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Aged & Community Services
SA & NT Inc©
246 Glen Osmond Road,
Fullarton SA 5063
Phone: (08) 8338 7111
Fax: (08) 8338 7077
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Volume 3, Issue 7, August 2010
Please note some of the articles provided have additional papers which can be downloaded or links to another website page. In some cases these documents are linked to the ACS Members Only section of this website and will require a Username and Password. All members have been issued with a Username and Password. If you have not received this please contact the Communications Officer with your contact details and you will be issued with your access details.
Late Breaking News
The latest Grand Plan Campaign Bulletin is available. This week we strongly encourage you to send a letter to your local candidates to let them know we need:
- Choice of accommodation and care
- Access to care and support when and where it is needed, and
- Sustainability through appropriate funding from Government subsidies and private contributions, for our older Australians.
The letter template is attached . . . just fill in a few details and it's ready to go! Also attached is a flyer you can send with your letter, summarising the priorities for aged care.
Organise your own grand event. A kit to help you plan and hold an event, including a template invitation, media alert, logo, tips and ideas is available. We need as many events to be held across Australia as possible to draw attention to the campaign and aged care issues.
And here's an example of what one member is doing to support the Campaign . . .
ECH website link
ECH have invited all visitors to the ECH website http://www.ech.asn.au/ to "send a message to your MP if the care of our older people is important to you in this election. "
Press campaign
ECH will also begin an advertising campaign to promote The Grand Plan in all local Messenger newspapers (12 regional papers enable delivery to almost all homes in metropolitan Adelaide) from this week's issue (delivered Wednesday August 4th). An example appears below. Look out for these ads in your local Messenger!
ACS encourages members to get as many Grand Plan posters (Speak Up and Young and Old) out as possible, so the community becomes 
more aware of the Grand Plan. Please use your networks (Probus, Rotary, Lions, Church Groups, CWA, Sporting Clubs, are only a few examples) and distribute posters to local community notice boards.
ACS would love members to report where they have seen a Grand Plan poster (not placed by them) and email us so we can keep a tally of sightings of Grand Plan posters!
A member has recently raised problems with the ACAT assessment not reflecting the care needs of clients when they enter residential care. The member reports that a significant number of clients have been assessed as high care; however, when the provider does a pre-assessment for ACFI they find that the clients have low care needs. This causes much angst for clients and family as they have frequently been prepared to pay a charge and become upset when they are asked to pay a bond. It can also lead to inappropriate admission to a high care facility. The member also says that clients with dementia are also being incorrectly assessed.
If you are having similar issues or wish to advise ACS of another issue involving ACAT please contact the Residential Services Manager, Carolanne Barkla (PH 08 8338 7111 or E: residential@agedcommunity.asn.au).
ACS Board nominations are now open, and we encourage members who have a desire to serve the aged and community services sector to please consider nominating for the ACS Board.
Letters are being sent out today to all financial members confirming the vacancies on the ACS Board and with instructions for nomination. Nominations close on Friday 27 August 2010.
The new Board structure agreed at the Special General Meeting in April this year, and to be put into place following the next AGM on 22 October 2010, will consist of eight Board members, six representing the Metropolitan Region, one representing the new South Region, and one representing the new North Region. One further change agreed requires that a member may only nominate for a Board vacancy in their appropriate Region (Region being based on location of company Registered/Head Office). Individual member letters confirm which Region the member organisation is based in; however, if you do require confirmation of this please contact Hazel Parker for clarification.
Based on the agreement to maintain continuity within the Board, existing Board members within their three-year existing Board term will remain in position to complete their existing term, but with two members completing their three-year term this year, this creates two Board vacancies, one for the Metropolitan Region and one for the South Region. The North Region position is currently filled by an existing Board member who is within their three-year term.
While nominations are open to all financial members to nominate within their Region, we would very much like to hear from individuals with skills around the following areas, to help compliment existing skills within the Board:
- Legal background
- Federal/State Government Intelligence background/knowledge
- Public Relations/Marketing/Promotions background
The nomination form is available to download and complete, and please ensure that this is returned to the ACS office no later than Friday 27 August 2010.
National News
Implementation of ‘the guide’ for community packaged care providers on how to respond when a client does not respond to a scheduled visit
The June 2008 Ministerial Conference of Ageing (MCA) meeting agreed to develop nationally consistent protocols to deal with non-response of community care clients when care workers arrive for a scheduled visit.
As a result of 18 months of consultation with industry and service providers, it was agreed that ‘The Guide’ should now be implemented. Please refer to these documents for further information and to view a copy of 'The Guide'.
Further information: please visit the website or contact The Aged Care Information Line on 1800 500 853.
Managing a Seasonal Influenza Outbreak - Community Care
Please click here for a letter and a fact sheet about the prevention and management of influenza outbreaks.
For further information, please contact the Aged Care Information Line on 1800 500 853 or visit www.health.gov.au
ACS wishes to draw members’ attention to the PMG kit for aged care which is an implementation kit to accompany The Australian Pain Society’s Pain in Residential Aged Care Facilities; Management Strategies.
The kit can be downloaded from the Department of Health & Ageing website
July 2010 edition of the Residential Aged Care Communiqué
Please click here to access a copy of this Special Edition – Practice Change
Health System Reform and Care at the End of Life
The Palliative Care Australia document Health System Reform and Care at the End of Life: A Guidance Document is recommended reading for those involved in end of life care and provides information about national reform.
To access the document please click here.
Confidential national online survey to prevent financial abuse of older people
We invite older people (over 65) and/or members of an older person's family to participate in a confidential national on-line survey to help us to develop older-person-centred models of family mediation to prevent the financial abuse of older people by their family members, which is the most commonly reported form of abuse (along with psychological abuse).
We are a group of researchers from the University of South Australia and Flinders University who have been awarded an Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage grant in partnership with the Department for Families and Communities, Office for the Ageing, Office of the Public Advocate, Guardianship Board, Alzheimer’s Australia South Australia and Relationships Australia South Australia.
Survey participants will not be asked for their names or any other information that might identify them. The survey questions have been approved by the UniSA Human Research Ethics Committee.
Click here to access the online survey link for older people and their family members.
If preferred, copies of the survey can be downloaded, printed and given to people to complete.The completed survey can then be forwarded to Associate Professor Dale Bagshaw, University of South Australia, St Bernard's Road, Magill, South Australia, 5072.
The closing date for completion and submission of the surveys is August 31st, 2010.
Local News
Amendments to the Controlled Substances (Poisons) Regulations 1996 effective 3 June 2010
ACS wishes to draw members’ attention to the Amendments to the Controlled Substances Regulations 1996. The amendments are of particular relevance to Nurses, Midwives and Medical Practitioners and include the removal of regulation 31l requiring ‘a medical practitioner or dentist principally responsible for the treatment of the patient to renew the instructions for administration of a drug of dependence in a health service every thirty days’. However, note ‘the required frequency for review of the patient and renewal of the instructions are a matter of clinical judgment’.
Please click here to review ALL recent amendments to the Controlled Substances (Poisons) Regulations 1996
Successful applicants for Consumer Directed Care funding announced
ACS warmly congratulates those organisations successful in securing Consumer Directed Care (CDC) and CDC respite funding in the innovation pool program.
In May 2010, the Department issued an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for funding of CDC in Australian Government community aged care programs. Under the initiative, the Government has selected community aged care providers to deliver innovative service models, which will provide care recipients and their carers with greater control over the design and delivery of the care and services they receive.
Successful SA applicants are:
- Resthaven Incorporated
- Alwyndor Aged Care
- ECH Inc
- Southern Cross Care
- Helping Hand Aged Care Inc
- ACH Group
60% of direct care workers in residential and 70% in community care are aged over 45 years (NILS 2008). The ageing of our workforce has the potential to result in significant skill shortage in the future unless strategies are developed to adequately support our valued mature workers. ACS has been successful in achieving funding from Employers Mutual Ltd to develop a comprehensive resource aimed at supporting mature workers in the aged and community care sector. The Project aims to address some of the broad factors which increase the risk of a work related injury and impede return to work outcomes.
The Mature Workers Matter project will deliver a web-based resource, comprising a package of practical information, tools and measures to assist aged & community care providers to establish policies and procedures to support their mature workers. Information sessions and Master Classes will be conducted in how to implement and trial strategies and best practice examples which best suit your organisation. To maximise project sustainability, industry ‘Champions’ will be recruited from the Master Classes as regional advocates, assisting with the trialling and refining the resources and promoting best practice.
To address real issues in a practical and sustainable manner, ACS will be providing opportunities for members to participate. Please take this opportunity to be part of this important project.
PROJECT STAGES
Stage 1. Industry Consultation - September 2010
- CEO/Senior Managers x 1 at ACS
- Human Resource Managers and Supervisors x 1 at ACS
- Mature Workers (aged 45+) x2 at ACS x1 Whyalla, x1 Naracoorte
Stage 2. Resource Development – October – January 2011
- Practical strategies to support mature workers
- Examples of best practice – case studies
- Workforce profiling tools which identify injury/incidents across age groups
- Tools to measure individual capacity to perform (adapted Work Ability Tool)
- Job re-design tool and examples of different models of care
- A Mature Workers Matter checklist that aged and community care providers can use to evaluate their organisations performance when it comes to supporting mature workers
Stage 3. Master Classes February – June 2011
- Organisation representatives to attend 4 master classes (scheduled in 6 weekly intervals) which will assist them to implement project strategies and resources within their own organisation and evaluate their usefulness
- The resource will be launched and master class participants will receive a certificate of completion. Industry champions invited from each region to lead ongoing evaluation and refinement of information and tools
Stage 4. Resource Implementation and Refinement - June – November 2011
- 6 weekly meetings with Champions and interested participants to monitor progress and provide feedback
For more information about this exciting project contact Carol Mohan, ACS, 8338 7111, email hacc@agedcommunity.asn.au.
ACS wishes to draw members’ attention to IMPACT Bowel Care For The Older Patient resource: A Guide to the Management of Constipation and Faecal Impaction in the Older Person.
The Guide was developed by an independent working party with the support of an unrestricted educational grant by Norgine Pty Ltd. Health professionals can call 1800 636 000 to order a copy.
On 29 June 2010 the final report of the Social Development Committee’s Inquiry into Dental Services for Older South Australians was tabled in the South Australian Parliament. The report can be found on the parliamentary website.
ACS urges all members to read the report and ensure that clients and residents are receiving assessment of their oral health care status on admission and are referred to appropriate services. ACS draws members’ attention to the free Better Oral Health in Residential Care training being offered through RDNS and urges members to undertake the free education.
ACS is currently reviewing the report and is seeking information and opinions about:
- Barriers to accessing dental care by residents.
- Whether any newly built facilities have incorporated a space which can be utilised by dentists in the provision of services.
- Any issues that providers face regarding oral health for residents.
Please contact the Residential Services Manager, Carolanne Barkla (PH 08 8338 7111 or E: residential@agedcommunity.asn.au)
Every Generation Positive Ageing Awards 2010
Recognising the importance of a philosophy of positive ageing, these Awards acknowledge the contributions of older individuals as well as programs, projects and organisations which realise and exemplify positive ageing.
The Awards are now open to South Australian individuals and programs. Please click here for further information including nomination forms.
Residential Services Manager Darwin Visit
The Residential Services Manager will be in Darwin from the afternoon of 11 August 2010 through to 13 August 2010. Please contact Carolanne Barkla if you wish to meet to discuss any issues (PH 08 8338 7111, E: residential@agedcommunity.asn.au).
Residential Services Manager Waikerie Visit
The Residential Services Manager will be in Waikerie on 31 August 2010. Please contact Carolanne Barkla if you wish to meet to discuss any issues (PH 08 8338 7111, E: residential@agedcommunity.asn.au).
Aged care provider wins Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award
ACS congratulates South Australian aged care provider, Viv Padman, who has won the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for SA & NT for 2010, in the Services category.
The award, which recognises the region’s top entrepreneurial talent, acknowledges the contribution entrepreneurs make to the economy and our broader community. Winners from each Australian State compete for the title of Australian Entrepreneur of the Year. The winner of the Australian competition then goes overseas to compete to be the World winner of the Entrepreneur of the Year.
Click here for further details.
Coming Events
CEDA’s Funding Aged Care Forum, Thursday 12 August, 8.30 am–2 pm, Melbourne
CEDA’s Funding Aged Care Forum will focus on the regulatory and commercial environments for these new models, exploring the interactions between sources and cost of capital, regulation and restructuring of costing arrangements.
Click here for further information.
Palliative Care Nurses Australia Conference 27-28 August, Brisbane
There is an important nursing conference coming up at the end of this month we thought nurses in aged care would love to know about and consider attending. And it is in lovely warm Brisbane!
It is the Palliative Care Nurses Australia Conference called "Excellence and Innovation", 27th-28th August at the Brisbane Convention Centre. Speakers include:
- Professor Deborah Sherman from the USA, who will speak on opportunities to achieve professional and systems excellence in palliative care.
- Professor Patsy Yates, QLD University of Technology will discuss optimising nursing contribution to quality end of life care
- Molly Carlile from Victoria, who uses the arts as a vehicle to empower people.
There are many concurrent sessions of great interest too! Registration Form and further information available on the website.
2010 SA Gerontology Conference “Food for thought: recipes for positive ageing”
With just under two months to go, registration is bubbling along for the 2010 SA Gerontology Conference “Food for thought: recipes for positive ageing” to be held at the Stamford Grand, Glenelg, on Friday 10 September 2010.
Click here: SAGe 2010 Registration to register and find links to the SAGe2010 web page and contact details for further information. The current program for the conference is available from the website, the program committee is busily finalising a few of the details and should have a final version for upload in the next few weeks.
Join us to explore the possibilities in Aged Care . . . ACSA National Conference 19-22 September
The ACSA twenty 10 National Conference will be the most important aged and community care event this year. The Conference will be held at the Hotel Grand Chancellor on Hobart’s beautiful waterfront from Sunday 19 September to Wednesday 22 September, 2010.
The theme is ‘Explore the Possibilities.’ In 2009 we stood up for the future of aged and community are and made our voices heard in Government and the community. This year it is time for us to design a bright and sustainable future for our industry. To make sure we explore all the possibilities we will draw on sources far and wide – finding lessons and innovation both outside our industry ‘square’ and from within our industry.
At the Conference you will be asked to:
- Imagine a future where aged and community care draws on innovation and ideas from leaders in other fields;
- Explore how we might apply new ideas, technologies and practice to our industry; and
- Create a new and bright future for our clients, residents, families, staff and organisations.
The Registration Brochure is available here.
2nd Int'l Swine Flu Conference
The upcoming 2nd Int'l Swine Flu Conference will be held on 18-19 August 2010 at Hilton Washington Dulles Airport Hotel, VA USA. Delegates are coming from US, Europe, Africa and Asia Pacific.
In addition to insightful presentations and dynamic panel discussions, you can also choose from over 30 concurrent breakout sessions.
Click here for more information on the event.
ACS Education & Training Events
ACS 2010 Training Program
The 2010 Training Program is constantly updated. Registration forms for the events will be placed on the website as they are prepared, and also sent to members. Please mark this page as a bookmark and return to it regularly to view any changes and additions.
Would members please indicate whether they are interested in attending training on the following issues:
- Medicare Online Claiming; and/or
- How to read/interpret your Commonwealth Subsidy Claim Form Returns.
Please contact the Residential Services Manager Carolanne Barkla (PH: 08 8338 7111 or E: residential@agedcommunity.asn.au) to express your interest.
External Reviews - Are you ready? 2 September 2010
Remove the stress and disruption of Accreditation. This training is designed for managers, coordinators, supervisors, quality coordinators and key staff who want to learn practical strategies and preparation steps for visits by the Accreditation Agency, Complaints Investigation Scheme and Food Safety Auditors.
Presented by: Mary Dunn
Mid Career and Life Stage - Your Future, Your Direction, 7 September 2010
Mid career and mid life can be a wonderful time, but it can also be an emotional passage. A time of uncertainty, upheaval or dissatisfaction, or even a sense of “there must be more to life than this”.
In this practical and thought provoking workshop Inta supports participants to plan for the future, commit to take action and implement strategies that support personal goals and those of the organisation, and take the opportunity to consider broader strategies for retaining and developing staff.
Coping with Change Positively 9 September 2010
Organisational change has become a way of life as a result of three forces: globalisation, information technology, and industry consolidation.
Organisations are faced with constant demands for change, but the problem is people resist change. It is important to understand why they resist change, and to confront change openly, and confidently. This program encourages participants to understand why they resist and how to develop positive strategies for coping with change and growing and developing as a result of it.
OH&S Five-day course for Health and Safety Representatives 16 September 2010
This 5-day, Safework SA approved course has been designed for Occupational Health and Safety Representatives working in the aged care sector.
In South Australia, a group of workers can elect a fellow worker to represent them on health, safety and welfare issues. The group of workers is called a ‘work group’ for this purpose, and the person they elect to represent them is
called a Health and Safety Representative (HSR).
HSRs have legal rights and functions to assist them to carry out their role. The course will provide you with the skills and knowledge to understand and meet regulatory obligations and responsibilities associated with the role of HSR
and have a positive impact on the health and safety of your workplace.
Course content: Introduction to H&S in the workplace:
• OH&S Legislation
• Role of HSR
• Hazard Management
• Role of H&S Committee
• Consultation and Conflict resolution
• Research, Prepare and Present a Case on an OHS&W issue
Papers from ACS Forums
Papers and Presentations from some of the recently held ACS Forums are available for members-only access. Click here to view the list of presentations available.