Advocates for older persons back controversial changes in aged care

Key points:

• Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) approves of the Australian Government’s accelerated timeline for round-the-clock on-site nursing care in aged care facilities
• The new change will be mandated from July 1, 2023
• Although some see the recommendation as a positive improvement for aged care quality and safety, some providers in rural and remote areas say that the requirement is not achievable

Following key recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, 24/7 nursing will be mandatory for all residential aged care facilities as of July, with an increase to care minutes from October 1, 2023. Speeding up the delivery process was a key Albanese Government election commitment.

Leading advocacy group, OPAN is participating in the Expert Advisory Group, which considers the alternative arrangements which must be put in place for rural and remote facilities that will be granted some exemptions. OPAN Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Craig Gear OAM says the change will benefit residents and the industry will need to accommodate workforce shortages.

”24/7 nursing is the key to high quality aged care, including high quality dementia care,” says Mr Gear, “rapid access to the right level of clinical support is crucial. We know health-related incidents don’t wait until the working day commences — they can happen at any time.”

“The Royal Commission threw a spotlight on a broken system. There is no overnight fix.”

Mr Gear says data collected through the Star Ratings system confirms staffing levels are lower than anticipated and may not be enough to meet the needs of older people.

Aged Care Minister Anika Wells says that as many as one-in-20 residential care homes would be unable to meet the requirement by the July deadline, with New South Wales provider Wesley Mission closing three facilities due to the upcoming change. In a recent television interview on A Current Affair, Minister Wells shares her sympathy for the residents and expresses the need for residential facilities to seek Government support.

“My heart goes out to those residents and their families. It’s a tough time for them,” she says, “[…] we need to have a conversation about where people are finding inefficiencies in the system and where they are finding things too difficult.”

Support measures in place for facilities which may be unable to meet the nursing requirements include a 24/7 Registered Nurse (RN) supplement for small residential aged care facilities in rural and remote areas The CEO highlights a recent Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission webinar, in which, Commissioner Janet Anderson says the ACQSC would not close the doors of any non-compliant service that was “trying hard and delivering safe, quality care.”

“In all circumstances, our approach to regulating these responsibilities will be fair and sensible,” says Commissioner Anderson.

OPAN will advise older people and their families on the consequences of these recent reforms at a webinar on June 27 at 1pm Australian Eastern Standard Time (1pm AEST).