REMINDER: New weekly reporting requirements on COVID-19 vaccination status recently introduced for all residential, Home Care Package (HCP) and Short-term Restorative Care (STRC) providers will come into effect on Tuesday 27 July 2021.
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Free Webinar: The Loss and Grief experienced by aged care staff in the wake of COVID-19
The Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement (ACGB) has been funded to provide national grief and loss support for those living and working in aged care, and for the loved ones of aged care recipients; who have been impacted by COVID-19. This is part of the Aged Care COVID-19 grief and trauma response package.
COVID ALERT: New Resident Entrance Protocol – COVID-19 vaccine program for aged care
It is vital that all residential aged care services establish processes to emphasise the importance of getting vaccinated against COVID-19 for new residents during the admission process. Ideally new residents should have received all required doses of a COVID-19 vaccine prior to admission. To assist, the Department has developed a protocol, the New Resident COVID-19 Vaccination Protocol, for RACF providers to support new residents to receive their COVID-19 vaccination, if supported by medical advice.
COVID ALERT: Vaccinations to be made mandatory for aged care workers
COVID-19 vaccinations will become mandatory for aged care workers, the Prime Minister has announced. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced all residential aged care workers must have their first dose by mid-September 2021 to be allowed to work.
Dementia practice health check
The Dementia practice health check is underpinned by the Aged Care Quality Standards and the 2019 Dementia Australia Consumer Summit recommendations. These recommendations reflect what is important for consumers in dementia care.
Refundable Accommodation Deposit Support Loan Program opening on 1 July 2021
Eligible approved providers of residential aged care services will be able to apply for funding support under the Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD) Support Loan Program from 1 July 2021 to 30 September 2021.
In just 6 weeks there were almost 2,000 “reportable incidents” in aged care homes
In its first six weeks, the government’s aged care incident reporting scheme received notification of 778 cases of unreasonable use of force, 448 instances of neglect, 192 cases of unexpected death, and nearly 150 cases of inappropriate sexual conduct.
Federal Budget – 2021 budget investment into aged care is only the beginning
Announced at the 2021 Federal Budget, the Morrison Government committed $17.7 billion over five years ($3.45 billion per year) to repair the aged care industry. This billion dollar investment into the sector is only the beginning and now the real fight begins to see how the troubled sector lifts its standards after the royal commission found it was failing residents and their families.