Aged care news highlights from the fortnight ending 11 October 2024, aggregated by Ideagen.
The information in the ACE Wrap is aggregated from other news sources to provide you with news that is relevant to the aged care sector across Australia and worldwide. Each paragraph is a summary of the subject matter covered in the particular news article. The information does not necessarily reflect the views of Ideagen.
According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, on 1 October 2024, the Hon Anika Wells, Minister for Aged Care, released an open letter to residential aged care providers about:
Read the open letter from Minister Wells and the Statement of Expectations to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner.
According to The Weekly Source, every aged care provider in the nation has faced the challenges of recruiting additional staff in recent months as the mandate for direct care minutes increased 7.5% to 215 care minutes, a reform that came into effect this week on Tuesday, 1 October 2024.
According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, your updated finance information is now available to preview in the Government Provider Management System (GPMS). This preview reflects new data from the Quarterly Financial Report for Quarter 4 2023–24. It will close on 14 October. We will publish your previewed data on My Aged Care Find a Provider tool later this month. If the previewed information is not consistent with the data you submitted, email ACFRQFRQueries@health.gov.au. For technical support, please call the My Aged Care service provider and assessor helpline on 1800 836 799 and select option 5. Read more about publishing finance information.
According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, residential aged care homes who employ on-site pharmacists under the Aged Care On-site Pharmacist Measure can now claim funds for their pharmacists’ salaries through the Pharmacy Programs Administrator. Reimbursement is also available if you participated in this measure between 1 July and 30 September. Since 1 July, residential aged care homes have been able to access an on-site pharmacist by:
Read more about on-site pharmacists.
According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, Quality indicator reporting is open for Quarter 1, 2024–25 (July to September). When you report quality indicator data, use the file upload template in the Government Provider Management System (GPMS). If you are pasting information, use the ‘paste values’ function to keep the format. You must not include residents’ personal information. If you do, this breaches:
For help, see additional guidance on reporting via GPMS or refer to GPMS and Quality Indicator Program resources. For technical support, please contact the My Aged Care service provider and assessor helpline on 1800 836 799 and select option 5. Last week’s article ‘Quality indicator reporting open’ said reporting was open for Quarter 2, instead of Quarter 1. Our apologies for any confusion.
According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, the Statement of Expectations sets out the role for the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission in preparing the sector for the new Aged Care Act.
According to Australian Ageing Agenda, concerns are rising as six in 10 aged care homes fail to meet mandatory care targets despite increased funding.
According to Australian Ageing Agenda, the Sector Performance Report for the April to June 2024 quarter has been released by The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. The report shows evidence of adjustments needed in the quality and safety of aged care and highlights areas of underperformance by providers. Performance data for the last two financial years has been included for the first time.
According to Hello Care, a joint submission to parliament from some of Australia’s most influential finance and accounting peak bodies has labelled the new Aged Care Act’s proposed funding arrangements “too complex” and incompatible with other Government policy areas.
According to Hello Care, the Commonwealth Ombudsman has warned the Department of Health and Aged Care that the current star ratings system could actually mislead older people, citing the fact that non-compliance rarely influences a star rating as a cause for concern.
According to Hello Care, as the Department of Health and Aged Care moves into the next stage of quality indicator development for in-home aged care services, red flags have been raised regarding a key assessment tool currently being used in residential care settings.
According to The Weekly Source, the incumbent Janet Anderson PSM stepped into the role in January 2019 after a 20-year career in health and aged care policy, strategy and planning.
According to Hello Care, last night’s explosive 7.30 report that aired on ABC TV and ABC iView has blown the lid off the financial exploitation that is rampant in Australia’s retirement villages. The investigation, conducted by 7.30 and ABC Investigations, reveals the disturbing truth behind an industry that promises seniors a secure, serene lifestyle but often leaves them financially devastated.
According to Australian Seniors News, the National Health Services Union has endorsed an open letter from Aged Care Minister, Anika Wells, to residential aged care providers, which calls out the sector’s lack of accountability.
According to Community Care Review, the National Aged and Community Care Roundtable for Forgotten Australians (National Roundtable) is a crucial forum addressing the unique needs of older Australians who experienced institutional or out-of-home ‘care’ as children. This National Roundtable unites stakeholders, including policymakers, care providers, and advocates, to develop strategies to ensure these individuals receive compassionate, tailored support in their later years.
According to the Weekly Source, more than one in three home care services failed to meet all 42 Aged Care Quality Standards during the period, with compliance flatlining over a 12-month period, according to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission's (ACQSC) Sector Performance Report for the June 2024 quarter.
According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, new resources are available for in-home aged care providers on the Support at Home program. You can now access:
These resources aim to help Home Care Package (HCP) and Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) providers to understand the main changes under Support at Home. Under the new program, there will be improved access to services, products, equipment and home modifications to help older people remain healthy, active and socially connected to their community. We will continue to work with HCP and STRC providers to help you transition from 1 July 2025. For more information, visit our Support at Home program resources.
The Privacy and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 (the Bill) seeks to enact a first tranche of reforms to the Privacy Act 1988 (the Privacy Act) to implement a number of the legislative proposals that were agreed by the Government in its September 2023 Response to the Privacy Act Review. The Privacy Act Review Report, released in February 2023, concluded that comprehensive reform is required to ensure the Privacy Act is fit for purpose and capable of addressing the heightened data risks of the digital age.
The Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Subsidy and Other Measures) Instrument 2024 amends aged care subordinate legislation to provide for changes to:
The Tasmanian Government has committed to expanding the Registration to Work with Vulnerable People scheme (the scheme) firstly to close the gaps in child-related activities, and then to include protections for broader categories of vulnerable adults. Changes to the scheme will be made in three phases over the course of the next two years. The three phases will result in legislative changes to the Registration to Work with Vulnerable People Regulations 2024 (the Regulations) and include the introduction of nationally consistent aged care worker registration during 2026, subject to a national agreement currently under development.