News

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)

Four Corners launched a two-part special investigation into the treatment of the elderly in aged care homes.

In the ABC’s biggest crowdsourced investigation, they asked their audience to share with them their experiences of the aged care industry. More than 4,000 responded.

In part one of this investigation, Four Corners examines the business of aged care and what that means for the vulnerable residents left in its care.

In part two of this Four Corners investigation, the program will reveal the abject failure of government regulation to protect the elderly.

Read more:

Who Cares?

Who Cares? Part Two

This is what it’s like to work in aged care

Scott Morrison announces royal commission into aged care; advocates expect ‘appalling’ cases of mistreatment to surface

Aged care inquiry an unexpected victory for many, too late for some

Would you eat this? The real food inside aged care facilities in Australia

Secret cameras won’t prevent abuse in nursing homes, experts warn

‘I’m not going to be silent’: plea to rethink care royal commission

Royal commission will finally give the elderly a voice

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

Australian Ageing Agenda

Industry group CEO surprised, disappointed by allegations

Inquiry launched into aged care amendment staffing ratios

Frustration over Royal Commission

Saving your reputation when the media comes knocking

RUCS shares preliminary findings

Report shows jump in aged care complaints

Aged Care Guide

Royal Commission calls on the community to ‘have their say’

Community conversations target workforce and training as key concerns in aged care

What Australians are telling us about aged care providers (hint – it’s mostly good)

Royal Commission into aged care to seek answers surrounding abuse and neglect

New aged care workforce reform hopes to triple staff numbers

Federal Parliament formally pass first upgrade to aged care standards in 20 years

RK

What the Royal Commission into aged care quality and safety means for you

If a system issue prevents the delegate from recording their approval decisions on My Aged Care, the delegate is required to use the Offline Approval Form (accessed through the My Aged Care assessor portal) to record their decision/s.

The approval takes effect on the day the delegate signs and dates this form. If the client needs to enter care and the system issue is outstanding, this form provides evidence to the provider of the approval.

If a service provider receives a signed form, this is enough evidence to start services as soon as possible.

Read more:

Offline Assessment Forms – appropriate approval to start services

My Aged Care Assessment Manual June 2018 (.pdf)

The schedules for residential and home care subsidies and supplements that take effect from 20 September 2018 were released late last week, and these changes are now available in the latest versions of Manad Plus (see below for further details).

The MPIR applicable to ‘refund periods’ remains at 5.96% for the period of 1 October 2018 to 31 December 2018 for:

• refundable deposit balances and accommodation bond balances
• accommodation prices

The Base Interest Rate remains unchanged at 3.75%.

Schedule of Fees and Charges for Residential and Home Care from 20 September 2018 (.pdf)

Schedule of Fees and Charges for Pre 1 July 2014 Residents from 20 September 2018 (.pdf)

IMPORTANT: Changes to ACFI subsidy rates

Please note that in addition to the daily ACFI subsidy rates released on 01 July 2018, the Quality Care Fund will be paid as an additional daily ACFI subsidy amount for the period 20 September 2018 to 30 June 2019. This will increase all ACFI rates and the maximum possible daily subsidy amount to $217.77 and assist providers to transition to new quality standards.

View the updated Schedule of subsidies and supplements that will take effect from 20 September 2018:

Schedule of subsidies and supplements from 20 September 2018 (.pdf)