Resources to support Care Leavers in aged care
Find and Connect Support Services are available to support Care Leavers, including those who are using aged care services.
Services include:
- specialist trauma informed counselling
- referral services
- social support programs
- help to locate and access records
- reconnect with family members (where possible)
More information on the Find and Connect Support Services can be found on the Department of Social Services website.
A package of resources on the needs of care leavers in aged care is also available on the department’s website.
Care Leavers, including Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants, are one of the special needs groups listed in the Aged Care Act 1997.
Tip sheets for palliative aged care
palliAGED has developed a series of evidence-based, practical tip sheets to support nurses and careworkers providing direct care to older Australians approaching the end of life.
To access these resources go to palliAGED Practice Tips: Enabling Careworkers and Nurses in Aged Care.
Proposed New Residential Care Funding Model
On 15 March 2019, the Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care, the Hon Ken Wyatt AM, MP announced the release of a University of Wollongong study about a proposed new residential aged care funding model. The landmark study was based on data collected from over 180 residential aged care facilities and 4,500 residents.
The funding model proposed by the study addresses identified flaws in the Aged Care Funding Instrument including complex and time consuming assessment processes.
The reports are available on the department’s website.
A consultation paper has been released and can be accessed on the Consultation hub. The consultation process is open until 31 May 2019.
Macular Disease Foundation Australia digital training tools
The Macular Disease Foundation Australia (MDFA) has developed free, easy-to-use digital training tools to be used in all Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs) to help understand the visual needs of residents. These resources were developed in response to an MDFA study funded by the department.
Resources on managing eye health and vision loss for RACF staff and families include:
- Introduction video from the Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care, the Hon Ken Wyatt AM, MP
- training video for care workers
- accompanying resource for care workers (PDF, 1.28 MB)
- resource for management and health professionals (PDF, 4.39 MB)
- resource for families and guardians for residents (PDF, 1.62 MB)
These resources and the full report are also available on the MDFA website.
The MDFA encourages all RACFs to use these resources and will conduct a follow-up survey with RACFs around July this year asking for feedback on these resources.
New legislative requirements for home care providers – Pricing Information
The Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Comparability of Home Care Pricing Information) Principles 2019 requires all home care providers to use a new approach in the provision of home care pricing information from 1 July 2019.
These requirements include:
- mandatory publication of prices in the home care pricing comparability Schedule (the Schedule) as well as a full price list on My Aged Care by 1 July 2019
- keeping pricing information up-to-date and reviewing at least every 12 months
- inclusion of the Schedule within all Home Care Agreements - for new clients from 1 July 2019 and for existing clients, providers will have until 1 July 2020 to comply
- no longer charging separately for administration costs.
The Schedule was released as part of the recent My Aged Care system upgrade on 5 March 2019. All providers must review and submit their pricing information before 1 July 2019.
More information is available on the department's website.