News

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

Australian Ageing Agenda:

Provider developing a driving simulator for seniors

New data shows more facilities in the red

Risk profiling, star ratings among new quality reforms

Aged Care Guide:

Media coverage continues to call into question aged care quality

Quest for quality in aged care results in new Quality and Safety Commission

Quality Agency consults with consumers for new standards

The Weekly Source:

41% of aged care providers losing money: StewartBrown blames ACFI freeze

ABC launches investigation into ‘nursing homes’ – 7.30 Report puts the spotlight on failings at QLD aged care facility

Aged care peaks call for urgent funding boost as providers fall into the red

John Pollaers pushes for aged care code of practice: The Australian

Other:

HITN – Electronic prescribing error in month-old EHR responsible for death of NSW man, State Coroner finds

HITN – Healthcare suffers almost a quarter of data breaches, as reports skyrocket under mandatory notification scheme

ITN – The virtual assistant that could help Australians with e-health records

ABC – Aged care cuts to qualified staff putting lives at risk, family of woman in septicaemia death say

ABC – Aged care safety commission a ‘one-stop shop’ to tackle elder abuse following Oakden scandal

CH9 – Aged care crisis

CH9 – Nursing home staffing debacle

Media Release: 18 April 2018

The Turnbull Government will ensure Australians in the aged care system are better cared for, through raising the quality benchmarks that homes must meet.

The significant reforms will give senior Australians and their families confidence they will be properly cared for and will, for the first time, establish a new national independent Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission and increase transparency through a publicly available rating against quality standards.

At the heart of the latest Turnbull Government reforms, aged care regulation, compliance and complaints handling will be brought together in a new and independent Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.

Read more:

Powerful New Reforms to Ensure Safe, Quality Aged Care (.pdf)

Media Release: 18 April 2018

More than 4.5 million Australians who are most at risk of getting sick during this year’s flu season can now access a free influenza vaccine, under the Federal Government’s National Immunisation Program.

Last year we saw the highest influenza activity in Australia in almost a decade, mirroring a global trend, with more than 250,000 Australians testing positive for influenza and double the normal hospitalisations.

I urge all Australians to consider getting a flu shot this year. Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for any person six months of age and older, with vaccines also available on the private market.

It’s important to get the flu shot every year, as the virus changes year to year.

Read more:

2018 influenza vaccines now available (.pdf)

Media Release: 16 April 2018

Australia’s inaugural Advance Care Planning Week begins today, encouraging people of all ages to prepare their personal end of life care plans, to give certainty to themselves and their families.

Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt AM said the Turnbull Government understood the rapidly growing importance of Advance Care Planning and was supporting Austin Health with $4.1 million to run a three-year awareness and commitment program.

“Research shows that around half of us will be incapable of making our own medical decisions as we approach the end of our lives,” Minister Wyatt said.

“Despite this, less than 15% of Australians have recorded an Advance Care Plan.

Read more:

Tough Talk: Australians Urged to Plan for End Of Life Care (.pdf)

In this issue:

• My Aged Care website enhancements
• Aged Care Workforce Strategy Taskforce employee survey closing soon
• My Aged Care ‘how-to’ videos updated
• Guidance for providers on My Aged Care complaints
• Help older Australians get online – join Be Connected

Read more:

Information for Aged Care Providers – Issue 2018/6 (.pdf)

In the next few days you’ll notice some changes to the My Aged Care website. The updates include a new homepage and simpler navigation across the website to guide users through the steps to accessing aged care services.

Read more:

My Aged Care website enhancements

Media Release: 9 April 2018

The Turnbull Government is providing funding to 90 Men’s Sheds across the country to support the mental health and overall wellbeing of Australian men.

Men’s Sheds will receive grants totalling $395,000 under round 16 of the National Shed Development Programme to help them buy tools, maintain sheds and host community activities focused on men’s health issues.

Men’s Sheds are helping Australian men to stay healthy and strong in every way.

They offer a friendly, welcoming environment where men can connect with each other without pressure. They can work on projects or just hang out.

Read more:

More funding for Men’s Sheds across Australia (.pdf)

Details of all the new grants can be found at the:

Australian Men’s Shed Association website

Residential aged care providers are reminded of their responsibilities when providing physiotherapy services, and when fees can apply.

Providers must provide rehabilitation support (including physiotherapy) to all care recipients who need it. Fees do not apply to rehabilitation support.

Providers must also provide maintenance therapy and more intensive therapy (including physiotherapy), whether provided by, or as directed by, a health professional.

Read more:

Physiotherapy for aged care residents – provider responsibilities

Additional guidance can be found in the:

Care and services in aged care homes – Information for approved providers (.pdf)

View the first 2018 communique from the Queensland Department of Health on seasonal influenza for residential aged care providers.

Advice from the Australian Government’s Chief Medical Officer on seasonal influenza in residential aged care facilities will be available in April 2018.

Read more:

Preparing for seasonal influenza in residential aged care

Queensland Department of Health – Seasonal Influenza (.pdf)

Both our Android & iOS Apps have received an update with some bug fixes and speed improvements. This new version is now available in both App Stores.

The current Manad Plus Mobile App versions are now:

• Android devices: 1.8.115.0

• Apple devices: 1.8.115.0

These are both compatible with the new desktop version: v5.5.53231.0 or higher.