News

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

The Butterfly Model Of Care: “This Is How Aged Care Should Be”

Commissioner Lays Groundwork For New Era In Aged Care

The Commissioners will issue Practice Guidelines to assist parties, witnesses and members of the public involved with the Royal Commission.

These provide comprehensive guidance and details on the format and referencing to be adopted by those who are requested in the future to provide information to the Royal Commission.

Read more:

Document Management Protocol for the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety (.pdf)

NOTE:

FAQ has been updated: 10 January 2019

• FAQ on Aged Care Approved Provider Information Request (.pdf)

Preliminary Hearing (Adelaide) – 18 January 2019

• Hearings

The rollout of an additional 10,000 new high-level home care packages begins this week, helping more senior Australians to remain living independently in their own homes.

The home care expansion is part of the Liberal National Government’s half-billion dollar ($552.9 million) aged care funding increase, announced in December 2018.

All of the additional 5,000 Level Three and 5,000 Level Four packages will be allocated by 30 June 2019, providing funding for up to $50,000 of care services per person per year including nursing, home assistance, nutrition and meal preparation and transport support.

Read more:

10,000 extra home care packages to benefit senior Australians (.pdf)

Today marks a new era for Australian aged care, with the independent Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission opening its doors, launching its one-stop quality and safety website and the single new contact number for aged care concerns and queries: 1800 951 822.

Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Ken Wyatt AM said the new Commission was a landmark Liberal National Government aged care reform and would better target sub-standard care and ensure the safety and security of senior Australians.

“With the motto ‘Engage, Empower and Safeguard’, the Commission flags a new beginning for aged care quality and safety,” Minister Wyatt said. “A single Commissioner overseeing compliance monitoring, complaints and customer service means no more silos.

“For the first time, senior Australians and their loved ones have one place to go when they need help, want to raise a concern, or access information about an aged care service.

Read more:

New Commission, New Era for Aged Care Quality and Safety (.pdf)

The department is seeking Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from organisations for proposals seeking to trial or use innovative approaches for the delivery of Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) services. The EOI process will close 2pm (Canberra time), Friday 1 February 2019.

Read more:

CHSP Innovation Funding – Expression of Interest now open

Grants Connect

The retirement living industry has today officially launched a new industry code of conduct and is urging all retirement village operators to sign up over the next 12 months to demonstrate their commitment to high standards and resident satisfaction.

The Retirement Living Code of Conduct is the initiative of two peak industry bodies representing retirement living operators across Australia – the Retirement Living Council (which is part of the Property Council of Australia) and Leading Age Services Australia (LASA).

The new code, which is scheduled to be rolled out from 1 January 2019 and take full effect from 1 January 2020, has been finalised after an extensive 12-month development process including consultation with retirement village operators, residents and other interested stakeholders earlier this year.

Read more:

Retirement Living Code of Conduct Launched (.pdf)

Retirement Living Code of Conduct (.pdf)

In this issue:

• Operational hours over the holiday period
• Consultation – streamlined consumer assessment for aged care
• Check for valid ACAT approval
• 2017–18 Report on the Operation of the Aged Care Act 1997 now available

Home Care:

• Home care and the Australian Consumer Law

Residential Care:

• Specialist Dementia Care Program roll out

Read more:

Information for Aged Care Providers – Issue 2018/23 (.pdf)

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

Peaks welcome boost to residential aged care funding

Art therapy a stroke of creativity

MYEFO measures ‘unlikely to help’ embattled providers

New retirement code of conduct to promote resident safety, dignity and happiness

RLC and LASA officially launch voluntary Code of Conduct – to start 1 January 2020

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 5.96% to 5.94% for the period of 1 January to 31 March 2019.

The Base Interest Rate remains unchanged at 3.75%.

Read more:

Refundable Deposit Balance and Accommodation Bond Balance Refund Interest Rates

Schedule of Fees and Charges for Residential and Home Care From 1 January 2019 (.pdf)

Schedule of Fees and Charges for Pre 1 July 2014 Residents from 1 January 2019 (.pdf)

LASA partnered with PwC Australia to deliver a webinar to effectively manage the Royal Commission process. What to expect, how to prepare for the year ahead, and how to manage it successfully.

Watch it here:

LASA Royal Commission Webinar