News digest

In this story: 

• Aged care managers’ views on end-of-life care sought
• Awards celebrate age-friendly design
• ACSA signs agreement with UK group
• Provider marks construction milestones

Aged care managers’ views on end-of-life care sought

Aged care facility managers are being urged to participate in an important new survey that aims to map the provision of palliative care and advance care planning services around Australia for the first time.

The online survey seeks to capture the knowledge of aged care professionals, GPs and specialist palliative care services, to obtain an accurate picture of services currently available.

It is being conducted by a consortium of health, aged care and academic organisations and is part of a $15 million Australian Government project working to improve access to palliative care and advance care planning services in the aged care sector nationally.

CEO of Palliative Care Australia, Dr Yvonne Luxford, urged all aged care providers to complete the survey, as it would help to identify gaps in service delivery that need to be targeted so those working in aged care can be better supported to improve palliative and end-of-life care for older Australians.

Findings from the survey will be used to develop a suite of programs.

Click here to take the survey, which closes at midnight on 23 May.

Awards celebrate age-friendly design 

Industry efforts in providing innovative housing options for older Australians will be recognised with the upcoming 2014 National Lifestyle Housing for Seniors Award, with the call for entries now open.

Run by Master Builders and the Department of Social Services, the award acknowledges best practice in design and construction and aims to promote awareness of healthy ageing with the benefits of innovative and adaptable housing.

The award has two categories: owner-occupied purpose built detached dwellings and multi-unit developments. The awards are limited to class 1 and 2 buildings but may include dwellings that are set within a complex that provides complementary facilities to support the lifestyle of the residents.

The award will be presented at Parliament House in Canberra in November. Submissions close 22 August.

Nominations forms can be downloaded here.

ACSA signs agreement with UK group 

Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA) has announced it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Care Forum (NCF) in the UK to share resources and stimulate collaboration.

Des Kelly, executive director of the NCF and Professor John Kelly, CEO of ACSA, signed the MOU when they met recently during the International Association of Homes and Services for the Ageing (IAHSA) conference in Shanghai.

Des Kelly said the NCF was excited by formalising the relationship to network and support the two bodies. “We want members within each organisation to collaborate on matters of mutual interest and to share information,” he added.

John Kelly said the MOU was “a wonderful example of how using the friendships that have grown through the international ageing network can be formalised to encourage professional networking and educational opportunities.”

On 20 June 2014 the National Care Home Open Day will showcase the work that happens every day when care homes across the UK and Australia (as well as South Africa and Europe) open their doors. It is designed to introduce people to the quality of care available in their local community and to help families better understand the care and support services on offer.

Provider marks construction milestones  

IRT Group recently announced the completion of millions of dollars’ worth of construction across NSW and Queensland.

On the NSW South Coast, the first stage of a planned $5 million dollar expansion at IRT St Georges Basin, consisting of five community lifestyle units, was recently completed.

IRT CEO Nieves Murray said it was the third major expansion of the community since it first opened in 1993. It now comprises a care centre with 89 suites as well as 19 lifestyle units, with plans to construct another 13 lifestyle units.

IRT also announced the final stages of construction of the $25 million IRT Tarrawanna Care Centre in the Wollongong region were under way. When completed later this year the centre will cater to 100 residents and be one of the largest specialist aged care facilities in the Illawarra region.

On Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, IRT recently marked 12 months since the beginning of a major expansion at its Buderim community, IRT The Palms. Some 37 villas are complete with new residents moving in weekly. The expansion of the IRT The Palms community is part of a $75 million investment by IRT in Queensland over a four-year period.