Care minutes rising, says analysis
July data also shows RN care time exceeded mandatory 40-minute threshold.
The amount of care time residents receive continues to increase, according to new data.
Mirus Australia industry analysis of 90,000 beds – which is almost one-third of the sector – shows providers hit an average of 205.96 care minutes per resident per day in July – up from 203.52 in June.
Providers are required to meet a total average of 200 care minutes per resident per day.
Care minutes provided by a registered nurse also increased during July – up from 39.71 to 40.80, exceeding the required threshold of 40 minutes.
That translates to an increase in total care time of 1.2 per cent; RN care time up by 2.75 per cent.
“The increase to 205 care minutes indicates providers are adapting to new regulatory requirements and exploring demand-based staffing models ahead of October,” Mirus Australia founder Rob Covino told Australian Ageing Agenda.
“Providers are leveraging increased care minute formats to optimise staff allocation and improve resident outcomes.”
He added: “The uptick to 205 care minutes is also driving innovation in workforce management and care delivery models among forward-thinking providers.”
From October, residential aged care providers will be required to meet a total of 215 care minutes per resident a day, including 44 minutes of RN time.
Acknowledging that some providers – particularly those in regional, rural and remote areas of the country – have difficulty recruiting RNs, the Department of Health and Aged Care is allowing ENs to meet 10 per cent of the RN target – 4.4 minutes (4 minutes and 24 seconds).
“As providers experiment with new demand templates, the inclusion of the portion of EN nursing direct care time is prompting a re-evaluation of staffing patterns and skill mix,” Mr Covino said.
Elsewhere in the Mirus analysis, non-care minutes decreased by 3.47 per cent during July – down from 39.70 to 38.32.
Allied health minutes in July increased by more than 20 per cent – up from 8.01 in June to 9.65.
Occupancy rates, meanwhile, increased by 0.08 per cent in July – up from 88.26 per cent to 88.34 per cent.
New permanent admissions into aged care homes rose by almost 2 per cent (1.96 per cent) totalling 5,308.
Addressing a recent surge in agency hours, Mr Covino told AAA the upswing can be viewed as “an unintended consequence” of provider strategies to maximise the Australian National Aged Care Classification funding model.
“As providers strive to optimise their funding under the new classification system, they may be relying more heavily on agency staff to fill gaps and meet increased care minute requirements,” Mr Covino said. “This trend highlights the complex interplay between funding models, staffing decisions, and care delivery in the aged care sector.”
For further Mirus analysis watch below:
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