News

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

PM says royal commission will usher in ‘culture of respect’

Providers buckle up, pledge to co-operate with royal commission

Committee told more detail required in proposal to publish staffing ratios

Opinion: Royal Commission will not be about exceptional cases

Grassroots movement to end ageism launched

Conversation once again turns to CCTV cameras in aged care

Royal Commission ins and outs announced

Calls for staff ratios to be included in Royal Commission

The Five Changes That Could Fix Aged Care

RIP the fax: Successful secure messaging trials solve final problems heralding fax-free future for healthcare, ADHA says

Here’s what the future of aged care could look like in Australia

In these issues:

• My Health Record supporting better health outcomes for older Australians
• Reminder: Aged Care Regional, Rural and Remote Infrastructure Grants closing soon
• Changes to the ‘means not disclosed’ process

Residential Care:

• Quality Indicator Program: data submission closes 30 September
• Quality Indicator Program: opportunity to join

Read more:

Information for Aged Care Providers – Issue 2018/17 (.pdf)

Information for Aged Care Providers – Issue 2018/18 (.pdf)

For a home care package client to successfully take-up their package they must enter into a Home Care Agreement with an approved provider by the take-up deadline. The take-up deadline is 56 days from the date a package is assigned to the client.

To enter into a Home Care Agreement the client and provider must jointly agree to:

• receive/deliver the services
• the client’s rights and responsibilities
• the services to be provided by the provider
• the fees and other charges to be paid under the agreement
• all other administrative details.

Read more:

Help your home care package client start their package successfully

Managing home care packages (.pdf)

The department is currently inviting applications from existing approved residential and home care providers in regional, rural and remote areas. Commonwealth Home Support Programme services will also be considered, where there is exceptional need.

The Aged Care Regional, Rural and Remote Infrastructure Grant opportunity is a competitive application process, to apply for grants up to $500,000 per service.

The application form, guidelines and FAQs can be accessed via GrantConnect.

Read more:

Aged Care Regional, Rural and Remote Infrastructure Grants closing soon

GrantConnect

More than 900 additional First Nations people in remote Australia will have access to residential and home aged care services close to family, home or country, thanks to Morrison Government funding.

The Government is providing $105.7 million to expand the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care (NATSIFAC) program – a 2018–19 Budget initiative.

Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care, Ken Wyatt AM, today announced the first round of expansion funding under this program – up to $46 million to increase the number of home care places delivered through the NATSIFAC program in remote and very remote areas.

Read more:

More Aged Care Places for First Australians (.pdf)

Prime Minister Scott Morrison yesterday announced the Terms of Reference for the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.

This follows more than 5,100 submissions received from aged care consumers, families, carers, aged care workers, health professionals and providers.

The Royal Commission is a vital step for Australia to determine the full extent of the problems in aged care and to understand how we can meet the challenges and the opportunities of delivering aged care services now and into the future. It is also about helping to build a national culture of respect for ageing and our senior Australians.

Read more:

Aged Care Royal Commission Terms of Reference

Our Government has recommended that the Governor General appoint the Honourable Justice Joseph McGrath and Lynelle Briggs AO as Royal Commissioners into Aged Care Quality and Safety.

Justice McGrath and Ms Briggs bring strong investigative skills and extensive experience in corporate and public sector governance to the Royal Commission.

Our Government wants to ensure Australians have access to the level of care and support each person would expect for themselves.

A key task of the Royal Commission will be to help build a national culture of respect for ageing and older Australians.

Following more than 5,000 submissions, four national roundtables and consultation with the medical and aged care professions, our Government has today also outlined the terms of reference for the Royal Commission.

Read more:

Appointment of Royal Commissioners and Terms of Reference

Terms of Reference

New care recipients are able to complete the income test form or means test form to help determine their aged care fees and accommodation costs before, or at the time, they enter care.

If care recipients don’t complete their income and/or assets information, they are classed as ‘means not disclosed’ and will be asked to pay the maximum income tested care fee (home care package) or maximum means-tested care fee and their agreed accommodation price (residential care).

Read more:

‘Means not disclosed’ in aged care

The Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care, the Hon Ken Wyatt AM, MP announced the release of the Aged Care Workforce Strategy Taskforce’s report, A Matter of Care – Australia’s aged care workforce strategy.

The strategy is industry focused and identifies fourteen strategic actions to help the aged care industry to address the current and future workforce challenges.

The purpose of the Taskforce was to develop a strategy for growing and sustaining the workforce that provides aged care services and support for older people, to meet their care needs in a variety of settings across Australia. The work of the Taskforce was supported by a $1.92 million Australian Government funding commitment.

Read more:

Aged Care Workforce Taskforce Strategy Report (.pdf)

AT A GLANCE – The fourteen strategic actions of the Australia’s Aged Care Taskforce Strategy (.pdf)

It has been a busy month for Aged Care news. Below are Media Releases by the Minister.

• A draft single charter outlining the rights of aged care consumers, regardless of their subsidised care type, is now open for public consultation.
• Millions of senior Australians are set to benefit from stronger aged care quality standards, as the Australian Government’s comprehensive aged care overhaul moves into top gear.
• A blueprint for the aged care sector to rapidly grow Australia’s professional aged care workforce – estimated to require almost one million workers by 2050 – has been developed by an industry-led expert taskforce.
• Like anyone who watched last night’s Four Corners program, I was absolutely appalled by the lack of care shown for some of Australia’s most vulnerable citizens.
• The community can have its say on the Terms of Reference of the Royal Commission into the Aged Care Sector with an online feedback tool now available.
• The past year has seen a 23 per cent increase in the number of complaints received by the Aged Care Complaints Commissioner.

Read more:

Public consultation open for draft single Charter of Aged Care Rights (.pdf)

Strong New Standards Promise Aged Care Certainty (.pdf)

Blueprint for Professional Aged Care Workforce Growth (.pdf)

Morrison Government Committed to Aged Care Quality (.pdf)

Community Urged to Contribute to Aged Care Royal Commission

Increase in Aged Care Complaints Received (.pdf)