Aged care providers have been warned about the consequences of failing to respond to requests from the royal commission or moves to stop employees from speaking up at the inquiry.
Commissioners outline vision for aged care inquiry
The first public hearing of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety gets underway in Adelaide today to set the scene for the next 15 months.
Improving nutrition in aged care: what you need to know
In the forthcoming March-April edition of Australian Ageing Agenda we put the focus on nutrition, including how aged care facilities can improve the quality of the food they serve, pain management, workforce recruitment and retention and allied health.
Industry collaboration will guide implementation of workforce reform
The three aged care peaks are setting up a new leadership group to oversee the implementation of the sector’s workforce strategy.
Peaks welcome boost to residential aged care funding
Doctors’ groups have welcomed the additional $98 million to increase payments to general practitioners visiting aged care residents announced in the Government’s half yearly budget update.
Brightwater to pilot specialist dementia units
Brightwater Care has been selected to operate and test a prototype service for the government’s national program to support people with severe responsive behaviours associated with dementia.
Department says limited registration therapists can provide pain treatments
Allied health professionals certified with limited registration from their professional body are eligible to provide complex pain management services in residential aged care, the Department of Health has ruled.
Aged care workforce not keeping pace with increasing acuity of residents
Personal care workers are likely doing the work of enrolled nurses in Australia’s residential aged care homes, according to new research from Curtin University.
Residents report mostly positive experience but food among areas needing improvement
Almost all residents say they feel safe and respected in their facility most or all of the time, but one in six report they sometimes or never like the food, according to the first annual resident experience report.
Commission to kick off hearings on 18 January
The aged care royal commission will get underway early next year with an opening hearing set for the third week of January.
Department backflips on ACFI pain ruling
The health department has withdrawn its recent advice concerning allied health professionals with limited registration and pain management services in aged care while it consults with the sector.
ACFI update challenges pain management practices
Allied health professionals have raised concerns over a health department clarification about pain management claims by providers, saying it means they may have to let some workers go.
Providers asked to give a five-year history of cases of poor care
The aged care royal commission is seeking a report from every aged care outlet detailing any instance of sub-standard care in the last five years and action taken to improve services.
Aged care stakeholders advised to present a united voice to inquiry
Aged care providers should work with other sector stakeholders to present a consistent message to the royal commission like it did in the lead up to the 2012 reforms, a key industry conference has heard.
