clients have enquired about the new International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) and if these change will be updated within the Manad Plus Assessment Templates.

The answer is yes, we will be releasing an updated Assessment Template changeset that will include the new terms and codes with our next release, version 5.7

Read more:

What is the IDDSI Framework?

IDDSI Framework + Detailed Definitions (.pdf)

Testing Methods (.pdf)

Resources

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety released its forth Background Paper as part of the Royal Commission’s work.

The paper, Restrictive practices in residential aged care in Australia, notes that restrictive practices can elicit concern for a number of reasons because fundamentally, they impact on the liberty and dignity of the care recipient and without consent, their use may infringe on an elderly person’s legal rights.

“The term restrictive practices refers to activities or interventions, either physical or pharmacological that have the effect of restricting a person’s free movement or ability to make decisions. Restrictive practices are commonly referred to in the context of residential aged care as practices that control the behaviour of a resident, which may occur with the intention of reducing risks to a resident or others,” the paper notes.

“Physical and chemical restraint can have significant adverse effects on a resident, both physically and psychologically. There are also fundamental questions about their effectiveness.”

The paper also notes that there is an emerging body of evidence and guidance on strategies and non-pharmacological interventions to negate or mitigate the need for restraint by managing the underlying causes of challenging behaviour. These include measures to:

• improve the environment for residents to reduce the risk of falls or confusion
• engage familiar staff, sensory stimulation and other therapies
• individualised care routines
• increased staff interaction
• comprehensive medical examination and review of medication.

Read more:

Restrictive practices in residential aged care in Australia (.docx)

The Aged Services Industry Reference Committee is overseeing development of a new qualification – Certificate III in Ageing Support – to ensure that workers are equipped with the skills required to work effectively in the aged care sector and provide quality care to their clients.

National consultation on the core Units of Competency for this new qualification is open until Friday 24 May 2019. Consultation guidance material is available for download here.

Further information about developing the Certificate III in Ageing Support, planned consultation activities and the process for providing feedback on the draft qualification can be found on the SkillsIQ website.

Read more:

Consultation on Certificate III in Ageing Support Qualification

Aged Care Training Package Product Development

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety released its third Background Paper as part of the Royal Commission’s work.

The paper, Dementia in Australia: nature, prevalence and care, aims to provide a high level introduction to dementia. It reviews the findings of broad-reaching Australian and international research, demographic reports and literature, and addresses a number of issues, including:

• what is dementia
• what are the physical and social consequences of dementia
• how prevalent is dementia in Australia
• what the research says about dementia care
• support for families and carers
• the dementia workforce.

The research presented highlights the potentially significant impact of timely diagnosis in primary care settings and positive outcomes of a person-centred or small domestic model of care on people living with dementia, as well as their family, friends and informal carers.

Statistics reveal the “much higher prevalence and incidence, and younger onset of dementia, as well as higher rates of risk factors for dementia” for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, presenting a significant challenge.

Read more:

Dementia in Australia: nature, prevalence and care (.docx)

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety released its second Background Paper as part of the Royal Commission’s work.

The paper, Medium- and long-term pressures on the system: the changing demographics of aged care, puts Australia’s ageing population under the microscope. It explores complex issues associated with the country’s changing demographic profile, including changes in patterns of disease and dependency, the rising incidence of dementia, changing expectations and the changing cultural profile of the Australian community. It also explores current arrangements, future pressures and a greater need for preventative and restorative health.

Within its conclusions the paper says:

“The total supply of care will need to increase, with large absolute rises being required in the level of provision in each part of the aged care spectrum. At the same time, the structure of supply will need to shift, with larger increases in community care on the one hand and high-level care on the other.”

The paper also points to likely cost pressures resulting from changes in the cost of different types of care and a decrease in the availability of informal care due to low birth rates in recent decades resulting in fewer adult children on hand to provide such care

Read more:

Medium- and long-term pressures on the system: the changing demographics and dynamics of aged care (.pdf)

The recent coverage around the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) filing in the Federal Court against Bupa marks a first in the regulation of aged care providers. The ACCC claim that Bupa has contravened the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) by listing extra services in its resident agreements that it did not ultimately provide.

While the case relates to extra services, many providers may be anxious that it will impact the regulation of additional services. We’ve set out some information around the key questions providers may have below.

Will extra services and additional services be considered together?

Despite the historical similarity between extra services and additional services, there are key differences between the two regimes. However, additional services were brought in to replace extra services in 2015 and as such, the two are connected. It is our view that while there is the potential that the Federal Court will consider all services provided for an extra charge together, this case really relates to whether or not what was promised was delivered.

Read more:

Bupa case and the impact on additional services

The Australian Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission has appointed Dr Melanie Wroth as its first Chief Clinical Advisor.

Commissioner Janet Anderson (image) said Dr Wroth, who has an extensive background in geriatric medicine, will provide expert clinical advice to Commission staff and also assist aged care providers to source and access guidance on best practice clinical care for people receiving aged care services.

“This appointment comes at an important time, as the Commission and the aged care sector move towards the introduction of new Quality Standards and a new Charter of Aged Care Rights from 1 July,” she said.

Within the Commission, Dr Wroth’s work will include supporting staff by making available evidence-informed clinical advice about quality and safety in aged care, and providing advice on concerns raised by care recipients or others in relation to a particular service provider.

Read more:

Aged Care Commission appoints Chief Clinical Advisor (.pdf)

The Royal Commission will hold a public hearing in Sydney from:

? Monday 6 May 2019 to Wednesday 8 May 2019, and
? Monday 13 May 2019 to Friday 17 May 2019.

The public hearing will inquire into:

• the perspective and experience of people in residential aged care and people living with dementia, and their family and carers
• quality and safety in residential aged care, particularly for people living with dementia
• the use of restrictive practices in residential aged care
• the extent to which the current aged care system meets the needs of people in residential aged care
• good practice care for people living with dementia, particularly in the context of residential aged care.

Read more:

Sydney Hearing

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety announced a new Community Forum event.

? Friday 3 May 2019
? 09:30 am to 12:00 pm
? White Night Receptions, 42 Hampstead Road, Maidstone, VIC 3012

Open to the public, these forums will be an opportunity for members of the local community to hear about the work of the Commission and to offer their ideas on the challenges, strengths and opportunities to improve aged care.

Read more:

Community Forums

To guarantee a seat, please book your place no later than Wednesday 1 May by:

Eventbrite