LASA Fusion Autumn 2019 by Adbourne Publishing

The voice of aged care Autumn 2019 | www.lasa.asn.au

From aged care to

AGEING

WELL ROYAL COMMISSION a once in a generation opportunity to get it right

Featured Articles

n Focusing on wellness and wellbeing n Innovations in architecture and design n Enhancing quality of life for older Australians with dementia n Supporting CALD communities

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CONTENTS The voice of aged care Autumn 2019 | www.lasa.asn.au

OPINION 5 Chair’s Column

I nnovative Australian-first dementia village

CEO’s Column

oh-i-noor: bringing the outside in K to enhance ageing well

Minister’s Column

ore being asked on antimicrobial M stewardship

value to the wellbeing of ageing Australians

hat you need to consider during W the influenza season

LASA Excellence in Age Services Awards 2019

ime poor? Cost pressures? Need T expert help?

The Xtra Buddy Program

reasons why home care is the 7 answer to ageing well

complete solution for healthy A ageing

NATIONAL UPDATE 11 In pursuit of innovation: adding 15 EDITOR

16 A once in a generation opportunity:

Linda Baraciolli Leading Age Services Australia Ltd T: 02 6230 1676 E: editor@lasa.asn.au

your Royal Commission update

MANAGER CORPORATE AFFAIRS Gerard Delaney Leading Age Services Australia Ltd T: 03 9805 9444 E: gerardd@lasa.asn.au

A national agenda for ageing well

Self-assessment: what to do now!

22 R etirement living—a shifting market!

25 E ven if robots can “fix” loneliness, the question remains—should they?

ADDRESS

PREPARING FOR THE NEW AGED CARE QUALITY STANDARDS 29 L ASA launches Safety & Quality

First Floor Andrew Arcade 42 Giles Street Kingston ACT 2604

Management System

30 Managing public scrutiny of the

ADBOURNE PUBLISHING PO Box 735, Belgrave, VIC 3160 Advertising Production

Royal Commission

Adbourne

Melbourne: Neil Muir (03) 9758 1433

PUBLISHING

Adelaide: Robert Spowart 0488 390 039 Emily Wallis (03) 9758 1436

33 Ageing well in a foreign land 35 C ontinuation of an ordinary life 37 L iving longer… living better… the choice is individual

38 Innovation and diversity in governance

Administration Tarnia Hiosan (03) 9758 1436

INSIGHTS FROM INDUSTRY 41 W hen design, health and technology meet

Cover shot: Uniting AgeWell client Mima Mitchell enjoying the gym at Strathdon AgeWell Centre in Melbourne.

DISCLAIMER Fusion is the regular publication of Leading Age Services Australia (LASA). Unsolicited contributions are welcome but LASA reserves the right to edit, abridge, alter or reject material. Opinions expressed in Fusion are not necessarily those of LASA and no responsibility is accepted by the Association for statements of fact or opinions expressed in signed contributions. Fusion may be copied in whole for distributed amongst an organisation’s staff. No part of Fusion may be reproduced in any other form without written permission from the article’s author.

The dental crusaders

ctive at Home: helping older A Australians remain independent

edication management for older M Australians

MEMBER STORIES rightwater selected to test 68 B specialist dementia unit ahead of national rollout

70 N ew model makes wellness more accessible

73 R osewood hits the right note 76 A geing well through active living and community participation

77 W hat does it take to reach the international gold standard in dementia design?

80 P utting the focus on relationshipbased home care

82 B uilding a community not an aged care facility

84 O n-site pharmacist provides realtime guidance

OUT AND ABOUT 86 Out and about with LASA 89 WHAT’S NEW

Aged care data in practice

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OPINION

WORKING IN THE INTERESTS

OF OLDER AUSTRALIANS The Royal Commission presents an opportunity for policy reform and a demonstration of LASA’s leadership.

Dr Graeme Blackman AO FTSE FAICD, Chair, Leading Age Services Australia

his year, thanks to a number of seismic shifts in the industry, we have an unprecedented opportunity to take meaningful steps to move forward from the traditional notions of ‘aged care’ and to embrace the new reality of enabling and supporting the growing numbers of older Australians to ‘age well’. Without doubt, the most significant agent for change is the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. This process offers our nation and our industry the opportunity to make the aged care system better. A better system that delivers accessible, affordable, quality care and services for all older Australians in need. We don’t want to pre-empt how the Royal Commission might want to imagine that, but it’s fair to say that the tone set at the directions hearing in January confirmed that we all want a world class, high-performing, and compassionate aged care system. Leading Age Services Australia (LASA) affirms our support for Royal Commission’s desire for an open and transparent process. A process that provides a forum for all stakeholders to tell their stories with regard to their experiences of the aged care system. This will afford all involved in the process an opportunity to hear first-hand the personal stories of individuals, including older Australians, their families, and aged care staff and their organisations, on their lived experience of the aged care system. It will be through hearing these stories that we can truly understand where the system has failed and from this what we need to do either differently or better. LASA has welcomed the recognition in the Commission’s Terms of Reference of the importance of building a national culture of respect for ageing and older persons. This is fundamental to Australia as a nation better supporting the growing numbers of older Australians to age well.

While the Royal Commission will be a challenging process for the industry, it also presents an opportunity for policy reform and a demonstration of LASA’s leadership. LASA seeks to play an active and vocal role as a solution seeker. This will inform the Royal Commission’s processes, as well as the likely policy reforms that will inevitably follow. Early policy development and preparedness will put LASA in a strong position to be proactive and assist LASA to work more effectively in response to Royal Commission recommendations. We are actively working on plans to engage our Members how best to do this. I also take this opportunity to reiterate LASA’s clear commitment to acting in the interests of older Australians and in the interests of our Members’ efforts to effectively, and equitably, deliver services to meet their needs. LASA always acts with integrity and consistent with the Objects in our Constitution. Most notably to: • P romote the provision of equitable and high quality age services, for the benefit and betterment of older persons in Australia • I nfluence, shape and develop the immediate and long term strategic direction and vision for the betterment, care and wellbeing of older persons in Australia • Facilitate effective representation for and on behalf of its Members before governments and to advocate to government in relation to age services on policy development with the aim of improving, broadening or enhancing the services being provided to older persons in Australia This year there is a clear challenge for our industry, the government and the community at large, to find new and better ways to support older Australians to age well. We are all in this together and we must get this right. ■

OPINION

AIM FOR THE BULLSEYE FINDING NEW AND BETTER WAYS TO SUPPORT AGEING WELL

Supporting older Australians to age well should be a national priority for government and the community at large, with a key role for the age services sector to play.

widely held marketing principle says it’s important to aim for the bullseye, not the target. Widening your focus can help you hit the target more often, but it won’t be as effective.

In 2019, the challenge for our industry, government and the community at large, is to find new and better ways for our industry to support older Australians to age well—and hit the bullseye. The ageing Baby Boomer generation is leading the growth in the number of older Australians in our society, and is evidence of Australia’s success in enabling people to live longer, healthier and more productive lives. We all want a society in which everyone enjoys later life, where we have good health, safe and accessible housing, fulfilling work and connected communities. To achieve this we need to ensure that as a society and as an industry, older Australians find meaning and purpose in their lives. Where the care and support our sector provides encompasses not just physical health but also emotional, spiritual and social wellbeing, along with connections within the community. Our industry is already responding to this fundamental shift in community expectations around ageing, with new and innovative services increasingly being delivered to older Australians. They include programs that bring young and old together to share their experiences; initiatives that encourage participation in creative or physical activities; technology-based approaches to care; more innovations in home care; and a focus on models of care that bring residents, their families and carers closer together to support overall wellbeing, not just clinical needs. This year, set against the background of a dynamic political environment and a Royal Commission, we face an unprecedented opportunity to make aged care better. To realise the opportunities this affords we must be bold in our aspirations. We must speak truth to power and dare greatly as we move to transform our industry and the nation to new understandings of ageing and aged care. With the Federal Budget on 2 April forecast to return to surplus this year, we have called on the Australian Government to ensure our aged care system is adequately resourced to meet the needs of those we serve. Older Australians deserve nothing less. Put simply, world class quality in aged care requires world class funding.

Sean Rooney Chief Executive Officer Leading Age Services Australia

Both the Australian Government and the Opposition have recognised that aged care and ageing is an issue of national importance and we are working with both sides of politics to get the settings right. In the lead-up to the federal election, expected in May, we have developed an election manifesto to ensure that the voice of older Australians, their families and the people who care for them is heard loud and clear by candidates of all political persuasions. The new Aged Care Quality Standards, which take effect on 1 July, is another vehicle for the evolution of our industry. With a strong emphasis on person-centred care and upholding the dignity and rights of older Australians, they embody a culture of respect, inclusion, choice and independence. LASA has been proactive in supporting our Members to transition to the Quality Standards effectively through webinars, masterclasses, presentations at regional forums, and other Member engagements. We have encouraged our Members to conduct comprehensive self-assessment processes using our guidance materials as a measuring stick to self-assess their own performance against the organisational requirements. We have also launched a new online tool to help providers ensure they are meeting and exceeding the new requirements of the Aged Care Quality Standards. As an industry we are also actively working to transform our workforce to improve services to older Australians through the establishment of the Aged Care Workforce Industry Council. This Council will lead the implementation of Australia’s aged care workforce strategy: A matter of care—a strategy for Australia’s aged care workforce, produced by the Professor John Pollaers led Aged Care Workforce Strategy Taskforce. The strategy is a comprehensive examination of the key issues facing Australia’s aged care workforce, and the entire industry will need to come together to realise its full potential and support workforce transformation. This Council will provide a platform for industry engagement, working to ensure the design and rollout of the recommended actions are practical, relevant and adequately resourced, to drive meaningful change. I look forward to working with the industry and supporting our Members in implementing these and other reforms to make age services better for all Australians—and ensure we hit the bullseye. ■

OPINION

AGEING WELL IN THE THIRD AGE BETTER ACCESS TO AGED CARE, BETTER QUALITY OF CARE, AND BETTER AGEING The Hon. Ken Wyatt AM, MP, Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care

iving to 100 years old was an exceptional feat for previous generations. Today, there are more than 3,500 living Australians who have passed that milestone.

We are living longer than ever before, which is great news. But we need to plan and take action to get the most out of those extra years. Ageing well means staying in the best possible shape across the board—physically, mentally, socially and financially. In turn, this means changing our habits and our attitudes. First up, we can abandon the idea a 60 year-old person is ‘old’. If we live to 90 or 100, 60 is just the start of our ‘third age’. It’s a time when we can enjoy our intellect and wisdom, and although we may not be as strong as we once were, we are still physically capable.

As individuals and as a society, our view of the life journey must include these later, third age years. Our health system and our aged care system also need to change. Our goals must be a health system that prevents disease and an aged care system that provides flexible support to encourage independent, connected and safe living as long as possible. But we also need to take responsibility for ourselves. There are many things Australians can do to ensure they age well and are prepared so they can enjoy those later years. One of them is to become part of a community. I grew up in a country town and I love the friendly feeling they generate. Everyone gets to know each other, and generally, that means they care about and support each other.

Minister Wyatt promotes the Life Checks website.

OPINION

There’s a movement around the world to recreate this community of support and caring for senior people. It can be done by physically relocating into communities of senior people, or it can be done by connecting mature aged people within a broader society. This was done in Waverton on Sydney’s Lower North Shore. The Waverton Hub was created by a group of 12 people aged over 50 in late 2012. It opened for membership in August 2013 with a program of activities to help members enjoy their lives, be as healthy as they can and stay in their own homes as long as they can, all at minimum expense. It has continued to build and has become a model that I hope will be followed in communities across Australia to counter loneliness and promote healthy ageing. There are also things we can do as individuals and at the other end of the spectrum, as a society, and a nation. I believe we need to focus on three things: better access to aged care, better quality of care, and very importantly, better ageing to reduce our need for care. These three themes are all reflected in the More Choices for a Longer Life 2018 Budget package, with healthy ageing and aged care measures making up a significant component.

Financial preparedness is an important aspect of Life Checks. One in two Australians over the age of 55 do not have a financial plan for the next five years, with even fewer having a longer term plan. Retirement is no longer the only option for people as they grow older. Having a job not only provides extra income but helps you to stay involved in the community. The health area of the quiz focuses on risk factors for preventable disease, with research showing nearly nine out of 10 people over 65 are living with at least one of eight chronic diseases. Social and community connections are also essential for healthy ageing, with engagement through some form of work, volunteering or community activities giving people a strong sense of purpose. Just taking the quiz is a positive step, offering encouragement and accessible resources to improve things you may want to change to realise your dreams and help futureproof your life. I encourage everyone to take the Life Check. Whether we live to be 100 or not, this simple check can help us to enjoy every year that lies ahead of us. ■ For more information about Life Checks or to take your Life Check visit www.lifechecks.gov.au

We have increased aged care funding by around $1 billion a year since 2013 and will increase funding by a further $5 billion over the next four years. We have created the new, independent Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission to handle complaints and accredit, assess and monitor the compliance of aged care facilities against the new Aged Care Quality Standards. We legislated for these standards, the first upgrade in 20 years. At MYEFO in December 2018, our Government announced a $552.9 million aged care investment and in February this year we added a further $662 million commitment to this. We are continuing to take steps to improve the system for the benefit of all Australians. This package provided a foundation for better security and certainty for senior Australians, through forward planning. It will boost Australians’ confidence in their long-term financial security, by making changes to the Pension Work Bonus, the Pension Loans Scheme and superannuation and by giving more choice to retirees. The new Life Checks program announced in the Budget is now available. It gives the nine and a half million Australians aged 45 and over access to free information and advice to plan and take positive steps towards better health, financial and employment security, and more social interaction. Two Life Checks are available, one for people aged 45 to 64 and another for those aged 65 and older. They only take a few minutes but they can make a lifetime of difference. Results and recommendations are available via email in an easy-to-read format.

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SAVE THE DATE! Join us on the journey to Better Ageing Futures for all Australians. #LASACONGRESS2019 10

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NATIONAL UPDATE

IN PURSUIT OF INNOVATION

ADDING VALUE TO THE WELLBEING OF AGEING AUSTRALIANS

s our industry transitions to the new Aged Care Quality Standards, Leading Age Services Australia’s (LASA’s) State Conference Program is assisting Members and the broader industry create innovative quality age services that meet the new standards and the needs of older Australians.

This year’s conferences offer a platform for participants to explore the development of solution-focused and actionoriented outcomes in time to meet the introduction of the new standards on 1 July 2019. The State Conference programs encourage participants to draw on logic, imagination, intuition and reasoning, to explore the ‘what could be’ possibilities that create innovative outcomes to facilitate ageing well.

L-R LASA State Manager NSW/ACT Brendan Moore and LASA Principal Advisor Residential Aged Care Sharyn McIlwain with Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Executive Director Ann Wunsch.

The first of the State Conferences to be held in 2019 was the Tri State Conference in Albury over three days last month, for delegates from metropolitan and regional Victoria, South Australia and regional New South Wales. With the theme ‘Creating Innov8tive Quality Care’, the conference was the first LASA conference since the start of the Royal Commission and start of operations for the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. ne of the big drawcards at Albury was the Aged Care O Quality and Safety Commission’s Executive Director Quality Assessment and Monitoring Operations, Ann Wunsch, who outlined the Commission’s vision for the Aged Care Quality Framework. The Commission’s vision is to support a world-class aged care service driven by empowered consumers who enjoy the best possible quality of life.

•

Panel discussion of Aged Care Royal Commission.

•

HESTA Client Relationship Manager Mark Ashby.

The Royal Commission was a feature topic, with a lively panel discussion on the opening day, followed by a highly informative presentation by Sabine Phillips from Gaden Lawyers on the legal impact of the Commission on providers. In his address to the conference, LASA CEO Sean Rooney reiterated comments made to the Royal Commission that aged care is an issue of national importance. “The Royal Commission is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to address current and future challenges and opportunities in the aged care system. “It is a critical moment in time providing the opportunity for older Australians, their families, Government, the industry and the wider community to build a system that reflects

Continued on page 12

NATIONAL UPDATE Continued from page 11 L-R: LASA Director and CEO of Shepparton Villages Kerri Rivett with LASA Principal Advisor Residential Aged Care Sharyn McIlwain.

LASA State Manager SA/NT Rosetta Rosa visits the W&L Mobile Healthcare Services booth.

needs, national aspirations and community values while ensuring sufficient agility to be able to respond to emerging developments in technology, scientific advances and innovations in models of care. “Over the next 20 years, the aged care system will need to adapt to rising demand, and changing needs and expectations for services as Australia’s population ages.” He said older Australians need confidence that they can readily access good quality care that is safe and affordable and the Australian community needs to be confident that the aged care system provides appropriate care and support for older Australians. Exploring the innovative ways that our industry can use to provide that care and support was the common theme running through the three-day program, with topics on workforce issues, governance, consumer dignity and choice, standards, funding, food and nutrition, facilities and the built environment. The Tri State Conference also saw the official launch of LASA’s new, easy-to-use Safety & Quality Management System that providers can use to meet their obligations within the new aged care quality framework. The system allows users to identify, collect and store the evidence required to demonstrate compliance against the standards. (Read more about it on page 29.) This year’s conference closed with a bang, well, a boom— with Marcus Riley, author of Booming—drawing on his 20 years’ experience in the industry to share his stories of people flourishing at all stages of later life. Marcus talked about how embracing positivity, planning how to live the rest of your life, and understanding the need for purpose can help everyone age successfully. We can either accept that old age means to fade away, deteriorate and wither on the vine, or we can seize the opportunity to revel in our later years with joy, passion and wisdom. Ageing is one of humanity’s greatest triumphs, yet the perception of ‘getting older’ remains one of great negativity. There is a choice for all of us. LASA’s remaining conferences for 2019 are: NSW/ACT State Conference (6-8 May); WA State Conference (28-29 May); and LASA National Congress (27-29 October). ■ David O’Sullivan is Senior Media and Communications Adviser, Leading Age Services Australia.

LASA Manager Corporate Affairs Gerard Delaney with the team from First State Super.

Governance under the new Aged Care Quality Framework Managing risk and strengthening governance processes The new standards provide a framework of core requirements for quality and safety. Good governance within your organisation will help you to not only achieve, but exceed, the new standards. We build governance capabilities through a proven annual process: • Evaluation to identify opportunities for improvement, in particular for meeting Standard 8 • Building understanding of roles and responsibilities for governance • Capturing action plans and connecting with resources and support • Trending and benchmarking performance for continuous improvement

Solutions • Board Governance Evaluation • Director Development & Skills Matrix • Director Peer & CEO 360° Review • Board Committees Review

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NATIONAL UPDATE

LASA EXCELLENCE IN AGE SERVICES AWARDS 2019 VIC/TAS AND SA/NT WINNERS ANNOUNCED AT TRI STATE

or the second year, Leading Age Services Australia (LASA) with the support of HESTA is paying homage to outstanding examples of best-practice aged care in Australia, with the LASA Excellence in Age Services Awards. Aiming to promote and recognise excellence across the diverse and dynamic fields of endeavor in the age services industry, winners from Victoria/Tasmania and South Australia/Northern Territory were announced at LASA’s Tri State Conference in February. LASA CEO Sean Rooney praised the high quality of entries, saying the finalists represented the best and most innovative provision of care and services being delivered to older Australians and their families.

Vic/Tas (Organisation)

SA/NT (Organisation)

Old Colonists Association of Victoria

Vicki Bremer, Uniting Communities

Vic/Tas (Team) Sue Albert, Wellness and eablement Team, Bolton Clarke

SA/NT (Team) Cheree Whear,

Award categories cover Organisation, Team, Individual, and for the first time, Rising Star, which recognises an individual with less than five years of industry experience who has made an outstanding contribution to age services. State winners (pictured right) will join those from New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia, with the national awards to be presented at LASA National Congress 27-29 October 2019. LASA congratulates the following Vic/Tas and SA/NT finalists

Port Lincoln Home & Community Aged Care team, Uniting Communities

Vic/Tas (Organisation): Old Colonists Association of Victoria, Cooinda; Martin Luther Homes, Boronia Vic/Tas (Team): Wellness and Reablement Team, Bolton Clarke; Fronditha Care Lifestyle & Activities Team, Fronditha Aged Care; Sharing the caring: Lyndoch’s Care Pilot Team, Lyndoch Living Vic/Tas (Individual): Ryan Rodrigues (CraigCare); Khoryon ‘Tut’ Nyuon (Fronditha Care); Jo Laker (Benetas) Vic/Tas (Rising Star): Matiu Bush, Bolton Clarke; Eva Panouspoulos, Martin Luther Homes SA/NT (Organisation): ECH; the Willochra Home; Uniting Communities

Accepted by Sarah Mitchell

Vic/Tas (Individual) Ryan Rodrigues, CraigCare

SA/NT (Individual) Moti Naral, My Care Solution

Vic/Tas (Rising Star) Matiu Bush, Bolton Clarke

SA/NT (Rising Star) Bill Papazafiropoulos, Ridleyton Greek Home for the Aged

SA/NT (Team): LGBTI Connect, ECH; St Pauls Clinical Team, St Paul’s Luterhan Homes; Occupational Therapy & Assistive Technology Team, The Royal Society for the Blind; Port Lincoln Home & Community Aged Care team, Uniting Communities SA/NT (Individual): Jessica Coyne, Murray Mudge Aged Care; Moti Naral, My Care Solution SA/NT (Rising Star): Hariz Sulaiman, Helping Hand; Marianthi Kosmarkikou, Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia Community Care Services; Bill Papazafiropoulos, Ridleyton Greek Home for the Aged. ■

NATIONAL UPDATE

A ONCE IN A GENERATION OPPORTUNITY YOUR ROYAL COMMISSION UPDATE

ctivity surrounding the Aged Care Royal Commission (ACRC) has ramped up considerably over the past weeks. A new Commissioner (The Hon Richard Tracey AM RFD QC) was appointed to replace Justice McGrath who had asked to be relieved.

The ACRC is gathering a public submission and we encourage all providers to use this opportunity to let the Commission know where there are issues, what could be done to address these and also to let them know about the good work, innovation and quality care that is being delivered now.

Providers have been working on responses to the ACRC Service Provider Survey (Survey). Information requested by Leading Age Services Australia and provided by the ACRC Secretariat clarified definitions throughout this process which gave an early insight into the focus of the Inquiry.

Leading Age Services Australia (LASA) will continue to provide updates and resources to Members to support them through this period. Among the support is mental health and wellbeing training (see page 29) and access through our Affiliates to an Employee Assistance Program (https://lasa.asn.au/royalcommission-into-aged-care-quality-and-safety).

The Survey requested comprehensive information on occasion of sub-standard care, mistreatment and abuse and complaints for the five years to July 2018. The ACRC Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) included ‘community expectation’ as a definition and this was a key feature of the opening addresses from the Commissioners at the preliminary hearing on 18 January in Adelaide. At the hearing the resolve of the Commissioners to receive information was also reiterated and strongly echoed the FAQs, with Commissioner Briggs cautioning that providers who did not cooperate ‘would draw attention to themselves and their practices’ and Counsel Assisting Peter Gray QC adding a reminder of the ‘extensive powers of compulsion… we may, if necessary, exercise those powers to secure information that may inform our inquiry’. Gathering this information has been an enormous undertaking by providers in a short space of time and the Commissioners did note that, for some, record keeping had been an issue. Beyond uncovering stories from witnesses with ‘direct lived experience of the aged care system’, Counsel Assisting Dr McEvoy QC noted a focus would be on understanding systemic issues and developing recommendations to address and remedy them. The Survey gave providers an opportunity to describe the barriers they currently encounter with providing appropriate care to older Australians as well as to give details of what is done to deliver quality and innovative care.

LASA agrees with the opening remarks of Commissioner Briggs that the outcome of this Inquiry should be an aged care system which is a ‘world class caring system in which those receiving aged care and their loves ones can have confidence. One that is simple to understand, easily navigated and accessible to all, a system which has services that are compassionate, fit for purpose, customised to individual needs and to the highest standards in terms of quality and safety, a system in which aged care services are delivered effectively and can be sustained into the future.’ Counsel Assisting Peter Gray QA added that older Australians ‘deserve compassionate, high quality and safe care that is protective of their wellbeing and that respects their dignity’ and this was ‘ultimately to the benefit of the organisations and businesses in the sector as well as to all Australians’. The truth is, aged care is an issue of national importance. The safety of older Australians is not negotiable and any instance of failure of care is unacceptable. We all want a safe, high quality and high performing aged care system. Older Australians need it and older Australians deserve nothing less. We must all work together to realise the Royal Commission opportunity to make the aged care system better for all older Australians, now and into the future. ■ Jane Bacot-Kilpatrick is Aged Care Royal Commission Project Coordinator, Leading Age Services Australia. To contribute to the ACRC public submission visit https:// agedcare.royalcommission.gov.au/submissions/Pages/default. aspx

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NATIONAL UPDATE

A NATIONAL AGENDA FOR AGEING WELL

REALISING OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUILDING WELLNESS AND REABLEMENT IN AGED CARE

he Aged Care Legislative Review 2017 indicates that the average age for entry into residential aged care is 82 years for men and 84.5 years for women. In conjunction with this, nearly 1.3 per cent of 70 year olds, 15 per cent of 85 year olds and 50 per cent of 95 year olds are using home or residential care. The review also points out that there will be a very significant increase in demand for aged care services in the next 10 to 15 years, based on Australia’s ageing population. This will require increased investment activity from the mid to late 2020s to build the capacity and infrastructure to meet this challenge, including promoting a national agenda for ageing well.

Leading Age Services Australia has been advocating for a national conversation on ageing, and there is broad sector acknowledgement that further work is required. We need to build infrastructure for prevention and early intervention age services targeting the ’young’ aged (65-85 years) and the ‘mature’ aged (85+ years). We also need episodic wellness and/or reablement interventions that aim to educate and build the capacity of ageing Australians for healthy lifestyles, functional maintenance and restoration— delaying their need to access ongoing inhome care and support or residential care within a dependency arrangement. It wasn’t long ago that we saw the design of a national mental health program emerge from the backwaters of health Figure 1: The mental health intervention spectrum for mental disorders.

policy, and give birth to a plethora of preventative services implemented throughout Australia, with the aim to reduce the risk of persons developing mental health disability (the mental health intervention spectrum for mental disorders). In recent years, aged care providers have encountered a similar shift in policy approach, being introduced to the ideas of delivering wellness and reablement services with the aim to birth a national agenda for ageing well and preventing the need for older Australians to engage with increasing dependency in continuing care arrangements. When we align the ideas of wellness and reablement with a spectrum-based approach to the prevention, early intervention and treatment of aged-related health and functional decline, a new conceptual framework can be realised. By incorporating wellness and reablement interventions in age services delivery approaches, we have the potential to reinforce, build and expand on the transformation of age services to adopt a national agenda for ageing well (see Figure 1). There are three kinds of interventions we must consider, to put our best foot forward, and create a forward-thinking and innovative age services industry. Universal preventive interventions are targeted to the general public or a whole population group that has not been identified on the basis of individual risk or assessed need. They are consistent with implementing community-based

NATIONAL UPDATE

wellness interventions to support ageing well.Â The Australian Governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s January 2019 launch of the Life Checks website is a robust example of a universal preventive intervention. It offers more than 10 million older Australians aged 45 years and over free advice to support planning for later life with account for health, finance, work life and social connectedness. Selective preventive interventions are targeted to individuals or a subgroup of the population whose risk of developing aged-related health and functional decline is significantly higher than average. There are a range of emerging innovative service offerings aimed at supporting ageing well among at-risk groups that are consistent with selective preventive intervention. Envigor Home Care in Queensland is one such innovator, offering a health management solution (known as GRIT Health) to older persons living with chronic disease. If chronic disease among ageing persons is not managed appropriately it can lead to long-term disability and rapid decline to increasing dependency. There are many more emerging innovators out there at the frontier of our journey in promoting a national agenda for ageing well. Indicated preventive interventions are targeted to high-risk individuals who are identified as having minimal but detectable

signs or symptoms foreshadowing aged-related health and functional decline. An example of a high-risk individual is someone identified by their GP as having mild cognitive impairment or who has presented following a fall at home. Such presentations may warrant referral to local community programs that have a wellness and reablement focus, preventing further aged-related health and functional decline and facilitating restorative function as appropriate. Noting the Commonwealth Home Support Program Innovation Funding announcement earlier this year, it is clear that as an industry there are real opportunities to progress and realise wellness and reablement interventions that are efficient, effective and consumer centric, and that can support a national agenda for ageing well. Strong evaluation frameworks are required as part of the innovation process to realise those intervention components that are effective and replicable in realising a national approach to ageing well. For those at the frontier of an industry in transformation, keep innovating and evaluating! â&#x2013; Troy Speirs is Principal Advisor, Home Care, Leading Age Services Australia.

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IT BO ED P OK LA NO CES W

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NATIONAL UPDATE

SELF-ASSESSMENT: WHAT TO DO NOW! NEW REQUIREMENTS WILL PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHINE

s we inch closer to 1 July 2019 and the impending assessment against the Aged Care Quality Standards, we really need to be pro-active in our preparation and staff education.

It’s my feeling that if we involve more of our staff in the ongoing process from self-assessment through to accreditation (unannounced) we will be much more successful! This will be beneficial for our consumers too, because staff will have greater insight into the requirements of the standards. To help the industry prepare, providers now have access to templates for self-assessment. It is not mandated that you use a tool (you can use any format you want) however, you must self-assess. Some excellent tools on offer are a new Quality and Safety Management System developed by Leading Age Services Australia (LASA), in conjunction with providers. The online tool offers a core suite of readymade and fully customisable policy and process templates compliant to all eight new aged care standards. (Read more about it on page 29.) The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC) has released its own template for self-assessment, designed to allow you to demonstrate that you understand the requirements of each standard and that you are applying the requirements and reviewing as and when necessary. When working on your self-assessment, use it as a process of reflection. What do you offer and how do you operate? What can you do better? Are you seeking ongoing input from consumers into all of your processes? While it may seem onerous, self-assessment is actually an effective way of developing and evaluating your continuous improvement strategy. (If you don’t have one, then now is the time. The ACQSC Rules 2018 state: “All aged care providers are required to have a written plan for continuous improvement.”) Self-assessment asks that you evaluate and measure your performance for each standard. The standards are a minimum requirement and self-assessment will not only make you aware of any gaps you may have, but will also provide an opportunity to demonstrate your innovations—and shine. The ACQSC has already alluded to this by stating: “Many organisations will go beyond these core requirements to provide a higher quality of care and services.” We know many providers will indeed go beyond; outstanding care is being provided by many of you. When reviewing your performance, you will be asked to measure your effectiveness against a three-point scale: exceeding, meeting and developing.

Exceeding • T here is systemic evidence of sustained consumer outcomes and innovation related to this requirement.

• T he workforce has a deep understanding and has embraced this requirement in their relationship with consumers so it is an integral part of everyone’s job. • The organisation has effective systems and processes to support this requirement and embedded this requirement in all aspects of organisational life. • The organisation has a mature system to understand, anticipate and monitor the short-term and long-term expectations of consumers and to continuously improve outcomes related to this requirement.

Meeting • I mprovement of outcomes for consumers is evolving but may be reactive rather than proactive and relies primarily on key personnel. • The workforce does not consistently understand their roles and responsibilities in meeting this requirement. Application can be prescriptive rather than problem solving. • T he organisation does not consistently apply this requirement to delivery of care and services. Some gaps have been identified. • Systems and processes to monitor consumer outcomes have been established in some areas. There is limited opportunity for consumer input.

Developing • Continuous improvement is happening in some areas, but is reactive and driven by key personnel or regulatory direction. There is a lack of ownership across the organisation to improving consumer outcomes. • T he workforce does not consistently understand their roles and responsibilities in meeting their requirement. • The organisation does not consistently apply their requirement to delivery of care and services. Some gaps have been identified. Application tends to be prescriptive rather than problem solving. • S ystems and processes to monitor consumer outcomes have been established in some areas. There is limited opportunity for consumer input. Providers who will be assessed post 1 July 2019 must submit a self-assessment with their application for re-accreditation. Your self-assessment must also be available to the assessment team at all times during the audit. If you have any queries relating to self-assessment or the process surrounding it, please do not hesitate to contact us at LASA—your strong voice and a helping hand in times of change. ■ Sharyn McIlwain is Principal Advisor, Residential Aged Care, Leading Age Services Australia.

NATIONAL UPDATE

RETIREMENT LIVING— A SHIFTING MARKET!

KEEPING IT CURRENT MEANS TAKING STOCK OF THE CONSUMER AS WELL AS CHANGING REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS

etirement living as an industry and as a product has experienced evolutionary change in the past two years. In addition to legislative reviews by state governments and new compliance requirements, the consumer is changing, their wants and needs vary, and operators are attempting to forecast and plan future developments for this shifting demographic. The arrival of the discerning baby boomers into the market has driven a level of unprecedented change. We as an industry are saying ‘this is a not a property play, this is a lifestyle choice’ and the consumer, more than ever, wants to touch, see and experience that ‘lifestyle’. In response, villages are becoming more resort-like and the facilities and amenity within a village are expanding to attract retirees—particularly new builds informed by today’s market. The PCA/PwC retirement census (2018) data indicated 97 per cent of all new village developments have extensive facilities and amenity (with five or more facilities and services) compared to 83 per cent of existing villages. These tailor-made suite of lifestyle enhancements often include community centres and bars, health services, pool, gym, bowling green, caravan and boat parking/storage, village bus,

cinema, chapel, hair salon, café, men’s shed, WiFi, community gardens, and an active social committee and program—just to name a few. There has also been a move towards ‘vertical’ and combination (vertical and broadacre/horizontal) developments. According to the retirement census, 30 per cent of new villages currently under development are either vertical or a combination. The census identified that this was in contrast to existing villages with only 15 per cent being either vertical or combination villages. New consumer demands are certainly placing pressure on older and more established villages to update and expand their amenities to remain attractive and reduce vacancy rates. The census identified average vacancy rates at 11 per cent in Australia, with Queensland and South Australia the highest at 13 per cent, and Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory the lowest at 5 per cent and 7 per cent respectively.

Legislation and compliance: Queensland and New South Wales In Queensland, stage 1 amendments of the Housing Legislation (Building Better Futures) Amendment Act 2017 (HLA Act) to the

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NATIONAL UPDATE

Retirement Villages Act 1999 (RV Act) have now commenced and are ‘law’ as of 1 February 2019. The Department of Housing & Public Works have indicated stage 2 will commence with industry and stakeholder consultation in April 2019. Stage 2 is expected to cover village contracts and changes to village operations. LASA will be calling for feedback from Members during the consultation phase. In New South Wales, the Retirement Villages Amendment Bill 2018 has been passed and will commence on 1 July 2019. This will give effect to some of the recommendations from the enquiry led by Catherine Greiner in 2017. The ‘Rules of Conduct’ are currently being worked on by the NSW Department of Finance, Services and Innovation, and will be compulsory in that State. Further reforms to commence on 1 July are: • A nnual contract ‘check-up’ meetings • New requirement for emergency plans

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Code of Conduct & Industry Accreditation While New South Wales has chosen to mandate a ‘Rules of Conduct’, the industry has led the way with a national Retirement Living Code of Conduct. An initiative of two peak bodies representing retirement living operators—the Retirement Living Council, which is part of the Property Council of Australia (PCA), and LASA—it sets a new level of standards across retirement communities in Australia. The intention of the code is to promote and protect the independence, privacy, dignity, happiness, safety and security of retirement villages. Released in December 2018, this year operators are being asked to fully understand and subscribe to the code, and it will take full effect from 1 January 2020. The Australian Retirement Village Accreditation Scheme (ARVAS) will commence 3 June 2019. Quality Innovation Performance (QIP) Limited has been announced as the audit partner for the scheme and are busily preparing their teams of auditors and mapping the standards to their portal. Both LASA and PCA are very excited to bring one national scheme to the sector to ensure the very best quality standards are maintained by operators for the benefit of residents. ■ Paul Murphy is Principal Advisor for Retirement Living & Seniors Housing, Leading Age Services Australia.

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NATIONAL UPDATE

EVEN IF ROBOTS CAN “FIX” LONELINESS, THE QUESTION REMAINS —

SHOULD THEY?

“What should young people do with their lives today? Many things, obviously. But the most daring thing is to create stable communities in which the terrible disease of loneliness can be cured.” —Kurt Vonnegut, Palm Sunday: An Autobiographical Collage

here’s nothing new in saying that technology plays an important role in keeping us connected with each other.

Take a look at the Old Timers Guild, and you’ll find a community of approximately 10,000 “mature gaming fans”, which can claim amongst its ranks grandparents, and a few great grandparents. Still, it would be unreasonable to expect that loneliness can be addressed solely by being part of an online community, and there’s a reason why physical face-to-face interactions are given premium importance.

As our lives are ever-more mediated by technologies with increasing linguistic, social and emotional sophistication, everyday social and emotional interactions that we have with each other will change—much of this facilitated through thirdparty vendors. The Harvard Study of Adult Development is possibly the longest study of adult life that’s ever been done. For about 80 years, the study has tracked the lives of 724 men, of whom approximately 60 are still alive and in their 90s. Continued on page 26

In this regard, recent Australian Bureau of Statistics figures give us grounds for concern, identifying that approximately 25 per cent (2.3 million) of Australian homes are lone-person households. What’s more, this is expected to increase to approximately 45 per cent (3.4 million) by 2036. It’s reasonable to infer that with increasing numbers of people living alone, there’ll be a correlation with the rise in cases of loneliness. Last year’s Australian Loneliness Report saw a 17 per cent increase in respondents living alone. To this, Relationships Australia noted the following: “Decreasing levels of social support and emotional loneliness associated with ageing were generally observed for people aged 55 to 64 years. After age 64, while social support rates continued to decrease, emotional loneliness rates increased, with the highest rates of emotional loneliness observed for people aged 75 years and over (19 per cent).” Advancements in artificial intelligence, machine learning, natural language processing, and robotics means that technology is in an ever-better place to tackle loneliness. In fact, technology is no longer merely connecting people, it’s now tangibly able to replicate and surrogate human connections—either in place of humans, or in addition to them. Robots (broadly defined) can make recommendations, coordinate care, provide companionship, and remind you to take your medications; they can also offer real physical pleasure.

GEN is a comprehensive “one–stop shop” for data and information about aged care services in Australia.

GEN reports on capacity and activity in the aged care system focusing on people, their care assessments and the services they use.

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NATIONAL UPDATE Continued from page 25

Richard Waldinger, the Study’s Director, notes the following insights:

to counter the scare stories, and the hype, or risk a public backlash. We must offer the public a mark of quality that helps them to make informed decisions.”

• S ocial connections are really good for us, and loneliness kills. It turns out that people who are more socially connected to family, to friends, to community, are happier, they’re physically healthier, and they live longer than people who are less well connected.

Taking into account lifespan and health considerations, and varying levels of digital literacy, you’d be correct in concluding that there isn’t a one-size-fits all answer.

• I t’s not just the number of friends you have, and it’s not whether or not you’re in a committed relationship, but it’s the quality of your close relationships that matters.

The time to consider this is now, and in practical and tangible terms, void of marketing spin, and Luddite dystopian scaremongering.

• R elationships don’t just protect our bodies, they protect our brains. It turns out that being in a securely attached relationship to another person in your 80s is protective, that the people who are in relationships where they really feel they can count on the other person in times of need, those people’s memories stay sharper longer.

The good life is built with good relationships. What hasn’t been made clear is technology’s role as an emotional connector and agent. Get it wrong, and we might irreversibly disrupt the social arrangements we currently take for granted. Get it right, and we might just be at the precipice of living in a better world.

And this provides fitting context for aged care products and services that replicate human connections. All too often, the ongoing dialogue focuses on whether replication can be done, rather than whether it should be done.

To quote the Roman statesman, Cicero: “Every stage of human life, except the last, is marked out by certain and defined limits; old age alone has no precise and determinate boundary.” ■

As Noel Sharkey, Co-Director of the Foundation for Responsible Robotics noted:

Merlin Kong is Head of innovAGEING, Australia’s national innovation network for the age services industry.

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Aged Care Employee Day 2019 7 August

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Mark your calendars and start planning your way to celebrate! Aged Care Employee Day is an official day to thank, honour, recognise and celebrate the hundreds of thousands of people who work in the age services industry across Australia. The day is designed to celebrate each and every team member involved in the journey of caring for people who receive age services – from the nurses and care workers, to the cooks and hospitality teams, to the drivers, cleaners and laundry employees, to the volunteers, to the leisure and lifestyle officers and administration teams.

Aged Care Employee Day aims to put you in the spotlight, celebrate you, and provide an opportunity to thank you for the care you give our loved ones.

LASA thanks Whiddon for initiating this day in 2018 and encourages the entire age services industry to get behind the day in 2019. We will be providing more information in the lead up to Aged Care Employee Day 2019.

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Have you been looking for a better way to manage your business within the new aged care regulatory framework? Leading Age Services Australia (LASA) is pleased to provide support to aged care providers with the new Safety & Quality Management System. Designed to safeguard your compliance with the Aged Care Quality Standards, you’ll find this easy-to-use online tool essential for operating within the new framework and delivering best-practice consumer-centred care. The Safety & Quality Management System will support your business in two important ways:

You’ll be able to utilise the core suite of more than 50 readymade and fully customisable policy and process templates. Simply edit these guides and align them to your business practices, or add your own.

You’ll have an easy way to identify, collect and store the evidence required to demonstrate your compliance against the standards. Documents, links, videos, photos and information in any format can be saved and shared, creating a readily available guide for your staff to find what they need, when they need it.

This user-friendly system requires minimal training and offers a one-stop-shop for frontline staff and management. Once you’ve signed up, you’ll be able to explore new features as they come on-line.

You’ll wonder what you ever did without it! Phase one of the system is now available. It includes: More than 50 customisable policy and process templates Personalised branding Multiple platform capability (web, app, mobile, desktop) Cloud-based computing Version control Data collection and analysis Help desk and chat with support team 24/7

For more information or to make a purchase email quality@lasa.asn.au or visit www.lasa.asn.au/safety-and-quality-management-system/ 28

PREPARING FOR THE NEW AGED CARE QUALITY STANDARDS

LASA LAUNCHES SAFETY & QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM NEW ONLINE TOOL HELPS SAFEGUARD COMPLIANCE WITHIN THE NEW AGED CARE QUALITY FRAMEWORK

Not just a suite of templates, full use of this new tool will provide a platform for delivering bestpractice consumer-centred care.

y now the age services industry is fully aware of the new Aged Care Quality Standards, which take effect on 1 July 2019. Developed with guidance from consumers, carers, aged care providers, aged care workers, clinicians and other experts, their focus is working more closely with each consumer on what matters most to them in terms of wellbeing and quality of life. While the regulatory framework around the new standards has been somewhat daunting for many, adherence and compliance opens up a whole new world of possibilities. The question is, how do aged care providers navigate this pathway and what are they expected to do differently?

A new online tool developed by Leading Age Services Australia (LASA) will help providers adhere to the new aged care standards and demonstrate their compliance. Co-designed with residential and home care providers and the software vendor, stage one of the new Safety & Quality Management System is now in market.

For managers, it is comforting to know that the tool will require minimal training. Designed by user experience experts, it is easy to use and intuitive. The complete system will offer visualbased browsing and search-based usability, as well as voiceenabled system search capabilities. There are no hidden costs, no installation costs and 24/7 support. Once LASA receives a registration, users will receive an email with a link and sign in details. LASA consultants are also available to assist those providers seeking transition and implementation assistance to the new policy framework. â&#x2013; Christine Davis is Manager, Business Support Services, Customer & Marketing Consultant, Leading Age Services Australia. For more information or to make a purchase email quality@lasa.asn.au or visit www.lasa.asn.au/safety-and-quality-managementsystem/

LASA Principal Consultant Home Care Jane Floyd with LASA Members at the Tri State Safety & Quality Management Standards booth.

The system offers a core suite of more than 50 policy templates and process guides developed to assist compliance with all eight aged care standards. The system enables users to edit and align those policies and processes to their operations, and automate flowcharts. There is also capability to upload existing or newly developed policies and processes. A one-stop-shop access point for frontline staff and managers, the complete system will also support users to identify, collect and store the evidence required to demonstrate compliance against the standards, which will provide enormous reassurance during audits. Users will have the ability to save and share documents, survey results, links, videos, photos and information in any format, creating a readily available guide for staff to find what they need, when they need it. A cloud-based solution, it can be accessed remotely from any location, desktop or mobile device. With data on the cloud, in a system with networked backups, there is no potential for data loss or downtime. All changes will be stored in the system, with version control showing who made changes, what changes were made, and when.

PREPARING FOR THE NEW AGED CARE QUALITY STANDARDS

MANAGING PUBLIC SCRUTINY OF THE ROYAL COMMISSION

PROPER PREPARATION REQUIRES HARD WORK AND MAKING TOUGH DECISIONS NOW

s one royal commission closes, another one opens. We can reasonably expect this one to be more sensational. Plus, it is occurring in an election period, so providers can expect point-scoring political parties to amplify wrongdoing. Yet, the shift of public, political and media scrutiny from bankers to care providers offers an opportunity for the aged care sector; it can prepare by studying the processes and outcomes of the Hayne-led banking royal commission. Those that fail to learn lessons will suffer most. Of the financial witnesses, CBA probably prepared best, with AMP and NAB clearly badly underpreparing, or wrongly preparing, and it showed in the outcomes. We should expect this royal commission into aged care to be tougher than the last, which was tougher than the one before it. To make it through, providers must prepare, be pre-emptive where possible, be transparent, be responsive, and embrace the resulting changes that will sweep through the sector

A clear strategy Preparation requires a clear strategy that is supported by a strong and united leadership team and board. A key component should be making the tough decisions before appearing in the witness box. CBA had the most to lose at the banking royal commission, with a succession of scandals including Storm Financial and CommInsure. However, it effectively mitigated a lot of impact by replacing CEO Ian Narev before hearings kicked off, allowing Matt Comyn to be a break from past mistakes. An essential part of strategy is to anticipate commission outcomes and pre-empt them.

Messages underpinned by action Providers must have a strong set of messages underpinned by 1) values and 2) performance—there is no room for fluff, excuses or accepting low standards. Or hubris. Ken Henry, one of Australia’s financial leaders and now resigned NAB Chair, either didn’t rehearse or didn’t listen to his media trainers. Providers need to get ahead of the commission. Those not called as witnesses will be challenged by their more assertive clients, financiers, staff or shareholders, so they need to be ready with their responses.

To maintain the confidence of stakeholders, providers must ensure that no surprises are unearthed by the commission. This means undertaking painful internal reviews and communicating the findings to stakeholders.

These messages must be consistent and reiterated throughout the royal commission process across different communications channels—whether that’s in media interviews, an appearance at a hearing or simply in conversations.

Effective strategy development and implementation requires a united board. A divided board, or a weak one, will be pulled apart or unable to be decisive. Both AMP and NAB have been punished for not acting quickly to remove the leaders calledout for serious failings in the hearings.

“Sorry” alone won’t cut it. Nor will, “We will have to do better at focusing on our customers”. These responses didn’t sit well for the banks, especially when mis-selling continued during the commission process and branches were closed in regional areas, with an increasingly cynical public.

PREPARING FOR THE NEW AGED CARE QUALITY STANDARDS

And the bar will be higher this time. Care providers will have to do better than the banks, just as the banks had to improve on those appearing before the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sex Abuse. Anticipate the commission’s outcomes and start implementing them now. Then you will have messages based on values and performance that work.

Prepare your spokesperson We saw it time and again at the banking royal commission. There were good witnesses and bad. It is simply a matter of preparation. People who were not prepared let their organisation down. There are really no excuses in this era when leaders can no longer be quiet achievers. The same goes for leaders not appearing. There may not be the intensity of being cross-examined by Rowena Orr, but residents and their relatives, financiers, shareholders and staff will expect you to be able to explain yourself and your organisation’s behaviour.

Be nimble

should expect, “What did you think of what happened to Ms. X yesterday?” or “Can that happen here?” Comprehensive response required.

Communicate with stakeholders Develop a communications plan across all stakeholders as part of the strategy. Even if your organisation is not a specific focus of the commission, the media coverage of hearings is likely to thrust all manner issues front-of-mind to all your stakeholders. Providers will receive questions and complaints from concerned family members and residents as the royal commission progresses. Is it an opportunity? How about a short weekly summary of the commission hearing, and how it relates to your organisation? Prepare and rehearse what you will communicate to stakeholders, how it will be communicated, and who will communicate it. Better people learn about it from you than in the media. ■ Nick Albrow is a Director of Wilkinson Butler.

Strategy doesn’t change quickly, but tactics often must be responsive. If Ms. X is accused of financial corruption on a Tuesday at our royal commission, on Wednesday morning you

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AGEING WELL IN A FOREIGN LAND THE KEY IS BUILDING CULTURAL AND SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS

As our population grows and ages, we face a global challenge of understanding the needs of older people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

or over a decade, the University of Queensland’s Associate Professor Shuang Liu has asked one question: How do Chinese migrants deal with getting older in Australia, a country so far removed from their sense of a ‘real’ home? Associate Professor Liu has dedicated her career to research in the areas of immigration, identity, belonging and wellbeing among Chinese migrants. Her research aims to advance our understanding of how these migrants negotiate their cultural identity as their lives transition from the culture of their previous home to the culture of Australia, particularly as they age. Her work informs not just how we should approach caring for Chinese migrants, but gives us insights into how we could facilitate ageing well in people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds—no matter their cultural heritage. “Ageing in a foreign land creates dual challenges for migrants as they deal with cultural adjustment over and above ageing, which often creates a feeling of being out of place,” Associate Professor Liu says. “Because ‘culture’ is not associated with one place, immigrants continuously negotiate their sense of home between their old and new worlds.” According to Associate Professor Liu, in the coming years a vast majority of the Australian population will be ageing outside their heritage cultural environment. As a result, our society faces the growing challenge of understanding the needs of those people from CALD backgrounds, and providing appropriate aged care services for them.

“Older people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds are more vulnerable to social isolation,” she says. “As a society, we currently lack an understanding of the best approaches to get them socially and culturally connected to protect their wellbeing.”

Sciences in Australia in collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in China. This explored the enablers and barriers to older Chinese ageing well in Australia, versus their home country China. The findings revealed that older Chinese immigrants’ sense of home can be derived from residential location, objects with emotional and cultural attachment, and most importantly family. The sense of ‘home’ for an older Chinese immigrant is not simply a physical location; it is a place where traditional culture is maintained, practised, and passed on to younger generations. The study found that cultural continuity for these migrants can be achieved through decorating the house with cultural objects and furniture, and designing gardens to reflect Chinese culture, speaking the ethnic language and following cultural traditions, as well as a site where cultures from both home country and host country meet and where identity and belonging is negotiated. Her latest project, alongside Diversicare/ECCQ ‘Ageing well in a foreign land: Identity, social connectedness, well-being’, funded by the Australian Research Council Linkage Project Scheme (2016-19), examines how engaging in ethnocultural and multicultural activities can build social connectedness among older culturally and linguistically diverse people, and enhance wellbeing. ■ Associate Professor Liu will be a keynote speaker at the 5th International Conference on Ageing in a Foreign Land: Ageing well through communities, capacity and innovation, hosted by Flinders University in Adelaide, 19-20 June 2019. For more information visit flinders.edu.au/ageing Sophie Fiegert is Marketing Communications Partner, Flinders University. Fieldwork at Taiwanese Care Association in Acacia Ridge, Brisbane.

In 2015, Associate Professor Liu published the book Identity, Hybridity and Cultural Home which was a record of her research spanning over a decade, exploring the process of Chinese migrants’ search for identity, belonging and a cultural home in a foreign land. In 2018 she led the project ‘Ageing in a foreign land and a homeland: Place, belonging, and well-being of older Chinese in Australia and China’, funded by the Academy of Social

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CONTINUATION OF AN ORDINARY LIFE

REDEFINING AGED CARE AND SUPPORTED LIVING

he aged care sector has been delivered a very loud and clear message that we must involve the consumer in all levels of decision making to provide individualised care and services. Choice, quality, diversity, independence and inclusivity are key words in the current aged care and supported living rhetoric and are unquestionably drivers for the Australian model of aged care into the future. Guidance resources for the Aged Care Quality Standards articulate organisational responsibility for inclusive services that reflect diverse social and cultural needs. The standards also articulate the need for stakeholder engagement in the design and development of services, activities and amenities available within an aged care and/or supported living neighbourhood. The web of stakeholder input and engagement must be proactively extended beyond current clients to include the generation ‘next-in-line’, those who will seek our care and services into 2030 and beyond. It is time for consultation and creative thinking to establish the vision for what future aged care and supported living might look like. In redefining and redesigning care delivery, consideration must be given to the places and spaces we create to flexibly accommodate the activities to sustain a purposeful life. One of the challenges the age services industry faces is defining the activities that equate to a purposeful, engaged and socially connected life. We are a diverse nation with diverse climates, diverse lifestyles and a very wide range of social activities. Historically, within Australia, there has been a tendency to create and replicate a singular style of building across all locations without necessarily understanding the relationship of that building style to the local community. In the past it was

the medical model with long sterile corridors and multi-bed wards. Reforms from the late 90s saw a movement towards a social model of care and the evolution of ‘resort-style’ facilities boasting swimming pools, bowling greens, coffee shops, craft rooms and beauty salons. Undoubtedly there are those that will want to live in a facility that supports a resort-like lifestyle. However, there are also those who will want to continue a rural lifestyle with their pets, communal gardens and visual connections to their rural history. Some will want to maintain a physically active lifestyle through well designed and fully equipped gyms and wellness centres while others may seek facilities that support the arts and life-long learning through classrooms, art and music studios, and performance stages. Clearly, one size does not fit all with diverse communities and individual people within communities having different goals, interests and needs. Now is the time to step outside the box away from safe solutions if we want to proactively design and create the future vision of aged care and supported living. Conversations with our future consumers may surprise us when the narrative (particularly in a rapidly evolving user pays system) suggests systems and models that completely reject current approaches and force deep and fundamental changes. Aged care and supported living providers of today must initiate these conversations now if they are to maintain relevance in the evolving landscape of aged care and supported living into the future. The concept of continuation of an ordinary life in a supported environment is in its infancy in Australia today but will be the expected norm of tomorrow. ■ Sally Hogan (RN BDC) Strategist, Aged Care & Supported Living, Paynters. For more information visit www.paynters.com.au Images courtesy of Paynters.

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LIVING LONGER… LIVING BETTER… THE CHOICE IS INDIVIDUAL HELPING PEOPLE MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR THEM IS IMPORTANT

“No one wants to die... death is very likely the single best invention of life. It’s life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new.” —Steve Jobs

ustralians are living longer. Better health care, medical care, medical research and healthier lifestyles all add years to our ever extending life expectancy. According the Intergenerational Report 2015, life expectancy at birth will be 95.1 years for men and 96.6 years for women by 2054/2055. A rapidly ageing population has meant people have begun to think about where they want to be in their last years of life— and how they want to surround themselves in their death. While most want to remain living at home, this is not always possible. The choices we make for ageing well and a good death are affected by a number of factors, some beyond our own control, such as: care needs (physical and cognitive); spiritual and cultural needs; financial capacity; and the wants and wishes of the individual. How to engage people in a discussion about decisions to be made in relation to aged care depends on the relationship you have with them. A great starting point is to ask the person what they want and need to remain independent—assistance with care; help with shopping or banking; companionship or social support. Advanced care discussions and planning ahead of time is imperative to ensure wants and wishes are documented and carried out if and when a life event occurs. It is important to share the document with the family so that everyone is on the same page. The aim is to obtain the best care outcome for the person needing care. The ‘life plan’ can be enacted if, or when, the person loses their own decisional capacity.

who have financial capacity are required to pay for some or all of their care. Planning for death is an extension of planning for a quality life. Legal documentation should be finalised formally and well before a life event intervenes, or an individual loses the capacity to make decisions. A valid will, a Power of Attorney (for financial decisions), Enduring Guardian (for health, care and accommodation decisions) and an Advanced Health Directive (living will) should all be discussed and documented—no matter the age of the individual. A reputable estate planner or lawyer can assist with these tasks. If there are assets, and there are family members, affairs should be in order. Sometimes conversations like these are difficult, but in the end it is about ensuring individuals feel happy, supported, nurtured and celebrated—and live their final years in a way that suits them best. As carers and loved ones, we have a responsibility to ensure that happens. So it is important to start the discussions early, be frank and honest, and make sure everything is documented formally and legally. Planning ahead is about protecting people’s rights, wants and wishes. ■ Danielle Robertson is Chief Executive Officer, DRC Care Solutions. For more information visit www.drccaresolutions.com Leon and Alice!

There are many varied and flexible options for those considering and requiring aged care services: staying at home, residential aged care, support through day care programs, respite care, moving in with loved ones and families, communal living such as retirement village, or a combination of living situations. New developments and innovations are changing the way we are able to assist our ageing population. Existing tools, comparative platforms and concierge services to help consumers find the most appropriate aged care option for them is becoming the norm. When it comes to aged care, individuals

PREPARING FOR THE NEW AGED CARE QUALITY STANDARDS

INNOVATION AND DIVERSITY IN GOVERNANCE

HOW WA IS ENGAGING EMERGING YOUNG LEADERS AND REAPING THE REWARDS Succession planning starts with the next generation.

here is no question that governing boards play an integral role in the success of any organisation. In the past 10 years, as the not-for-profit sector has increased its contribution to Australia’s GDP, the operations and composition of its boards have also come under scrutiny. With the Aged Care Royal Commission, board effectiveness is a hot topic. The elephant in the room though, is diversity. With board director diversity largely focused on gender diversity, age diversity has been overlooked. In 2013 Southcare, in partnership with Baptistcare and MercyCare, secured a social innovation grant to address this disparity with its ‘Engaging Young Leaders on Aged Care Boards’ (EYLACCB) program.

The program aims to strengthen the leadership and governance capacity of the age services industry and not-forprofit sector by collaboratively engaging young people and organisations to facilitate the involvement of emerging young leaders on boards. The program was founded by Program Director and CEO Southcare, Dr Nicky Howe, and Program Facilitator and Mentor Alicia Curtis Leadership, Alicia Curtis, who have also

co-authored the book Difference Makers: A Leaders Guide to Championing Diversity on Boards. The (EYLACCB) program consists of three elements: • Emerging Leaders in Governance Program (ELGP). This is run annually. • Unconvention Event Series. Half-day workshops for directors and senior executives to discuss and review issues associated with board leadership and inclusion of young leaders. • Resource Toolkit (available at www.young. leadersonboards.com) Now entering its seventh year of operations, EYLACCB boasts the following results: • 41 Community Partners are sponsoring the program, including Leading Age Services Australia (LASA). • 120 ELGP scholarships have been awarded. • 116 Young professionals have graduated from the ELGP. • 75 board director positions have been taken up by ELGP graduates in aged care, health, mental health, disability, drug and alcohol, education, training and peak body groups.

Graduates of the Emerging Leaders in Governance Program 2018.

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• 27 ELGP graduates have secured board Traineeship positions.

L-R Alicia Curtis and Dr Nicky Howe with their book.

• 406 eMembers access resources from the program website Pleased to play a leading role in the further development and nurturing of young leaders, Southcare has welcomed past ELGP graduates Ashley Dawson (Associate Director, CPA) and Miguel Gomes (Senior Operations Manager, Uber Eats) onto its own board. These talented young professionals are bringing to the age services industry their unique backgrounds, professions and diverse thinking. Southcare was also a sponsor of LASA’s NEXT GEN forum in Perth in 2018 where Dr Howe was a presenter. She also presented at LASA Congress 2018. Other CEOs and board directors are beginning to see the benefits of engaging young leaders in the industry and developing partnerships. In a market that grows more competitive each day, the program provides participants a point of difference as innovators and employers of choice, in addition to education and relationship building opportunities. Southcare, in conjunction with community partners, recently launched the prospectus for the 2019 Engaging Young Leaders on Community Boards Program and extends an invitation to community organisations to participate in this progressive and proactive approach to board leadership, governance and management.

We need to take action to begin the process of ensuring sector development and succession planning—it starts with engaging the next generation. ■ Dr Nicky Howe is Program Director and CEO, Southcare. For more information or to download a prospectus visit www.youngleaderonboards.com.au

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WHEN DESIGN, HEALTH AND TECHNOLOGY MEET THE VALUE OF A CHAT

he Australian population is getting older, living longer—and for some, getting lonelier. It’s predicted that households of one will rise from 2.1 million in 2011 to a staggering 3.4 million in 2036. Care services are seeing an increased demand for aged care that works with older people, supporting them to keep independent and socially connected in their own homes. Lonely and socially isolated older Australians are a widely distributed, often secluded population. As a group, it’s a population far more susceptible to illness and injury. In fact, isolation and loneliness can be dangerous: “extremely” lonely older people are up to 14 per cent more likely to die prematurely. Feeling lonely can increase blood pressure and cortisol levels, which can disrupt sleep and alter genes. Isolation can trigger depression. All of these conditions have a significant impact on a person’s wellbeing—and how often they visit a doctor, or call an ambulance. Older Australians experience a range of age-related illness, and for some the phenomena of a shrinking social circle. This leaves service providers with a clear design brief: how do we support the independence of older Australians at home, while meeting their social needs? Can technology help older people maintain social connection and improve their quality of life?

Turning the Internet of things into an Internet of actions Loneliness can be difficult to identify: one person’s isolation is another’s bliss. Moreover, it’s a problem that’s approached reactively, and is difficult to approach in a timely manner. Instead of relying on self-reporting methods or invasive monitoring, a collaboration between Bolton Clarke and RMIT took things back to basics. Together, the team looked at the value of a chat. The importance of word count is well-documented in children when measuring language acquisition and IQ. Yet daily word count has been seldom explored as a proxy measure for loneliness in older populations. Using a social and humancentred design approach, the team from Bolton Clarke and RMIT developed an ambient

wearable that older people would actually want to wear. The aim was to develop something that could monitor social contact, without the user needing to interact with any confusing interfaces. The goal was to address social isolation in older people with a novel yet intuitive intervention.

The CaT pin monitors social interactions without intruding The design was created as a collaborative with Matiu Bush, Senior Strategist in Business Innovation with Bolton Clarke, along with Leah Heiss, Lecturer in RMIT’s School of Design and considered Australia’s pre-eminent designer of wearable technology. Associate Professor Paul Beckett from the School of Engineering and jewellery designer Emma Luke from the School of Design also formed part of the team. Working at the intersection of design, health and technology, the team came up with the Conversation-as-Therapy (CaT) pin. The pin looks to be a conventional accessory; a personalised brooch. But inside, it’s enhanced with a digital microphone, embedded microprocessor and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) transceiver. This isn’t a full speech recognition system: the BLE receiver monitors ambient sound to identify potential speech. Rather than recording conversations, the pin counts words over time. This makes the technology easier to build, and avoids privacy issues. The team is not just monitoring the data, they have designed a service ecosystem response that acts on it too. They can link the pin to real-time intervention services. If the pin detects that an older person hasn’t spoken in a day, a text message can be sent to the older person’s friends or relatives, or to a volunteer community service. Care is tailored to the individual and consists of self-actioned and/or external responses. Their preferences can be accounted for, just as the pin itself can be personalised to represent the user’s taste. The CaT pin can’t hope to solve loneliness overnight. But it has been designed to spark up the conversation. The team hopes it inspires further research and engagement with the issues of social isolation and loneliness, while highlighting the possibility for elegant and desirable Internet of things solutions that have both style and substance. The wearable CaT Pin has won the $10,000 Designing for Ageing Well Challenge, co-sponsored by Telstra and RMIT to reward innovative thinking in design for Australia’s ageing community. ■ Matiu Bush is Senior Strategist in Business Innovation, Bolton Clarke. For more information visit www.boltonclarke.com.au

AMH Aged Care Companion The current release of the AMH Aged Care Companion contains updated information on allergic conjunctivitis, dry eyes, gout, heart failure, hypertension, insomnia, osteoporosis, major depressive disorder, pain management, restless legs syndrome, rhinitis, rhinosinusitis (formerly sinusitis), along with changes to several other topics. New drug names have been incorporated in accordance with the TGA’s adoption of changes to approved drug names in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG). AMH Aged Care Companion available now in print or online. Go to www.amh.net.au for more information.

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THE DENTAL CRUSADERS

BRINGING DENTAL TREATMENT TO OLDER AUSTRALIANS IN QUEENSLAND AND HOW YOU CAN EQUIP YOUR AGED CARE STAFF WITH NEW TRAINING NOW AVAILABLE

t is well known that oral infections and dental conditions have a huge impact on general health and wellbeingâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; especially in older people who may already have other health conditions.

Aspiration Pneumonia is a major contributor to death in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) and has a significant causal relationship to dental plaque and bacterial deposits in the mouth and dentures. Other conditions directly affected by poor oral health include heart disease, stroke, diabetes and Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s disease. The good news is that with regular review and maintenance performed by a dentist and effective daily oral care, the risk of oral and dental conditions can be significantly reduced. But how do RACFs ensure residents get the care they need on a regular basis?

Operating for more than 10 years, Moviliti Dental Care (previously trading as Mobile Dentistry Special Care) is filling the gap in regional and metropolitan Queensland. Servicing more than 300 facilities from Ballina to Townsville, and as far west as Longreach, their fully mobile teams have the flexibility to get to isolated regions. Residents have access to regular dental maintenance, with Moviliti teams visiting each facility at least twice per year and more if needed. Travelling with their portable dental and x-ray units, they provide a much needed on-site service for the aged and special needs patients. The units are set up within the facility to allow easy access for residents and they even provide treatment at the bedside if needed. In most cases residents are treated in their wheelchair or fallout chair because often Continued on page 44

The Moviliti team on the road in remote western Queensland.

INSIGHTS FROM INDUSTRY Continued from page 43

Malcolm and Tamatha from Moviliti with a satisfied client.

the transfer into a dental chair is the most difficult and uncomfortable process for frail residents.

them in oral hygiene and recognise and report changes in oral health.

Moviliti provides all aspects of general dental practice following the principles of a gentle and minimally invasive mode of delivery and service. This includes the full complement of dental procedures from examination, oral care plans and preventive care through to fillings and new dentures.

The ‘HLTOHC004 Provide or assist in oral hygiene’ is an accredited professional development unit, now available to the age services and disability industries. It will equip carers to identify oral hygiene requirements to ensure good oral health, and assist and support clients in their oral hygiene needs.

While regular maintenance and review visits significantly reduce the risk of oral and dental disease, the daily oral care performed by the carer is what can have the biggest impact. Effective daily oral care with the aim of disrupting and removing the bacterial plaque and/or food debris from teeth, gums and dentures at least once per day can reduce the risk of gum disease, dental decay and bad breath.

With the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality & Safety already identifying the significant impact of dental health on overall health and wellbeing of older Australians, appropriate training will soon become a must-have. ■

Unfortunately, effective oral care is one of the most neglected daily services within RACFs. For this reason, Moviliti Dental Care also offers an annual complimentary ‘Oral Care Toolbox Talk’ for serviced RACF care staff. The talk is designed to increase awareness of the importance of daily oral care and the link with general wellbeing. Over the years, Moviliti has extended the service to include accredited training for Oral Health Champions. Under the guidance of Leading Age Services Aged Care Training Institute, they have developed an accredited unit of training to equip carers to identify clients’ oral hygiene requirements, support

Belinda Marsh is Training Manager, Moviliti Training. For more information visit www.moviliti.com.au or for training call LASA Training Institute 1300 111 636 Tamatha from Moviliti providing individualised care.

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“Emprevo has been one of the simplest system implementations that I have been involved in. After 3 weeks our employees and business are already seeing the benefits with over 4000 people taking advantage of Emprevo.” Glen Hurley, COO, Allity

“Staff replacement has always been difficult but since the introduction of Emprevo we spend less time on the phones and our staff have more time doing what they do best, caring for our residents.” Kerri Rivett, CEO, Shepparton Villages

“Our tech savvy, and not so tech savvy, staff embraced it with shifts being quickly snapped up. Coupled with some robust systems to ensure fairness, in particular around planned leave, Emprevo has been a great success.” Janet Moore , COO, Yallambee Aged Care

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ACTIVE AT HOME:

HELPING OLDER AUSTRALIANS REMAIN INDEPENDENT GOVERNMENT-SUBSIDISED PROGRAM INCREASES FUNCTIONAL WELLBEING AND REDUCES DEPENDENCE ON HEALTH CARE

new program is focusing early intervention and prevention by engaging older people in ongoing exercise to reduce frailty.

Active at Home is a well-developed, ready to go, in-home exercise program, supported by the Australian Government and specially designed for organisations providing home care services to older people. Designed by exercise physiologist Dr Timothy Henwood and delivered by trained aged care workers, Active at Home is the first program of its kind in Australia. It supports the process of reablement by allowing people to begin exercise at a level consistent with their capacity and progress as their strength and balance improves.

The Active at Home program was developed through a partnership between the Brisbane North PHN and Burnie Brae after a highly successful pilot study with member organisations of the Healthy@Home Consortium. Results from the 37 participants showed that older people could benefit from participating in Active at Home in the following ways: • Being able to undertake home-based, accessible, affordable exercise that is easily incorporated into a daily routine • Increased functionality and independence • Significant improvements such as: • 19% improvement in physical performance (measured by walking speed, balance and strength)

INSIGHTS FROM INDUSTRY

• 1 9% reduction in the number of participants classified as frail

Michele Smith, Executive Manager for Aged and Community Care at the Brisbane North PHN says the program is ready to be rolled out.

• 47% reduction in utilisation of health care

“We wanted to provide equitable access to basic exercise for older people receiving low levels of in-home support because we know it can improve physical functioning and quality of life,” she said.

Lead researcher Dr Sharon Hetherington says the success of the pilot means the program is ready to be taken up by care providers nationally, for whom there will be multiple benefits. “The program is a simple and sustainable way for home care providers to embed reablement as part of their usual service delivery to improve their client’s quality of life and independence,” she said.

“These drivers have resulted in a program that is effective, low cost, evidenced based, off-the-shelf and leverages existing funding mechanisms. “Active at Home will be particularly beneficial for not-for-profit aged care service providers throughout Australia.”

“Our goal is to increase the functional wellbeing and independence of older people across Australia through this affordable, government-subsidised exercise program.”

And if you still need convincing, read what 82 year-old Gillian had to say in the seventh week of her Active at Home exercise program.

The numerous benefits to home care organisations who sign up to Active at Home include:

“I found out about the program through my CHSP service provider. The lady who comes to my house asked if I would be interested. After I had my heart attack, I started having problems with my balance and we thought the exercises would be a great help,” said Gillian.

• expanding the suite of services they offer to older people • cost efficiencies, achieved by embedding Active at Home within existing services • offering a program that aligns with national aged care reforms

“The beauty of the Active at Home program is that it allows me to do exercises in my own home with a carer who is with me and supports me.” ■

• a ccessing a comprehensive Active at Home training and support package that is underpinned by a rigorous safety and quality framework

Sandy Nasagavesi is Business Development Manager, Active at Home.

• utilising digital technology (i.e. the Active at Home app) to measure and report client outcomes

For more information visit www.activeathome.org.au

• providing care workers with an enhanced knowledge base as a result of Active at Home accredited training • access to information and program resources that are implementation-ready

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We are experts in optimising your funding opportunities and ensuring your Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI) entitlements. Our experience has shown us that around 90% of aged care facilities have or are currently missing out on necessary ACFI funding for resident improved care and facility support.

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MEDICATION MANAGEMENT FOR OLDER AUSTRALIANS

A NEW MEDICATION MATCHING SERVICE IS CHANGING LIVES

or older people medication management can be a concern, with older Australians taking up to 12 regular medicines per day and an estimated 30% of hospitalisations caused by medications in people aged over 65. People who take five or more medicines per day (polypharmacy) are 88 per cent more likely to experience harm from their medicines than people who take two or less medicines per day. Sound medication management is essential for providing quality health care to older people. Despite Governmentfunded medication review services, evidence shows they are not adequately meeting all the needs of older Australians. Ward Medication Management (Ward MM) saw an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of older Australians, by developing a comprehensive, proactive and collaborative medication matching service called Ward MM Thrive. Introduced in June 2018, Ward MM Thrive reassures clients and their families that their medications will not cause harm through: DNA analysis that scientifically helps to determine the correct medication and dosage for individuals; in-depth collaboration with residents’ GPs and health care teams; a medication plan that is updated every six weeks; and aroundthe-clock access to clinical pharmacists specialising in geriatric medicine. Thrive is currently available to aged care residents living at Allity Aged Care Homes and Uniting AgeWell clients living at home.

Allity Aged Care Head of Clinical Strategy and Development Stephen Wiblin said, “Thrive provides another layer of care for those who are experiencing any negative effects of medications they’re taking. We strive to ensure the experience for residents is the best it can be and the patient-centric model of Thrive has proven to be effective in achieving this.” Not just about medications, the benefits can be wide-reaching and literally life-changing. When a resident named Mary* started experiencing falls, one of which landed her in hospital, she lost her confidence to go out. After talking to Mary about her concerns and desired outcomes, her Ward MM clinical pharmacist created Mary’s Thrive plan by reviewing her DNA, medical history and recent test results.

Mary’s DNA results showed her body metabolises Nexium really quickly which meant Mary was not gaining any benefit from the medication. Based on these results Mary stopped taking Nexium, as well as a number of other medications. Mary’s Thrive plan was agreed with her GP and specialist doctors, and after just two months she reduced her medication from 13 to eight pills, she had elevated mood and alertness, and her risk of falls decreased. She was also saving $51.95 on her monthly pharmacy bill. Uniting AgeWell General Manager Strategy & Business Development Fonda Voukelatos says they are exited to be one of the founding partners of this innovative approach to medication management. “By collaborating with GPs and specialists, the Thrive service helps us provide proactive medication care to our clients, and ultimately enables them to live independently for longer.” Ward MM is available for a monthly fee, which can be arranged through a government-funded Home Care Package—making this essential service effortless and affordable. ■ Dr Natalie Soulsby is Head of Clinical Development, Ward MM. For more information visit www.wardmm.com.au

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INNOVATIVE AUSTRALIAN-FIRST DEMENTIA VILLAGE Final plans have been unveiled for an innovative Australian-first village in Tasmania designed to provide real-life experiences for people living with dementia.

ementia is a growing public health challenge. There are more than 430,000 Australians currently living with dementia. Without a medical breakthrough, this number is expected to increase to more than one million by 2058.

Dementia is the second leading cause of death for Australians and is the single greatest cause of disability for Australians aged 65 years and older—so supporting innovation in dementia care and treatment is a key challenge for the aged care sector. Addressing this is a partnership between HESTA, not-for-profit aged care provider Glenview, specialist investment manager Social Ventures Australia, and the Commonwealth Government. Together they are developing Korongee dementia village in Glenorchy, Tasmania. Based on a typical cul-de-sac streetscape, it will feature 12 eight-bedroom homes that will support 96 residents within a small town complete with streets, a supermarket, café, beauty salon and gardens. The village aims to help residents maintain a sense of self, home and community. Residents will be provided dementia-specialised care and can walk around the village and participate in everyday life decisions such as going to the café to enjoy a coffee or heading to the supermarket to buy groceries for dinner. Situated on 24,940m² of land in Moonah, Tasmania the building is 6,784m² in size. The development has generated buzz amongst the local community with Glenview receiving many Artist’s impression.

Glenview CEO Lucy O’Flaherty, HESTA CEO Debby Blakey and Director, Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre James Vickers at the unveiling of final plans for Korongee.

enquiries regarding vacancies at the village. Expressions of interest are currently being sought by Glenview via their website. The innovative concept and design draw on a range of international best-practice models, in particular, the dementia village De Hogeweyk in the Netherlands, while still maintaining a unique Tasmanian experience for residents. Glenview CEO Lucy O’Flaherty said people living with dementia often struggle with unfamiliar spaces, colours and even décor which is why each house will be designed to create familiar cultural touchstones of Tasmanian suburban life.

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“The University of Tasmania will undertake demographic research to inform what makes up the most common elements of a Tasmanian lifestyle to inform the design, décor, and which house and lifestyle profile each resident is most suited to within the village,” Ms O’Flaherty said. “Creating an authentic environment is the key to this cutting edge model, with residents within each house to be matched by their similar backgrounds, experiences, interests and skills.” Industry super fund HESTA has invested $19 million to finance Korongee through their Social Impact Investment Trust (SIIT). Managed by Social Ventures Australia investments made via the $70 million SIIT are designed to generate both an appropriate financial return and a measurable social impact. Through the SIIT, HESTA aims to encourage other large investors to make similar impact investments to address significant social challenges, such as the growing need for dementia care.

“At HESTA we see our purpose very much about improving and making a real difference to the financial futures of our members but part of that is also making a difference to the world that they will retire into and that’s a key part of an investment like this.” Glenview CEO Lucy O’Flaherty said Korongee is a gamechanger for how care is provided for people living with dementia. “Residents will live with others whose values they share. All the homes are being built with dementia design principals throughout, so a sense of everyday normality is much easier to maintain,” she said. “This is an opportunity with a brand new site to create something special.” ■ Staff writer, HESTA. For more information visit https://glenview.org.au/korongee/ Issued by H.E.S.T. Australia Ltd ABN 66 006 818 695 AFSL 235249, the Trustee

HESTA CEO Debby Blakey said HESTA has a specific focus on identifying impact investments in the health and community services sector, where the majority of HESTA members work.

of Health Employees Superannuation Trust Australia (HESTA) ABN 64 971 749

“Through our actions, we want to help drive long-term meaningful change. By committing to invest in projects in the health and community services sector, we’re helping address social issues impacting not only the community but also our members,” Ms Blakey said.

to consult an adviser when doing this. Before making a decision about HESTA

321. This information is of a general nature. It does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or specific needs so you should look at your own financial position and requirements before making a decision. You may wish products you should read the relevant product disclosure statement (call 1800 813 327 or visit hesta.com.au for a copy), and consider any relevant risks (hesta. com.au/understandingrisk).

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KOH-I-NOOR

BRINGING THE OUTSIDE IN TO ENHANCE AGEING WELL Gone are the days of drab carpets and dimly lit hallways laid out on a clinical background—new aged care facilities are home-like spaces that incorporate the latest functionality and contemporary design.

Building exterior.

oh-I-Noor Contemporary Aged Care (Koh-I-Noor) designed by Perth-based KPA Architects (KPA) for the Spine and Limb Foundation, integrates the location’s outstanding natural settings to create a timeless and holistic living environment.

streetscape, and the facility has a look and feel of a home. An informal, friendly, easily comprehended floor plan helps create a homely ambience, unusual for a project of this size, which avoids the rigid and institutional nature typical of this building type.

Opening in March 2018, the 80-bed aged care facility is located in Wembley, a leafy inner-western suburb of Perth, and was designed to be different from the start.

The facility is split over two levels and each floor is broken up into wings with a secure dementia wing located on the ground floor. Each wing is connected through large passage ways and communal areas, with attractive internalised courtyards that connect the wings inside the building to each other, which in turn connects the building to the outside and surrounding community.

The facility’s architectural design philosophy is derived from the Koh-I-Noor diamond (translates to ‘Mountain of light’ in Persian), which is the centre of coronation crowns worn by Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Mother. A sectional image of the Koh-I-Noor diamond was overlayed on an aerial image of Perth city to create a ‘connection to landscape’ and ‘connection to community’. These themes influenced the project at a holistic level including the built form, interior design, wayfinding and public artwork. The design approach of Koh-I-Noor was to create a home for residents that sits comfortably in the existing residential

Courtyards provide shaded areas for socialising, napping, gardening, games, activities and looking after pets. Glimpses and views to the outside from many internal common areas form pleasant external vistas, where the residents can feel part of the broader community and yet still be secure. Traditional nurse offices have been replaced with ‘nurse nooks’ off common areas so staff and residents are always close

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to each other and provide a sense of ease and comfort for residents. Upstairs and close to the main lift is a dedicated family lounge to celebrate birthdays and other important family events and allows activity to extend onto the upper deck with puncturing tree, taking advantage of views and sunshine.

Koh-I-Noor is a home, not a facility—and this is embodied in its architectural design—enabling residents, their families and staff to feel like they are always welcome and at the centre of the local environment. ■ Todd Paterson is Director, KPA Architects. For more information visit www.kpa-architects.com

Bedrooms are fitted with large windows, flooding the rooms with natural light and ventilation, with views to nature and landscaping. The interior colours, patterns and imagery were drawn from nearby natural landmarks like Perry Lakes and Bold Park, which provide a strong sense of place. The KPA team also created and designed custom imagery artwork, each responding to its themed wing, to help residents identify where they are in the building and to help them find their way around. KPA worked closely with the client to create this home and include unique ideas to not only help residents age well in place, but also to help staff care for residents. Interpreting the client’s ideas and collaborating with them were important to achieving an outstanding outcome. The design of Koh-I-Noor Contemporary Aged Care reflects its name entirely—a diamond of a home with a contemporary and natural feel.

Internal courtyard.

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MORE BEING ASKED ON ANTIMICROBIAL STEWARDSHIP Antimicrobial stewardship in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) is improving but more needs to be done—and more is being asked.

rom 1 July 2019 RACFs will be assessed against the Aged Care Quality Standards. Standard 3 ‘Personal care and clinical care’, under requirement (g) (ii), seeks

On the face of it, the aged care market appears rich with opportunity. Australian population projections over the next two decades show the growth of those aged 65+ will be more than twice as fast as the total population. The fastest growth will be in the ‘old old’ 75+ age group, who are those with the highest level of demand for aged care.1 This is attracting many budding entrepreneurs and investors. “Minimisation of infection-related risks through implementing: (i) standard and transmission-based precautions to prevent and control infection (ii) practices to promote appropriate antibiotic prescribing and use to support optimal care and reduce the risk of increasing resistance to antibiotics.” It’s not surprising that RACFs are being asked to extend their efforts in antimicrobial stewardship. The World Health Organisation counts antibiotic resistance as one of the biggest threats to global health, food security and development. From a health perspective, a growing number of infections are becoming harder to treat, as the antibiotics used to treat them become less effective. This leads to longer hospital stays, higher medical costs and increased mortality. Residents are susceptible to infections for a variety of reasons including advanced age, multiple co-morbidities, poor functional status, compromised immunity, and the use of invasive devices such as urinary tract catheters. Their living environment means they have frequent contact with potentially colonised or infected people, while some have multiple and/or prolonged hospitalisations. The 2017 Aged Care National Antimicrobial Prescribing Survey identified that there are continuing high rates of inappropriate antimicrobial use and ongoing risks to the safety of care provided to residents, highlighting the following.

• More than half (55.2 per cent) of the antimicrobial prescriptions were for residents with no signs and/or symptoms of infection in the week prior to the survey start date, compared with 45.4 per cent in 2016. • Of all antimicrobial prescriptions dispensed for residents with signs and/or symptoms of infection, only 18.4 per

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cent met the internationally recognised McGeer et al infection definitions, compared with 36.5 per cent in 2016. • The start date was greater than six months prior to the survey day for 26.9 per cent of antimicrobial prescriptions, compared with 30.1 per cent in 2016. • The indication for commencing an antimicrobial was not documented for 23.7 per cent of prescriptions, compared with 25.6 per cent in 2016. • The antimicrobial review or stop date was not documented for 55.6 per cent of prescriptions, compared with 59.2 per cent in 2016. In 2017 the three most commonly prescribed antimicrobials were clotrimazole (20.8 per cent), cefalexin (19.4 per cent) and amoxicillin (6.1 per cent). One-third (33.1 per cent) of antimicrobial prescriptions were for topical use, however, most minor skin infections are

self-limiting and resolve without the use of an antibiotic and with standard skin hygiene care. If an antibiotic is required, topical antibiotics are only appropriate for patients with minor, localised areas of impetigo. The three most common indications for prescribing antimicrobials were cystitis or urinary tract infection (17.1 per cent), pneumonia (10.9 per cent) and non-surgical wound infections (5.1 per cent). NPS MedicineWise believes antibiotic use in the treatment of UTIs can be significantly reduced. It developed a report in collaboration with leading medication systems provider Webstercare (known for introducing innovations such as the Webster-pak® to the industry) to help RACFs identify, benchmark and improve antibiotic prescribing for UTIs in aged care. The report is available through all pharmacies providing Webstercare systems. NPS MedicineWise also offers a free online learning module on the topic which is useful for all healthcare providers (www.nps.org.au/cpd/activities/managing-utis-in-aged-care). Infection prevention and control programs are integral in aged care homes to protect vulnerable residents from preventable infections. An effective infection prevention and control program describes and implements evidence-based strategies that are necessary to eliminate or substantially reduce infections. An antimicrobial stewardship program complements an infection prevention and control program. It aims to decrease inappropriate antimicrobial usage and avoid adverse consequences of antimicrobial use, including antimicrobial resistance, toxicity and unnecessary costs. Steps to reduce overall use and increase the proper use of antimicrobials • Always use standard infection control precautions when working with residents, especially good hand hygiene. This will reduce the spread of infections between residents, health care professionals and visitors. • Only prescribe antimicrobials in line with therapeutic guidelines and, where possible, use diagnostic tests to inform treatment decisions. • T rial antimicrobial stewardship measures that can be put in place based on available resources and the needs of the facility. • Participate in the annual Aged (content.webarchive.nla. gov.au/gov/wayback/20180317055355/https:/www.naps. org.au/Default.aspx) Care Antibiotic Prescribing Survey. ■ Gerard Stevens AM is Managing Director, Webstercare. For more information visit www.webstercare.com.au

LATE ADOPTERS BEWARE From health-monitoring apps to smart pills, technology is revolutionising the way older Australians, and their families, manage their health and wellbeing. Unprecedented change in the Aged Care industry means service providers who don’t adapt may well be exposed to unnecessary risk. 96% of Australians over 50 want to retain their independence as they age, and this is the generation that can afford to do so. The typically asset-rich and technologysavvy baby boomers are steadily marching towards retirement, if not already enjoying the twilight years, and are expected to be a catalyst for sweeping change in the Aged Care industry as both aggregate demand and individual expectations soar. But it’s not just the changing demographics that we need to keep an eye on. Recent industry changes have handed enormous buying power back to consumers while drastically driving up competition, in some cases by more than 70%. More recently the Royal Commission has brought intense public scrutiny, while new Aged Care Quality Standards come into effect 1 July 2019. This time of immense change means that service providers are under the

microscope more than ever and industry success is no longer guaranteed by size or legacy, but by the ability to deliver and communicate quality and value to all stakeholders - from existing and potential customers and their families, to industry regulators and Government funders. Embracing technology may just be the smartest and most cost-effective way to achieve this.

Take for example an ‘always-on’ inhome monitoring solution that uses cloud technology to understand and communicate regular patterns of movement, only sending alerts when something is potentially wrong. Or, a wearable health monitoring device providing continuous feedback on vital statistics like blood sugar, body temperature, blood pressure, and more.

In an industry that is often overlooked and historically slow to adapt, it’s encouraging to see the latest tech innovations demonstrating real responsiveness to the needs of the sector.

We have the power now to be

Simple yet sophisticated solutions are emerging in health-tracking, unobtrusive monitoring, wearables, falls-prevention and more and are set to have a revolutionary impact on the quality, safety and efficiency of care delivery.

organisational disasters.

They’re also delivering on peace of mind, not only for the older person (and their families), but also the professionals responsible for administering and delivering their day-to-day care.

informed about incidents such as

falls,

potential

health

problems such as stroke, well before they become personal and

With these kinds of solutions set to become not just available but expected, service providers across the industry are asking themselves when and how to adopt and integrate them into their service delivery. It’s an important question and one that can quite literally be the difference between life and death. ■

of the most revolutionary One developments of recent years has been the speed at which we can securely collect and analyse enormous amounts of data, using it to create a continuous and holistic view of a person’s health, all without invading their privacy.

James Tucker is Managing Director of AbiBird Australia. For more information email jamest@abibird.com.au or visit www.abibird.com.au References: http://www.stewartbrown.com.au/images/documents/StewartBrown---ACFPS-Sector-ReportJune-2018.pdf Boxing Clever, AbiBird Consumer Research Results, March 2018.

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WHAT YOU NEED TO CONSIDER DURING THE INFLUENZA SEASON Improving staff hygiene is one of many steps you can take to protect your facility against outbreaks.

nfluenza season in Australia extends from May to October and peaks in July, so preparing now is important.

The living environment of aged care facilities—where contact with others is encouraged—makes it easy for the influenza virus to spread. In addition, the frailties associated with advanced age, together with co-morbidities such as cardiac and renal disease, exacerbate the risk of serious complications. The most challenging aspect is that influenza symptoms can be difficult to recognise in the elderly because respiratory symptoms may be masked by fever and generally feeling unwell. As a result, delays in diagnosis and treatment may occur. Implementing the right process internally is vital to help prevent outbreaks of infection—and hygiene is key. Staff may carry the influenza virus from one area to another, which is why compliance with hand hygiene standards as well as the use of appropriate disinfection with a product registered by the Therapeutic Goods Administration is fundamental to reduce environmental surface contamination. It is important to consider hygiene with it comes to regularly touched surfaces such as bedrails, switches, remotes, door handles and table tops. During peak periods, staff may have also to deal with an outbreak of viral gastroenteritis within the same timeframe. Norovirus, which is the root cause of gastroenteritis in aged care, persists longer on environmental surfaces in colder weather, meaning the risk of gastroenteritis may be somewhat higher during influenza season. However, the same basic management principles apply: proper hand hygiene and effective disinfection. Managing an influenza outbreak adds a level of complexity to an already challenging environment. New South Wales Health recommends the following approach:

• e nsure all residents and staff are vaccinated with the latest influenza vaccine • use influenza warning signs at key locations • i solate symptomatic residents by placing beds more than two metres apart (separated by a curtain if possible). Preferably, use single rooms where possible • e nsure that staff use protective equipment such as gowns and gloves when caring for infected residents • p erform hand hygiene before and after caring for other residents.

• promote hand hygiene and cough etiquette • encourage the use of surgical masks by symptomatic residents • promptly investigate and control respiratory illness outbreaks • r eport suspected influenza outbreaks to your local public health unit Residents with influenza need to be treated early— ideally within 48 hours— with anti-viral medications such as oseltamivir and zanamivir to help protect people at the highest risk of severe outcomes. Residents who have been hospitalised and who have recovered from influenza are likely to be immune to the strain circulating in the facility they came from, therefore they should ideally be discharged back to the facility as soon as clinically indicated. If an outbreak of influenza is declared in your facility, giving preventative medication to all residents who are not yet infected can help control the outbreak can be helpful. To be effective however, the preventative treatment needs to commence as soon as possible, and should be given to all unaffected residents. Although it is necessary to increase hygiene measures through hand hygiene and environmental cleaning, you need to be aware that chlorine bleach is associated with respiratory distress and adult-onset respiratory disease and may irritate some residents. A non-bleach disinfectant containing either quaternary ammonium or accelerated hydrogen peroxide (AHP) should be considered. In addition, microfibre offers a good safety net for cleaning processes if the application of a safe disinfectant is not uniform. Other simple preventative measures include isolating affected residents, limiting staff and visitor movement into affected areas and suspending all group activities. Further to this, it is important that all staff with coughs and colds are encouraged to stay away from work. Influenza is a serious, life-threatening disease in aged care. We are not yet at the stage in medical science where we can prevent it totally, but we certainly have the knowledge to mitigate the risk of contamination. ■ Ivan Obreza is Infection Prevention Consultant and Senior Clinical Advisor for Diversey Care, Australia. For more information visit www.diversey.com

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TIME POOR? COST PRESSURES? NEED EXPERT HELP? HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR REVENUE WITHOUT THE HARD WORK

In today’s business environment managers are increasingly focusing on leveraging resources to achieve efficiency gains and greater economies of scale.

he age services industry is not immune to economic challenges and this is being further exacerbated by cost increases and funding cuts. As the industry continues to evolve, managers are seeking ways to mitigate the effects of these demands by optimising liquidity and investment management outcomes. In an environment defined by historically low volatility and interest rates, managers are reviewing cash and investment strategies to generate better returns within conservative investment guidelines. Engaging a reputable third-party in implementing a cash and investment strategy significantly reduces the management burden—driving operational efficiencies, cost savings and improved investment returns. FIIG Securities, with a national footprint serviced by more than 130 staff based in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth has assisted clients to efficiently manage their cash and fixed income investments for over 20 years. Australia’s largest independent fixed income specialist, FIIG has over $8 billion of cash and fixed income under advice, enabling clients broad access to conservative but materially higher yielding liquidity and managed fixed income investment solutions.

Investment solutions for aged care providers FIIG is acutely aware of the obligations of aged care providers when managing Refundable Accommodation Deposits (RADs) and Refundable Accommodation Contributions (RACs). The FIIG Short Term Money Market and Investment Management team provides a liquidity management solution for working capital, making the most of an organisation’s cash by matching their investment criteria to deposit opportunities across an extensive panel of over 80 domestic and international Authorised Deposit-taking Institutions (ADIs).

It also provides clients with the opportunity to allocate funds to medium and long-term conservative investment strategies underpinned by capital stability and regular income. What this means is more revenue for you, and peace of mind that your funds are being expertly managed. FIIG’s existing aged care clients are benefiting from the following, and you can too. • Direct access to a personal relationship manager who customises investments in line with the client’s unique requirements. • Efficient use of internal staff administration resources—no need to spend an inordinate amount of time contacting multiple banks to find the most competitive rates. • Extensive market coverage—FIIG has access to over 80 ADIs giving you an opportunity to access rates from institutions that are competing for your business. • Dedicated resources to facilitate compliance and investment documentation requirements (i.e. money laundering and ‘Know Your Client’ checks) to ensure investing is a seamless experience. • FIIG’s scale—the service offering provided to clients is not easily replicated within an organisation. By leveraging its considerable network, FIIG achieves unprecedented competition among the banks and secures special rates for client deposits. • Dedicated professional Fixed Income Management team with a focus on medium to longer-term investments via FIIG’s Managed Income Portfolio Service. This provides clients with access to diversified fixed income programs for initial investments as low as $500,000. Portfolios can be customised for clients with more than $5 million of funds to invest. • FIIG’s Individually Managed Portfolio based platform provides clients with the combined benefits of direct ownership and professional management. ■ Mike Healey is Associate Director, Distribution – Investment Management, FIIG Securities. For more information visit www.fiig.com.au

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THE XTRA BUDDY PROGRAM

PROVIDING NEW STAFF WITH WELLNESS SUPPORT AS WELL AS CLINICAL SUPPORT Supporting our allied health professionals means patients get the best care.

s an aged care allied health company that has seen rapid growth in the last few years, the WorkXtra Group needed to think outside the square to ensure new staff were getting the support they needed.

Clinical support and a ‘buddy system’ are certainly not revolutionary in the aged care space, yet the Xtra Buddy system is unique in that it provides a dedicated ‘wellness’ angle for support that encourages meaningful conversations between colleagues. The Xtra Buddy Program kicked off in 2019 and it was created to meet and conquer the challenges identified by new staff in the WorkXtra Group annual survey. Under the program each new physiotherapist or occupational therapist who joins the WorkXtra team is allocated three distinct avenues for support: 1. Manager. Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist and clinical expert who works with staff to provide career planning and mentoring support. 2. Regional Lead. Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist who provides weekly contact and is the immediate ‘go to’ for all clinical and administrative queries and support. 3. Xtra Buddy. Designated wellness support person who works in the same region and is the same profession as the new staff member.

various wellbeing topics to guide their discussions and keep the initiative fresh and engaging. Topics include mindfulness, working with purpose, nutrition, resilience and happiness, and evolve to meet the ever-changing challenges of the age services industry. Moving forward the team will continue to collect and review the annual survey results, but at this preliminary stage the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and the group has gone from initially having the program available to new graduates only, to opening it up to all new staff and implementing factors of the program into existing staff review processes. To borrow the RU OK charity tagline ‘A conversation could change a life’, the WorkXtra Group hopes that the Xtra Buddy Program will foster meaningful conversations among staff, so that they can continue to have the skills and mindset to be the best therapists possible to their residents, clients and providers. ■ John O’Brien is National Culture and People Development Manager, WorkXtra Group. For more information visit www.workxtra.com.au Occupational Therapists Sammii Bennett (Xtra Buddy) and Breeana Casey (new staff member).

The Xtra Buddy Program gives staff, who may themselves be recent graduates and relatively new to the workforce, an opportunity to share their learnings with and motivate new staff members as they start out in their aged care journey. Xtra Buddys are given a ‘conversation starter’ document to guide meaningful conversations around wellness and managing work/life balance. They are encouraged to use online technology through programs like Microsoft Yammer to ensure smooth communication venues, as well as ‘one click away’ support to clinical forums and advice. Further to this, the Xtra Buddy is given $20 to use to buy their new team member a tea or coffee as a chance to get away to a quiet area off-site and promote an open and honest discussion. As the year goes by the Xtra Buddys and their staff members are provided with discussion papers and articles around

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7 REASONS WHY HOME CARE IS THE ANSWER TO AGEING WELL HOME CARE SET TO BE THE NEW NORM AS AUSTRALIA’S POPULATION AGES

e all want our parents and grandparents to continue enjoying life as they get older, we want to be able to support them and ensure they receive the high level of care they deserve.

So how can we help them find somewhere that is an affordable, respectable environment that allows them to keep their independence? The answer for many people is home care. It empowers older Australians to continue doing things that are meaningful to them, and maintain connection to their local community while having their needs supported. Why is home care the answer to ageing well? Here are seven reasons. 1. Retaining independence is important for many older people who have looked after themselves their whole lives but now may need a little extra help. They can continue to keep their normal routine, such as going to their local coffee shop or grocery store, and their family can visit anytime. 2. At home, they receive one-on-one care and having undivided attention from a home care worker ensures all their needs are looked after with a bonus of developing friendships with someone outside the family.

3. They can remain in familiar surroundings with their own belongings, such as personal items, photographs and other memorabilia, as well as pets.

for the individuals and their families. They are more likely to feel positive and happy in their own environment with a supportive community. As Australia’s population continues to age, demand for home care packages is likely to increase. By the year 2100, it is projected we will have more than 40,000 Australians living to 100 or older. To support our seniors to continue living independently in their own homes, the Australian Government offers a subsidised program called Home Care Packages. Currently we have around 87,000 government packages and it is projected we will have 151,000 packages by 2022. There are different levels of Packages, which range from lower level care Level 1 to more complex care Level 4. Australian citizens aged 65 years or over, may be eligible for support. Of course, most providers offer ‘fee for service’ options where you simply pay for the services you need. The type of services span from domestic assistance, personal care, in-home respite and transport to specialist care such as nursing and palliative care. Not all providers offer the same quality of services, flexibility or fees, so it is important that customers do their own research, ask the right questions and compare like for like. ■ Maria Makedonas is Marketing Project Manager, Health Care Australia. For more information visit www.hcahome.com.au/aged-care/

4. Everyone’s needs are different. One person may seek gardening assistance, while another may need a little help getting their day started. Home care can provide an appropriate level of tailored-support. 5. The freedom to live life on their own terms in deciding what they want to do, and when they want to do it, is empowering. 6. Many people want to stay in their own home if possible and it’s important to respect their wishes. With many feeling a lost sense of purpose as they age, it’s imperative to let them retain their voice, identity and independence. 7. Depression and anxiety are more common as people age and being taken away from home is extremely stressful

INSIGHTS FROM INDUSTRY

A COMPLETE SOLUTION FOR HEALTHY AGEING A BALANCED AND HEALTHY DIET IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED Using a trusted meal service run by professionals can help our seniors stay at home longer, increase their quality of life and remain self-sufficient.

he statistics of undernutrition among older Australians living in the community is alarming. Nutrition Australia estimates that 10 per cent are malnourished and 35 per cent are at risk of malnutrition.

Food is only nourishing if it is consumed and appetites often decrease with age, therefore it is critical that meals are appealing and well presented. They also need to be tasty with broad-appeal flavours and full of variety.

The Dietitians Association of Australia has labelled malnutrition in aged care a silent epidemic and a critical public health issue; a poor diet accelerates the ageing process and significantly reduces the quality of life for seniors.

The chefs at Lite n’ Easy are constantly developing new meals and improving popular ones to suit the needs and taste of customers. Customers are regularly surveyed to ensure they are satisfied with the offerings and, with over 100 meals to choose from, there is something for everyone.

Eating nutritious meals is often a struggle for seniors who can sometimes lack motivation and find cooking and preparing meals too difficult or time consuming. Some might not have the necessary cooking skills or mobility to shop and prepare their own meals—or the right knowledge. While good nutrition has been shown to ward off or improve lifestyle diseases such as heart disease and diabetes, there is a cacophony of opinions on what healthy eating looks like, which can be confusing for older people. Lite n’ Easy is a trusted Australian food company that has been in business for over 30 years. Not just a weight loss program, Lite n’ Easy produces good food that is suitable for many demographics. Maryl-Ann Marshall, a registered dietitian and Head of Nutrition, has been with the company since its inception and ensures the food produced meets all the evidence-based nutrition standards, while still tasting great. Vegetables are vital as part of any healthy diet and are included in all Lite n’ Easy meals with a variety of choices. Considering 97 per cent of all Australians do not eat enough vegetables, this is a nutritional achievement in itself, ensuring the optimum nutrient intake. Adequate protein is another important component, essential to prevent or decrease age-related muscle loss. The dinner meals have approximately 400 calories and 30 grams of protein which is suitable for older people who are still relatively healthy. Fibre is critical as it helps maintain good laxation and can help reduce high cholesterol. Lite n’ Easy dinner meals average about eight grams of fibre per serve to support a healthy digestive system. Besides dinners there is a wide range of other meals available, including smaller dinners or lunch options, to suit varying appetite levels and tastes.

The meals are conveniently packed for easy microwave heating with both chilled and frozen options are available. They can be delivered on a regular or ad hoc basis, giving customers the flexibility to order when they like. Ready-made meals available in the fridge and freezer can take away the temptation of resorting to “tea and toast” if unwell or unmotivated to cook. Lite n’ Easy currently proudly supplies meals to thousands of older Australians, doing its part to maintain the health of our senior community. ■ Maryl-Ann Marshal is Head of Nutrition, Lite n’ Easy. For more information visit www.liteneasy.com.au or email dietitian@liteneasy.com.au

Kathryn Alves, Minister Greg Hunt, Elisa Moggan, Riva Belbase, Ruth Min, Site Manager Lisa Duggan, Jillian Ginger, CEO Jennifer Lawrence, Minister Ken Wyatt.

BRIGHTWATER SELECTED TO TEST SPECIALIST DEMENTIA UNIT AHEAD OF NATIONAL ROLLOUT

BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PEOPLE WITH SEVERE BPSD THE AIM

ome of the most vulnerable people in aged care are those with complex needs associated with dementia. A new Australian Government program announced in February aims to make a difference, with Perth-based Brightwater Care Group selected to test the prototype. The $70 million Specialist Dementia Care Program will be trialled at The Village aged care facility in Inglewood. Announced on-site in February by Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Ken Wyatt and Minister for Health Greg Hunt, it will be the first of 34 specialist care units to be established across Australia. Brightwater was invited to tender for the program on the basis of existing clinical expertise and readiness, and its reputation for delivering high quality specialist dementia care services. Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Lawrence said the opportunity to inform and enhance broader rollout of the program will allow Brightwater to build industry capacity for this critical area of need in aged care. “The Village is home to 65 clients with dementia, all of whom have individual care and support needs, some more challenging than others,” said Ms Lawrence. “This program recognises that those with challenging and complex needs require additional support, and the pilot will

include specialist person-centred and multidisciplinary care to address those needs. “Brightwater congratulates the Australian Government for recognising the need to provide this kind of specialist care, and providing a vehicle to deliver these services with a view to a national rollout. “We look forward to collaborating with government and industry providers to improve the outcomes for this group of clients who encounter significant challenges with day-to-day support and maintaining wellbeing.” The Specialist Dementia Care Program was developed through extensive consultation with dementia experts, clinicians, state and territory governments, dementia peak groups and carers of people living with dementia. It includes: • A commitment to establish at least one specialist dementia care unit in each Primary Health Network across Australia, generally comprising nine beds, located within existing residential aged care facilities. • A nationally-consistent needs-based assessment framework to ensure care is delivered to those most in need. • Person-centred and multidisciplinary care delivered in accordance with 10 Specialist Dementia Care Program service delivery principles.

MEMBER STORIES

Brightwater’s plans for operating the pilot include a focus on a person-centred, multidisciplinary approach to care for people exhibiting severe behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), who are unable to be appropriately cared for by mainstream aged care services. The Village staff chat with Ministers Greg Hunt and Ken Wyatt.

• Formalised arrangements for regular specialist clinical input and review. • Transitional support that focuses on reducing or stabilising symptoms, with the aim of enabling the person to move to a less intensive care setting. • Regular reporting on client outcomes, independent evaluation and a focus on identifying and sharing best practice in specialist dementia care.

Client representative Raymond Ho with The Brightwater intends to Village Service Manager Lisa Duggan meet work with a range of Minister Greg Hunt. stakeholders to offer specialised, transitional residential support, focusing on reducing or stabilising symptoms over time, with the aim of enabling people to move to less intensive care settings. ■

John Brearley is General Manager Relationships and Business Development, Brightwater Care Group. For more information visit www.brightwatergroup.com

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MEMBER STORIES

NEW MODEL MAKES WELLNESS MORE ACCESSIBLE

REIMAGINING SERVICES TO SUPPORT AGEING WELL

s people live longer, healthier lives, the role of aged care providers in supporting wellness and wellbeing throughout the aged care journey will only become more important.

Allied health and therapy programs must now focus on restorative care and wellbeing approaches that not only rehabilitate, but look at a person’s overall wellbeing and provide effective, multi-channel programs that support their physical and mental health.

customers to better tailor the services to meet their needs and undertake programs when and where they chose. The model also makes it easier for customers in residential aged care and retirement living to access wellbeing programs suitable to them. “A client may want to use the gym once a week and attend a group class with an exercise physiologist or see another allied health professional once a week,” she said.

Not-for-profit aged care provider Uniting AgeWell introduced a Wellness Model in 2018 that took a holistic view of the needs and wants of older people and their families, irrespective of funding streams and service types. General Manager Strategy and Business Development, Fonda Voukelatos, said person-centred and directed care started with the end goal in mind, and focused on each individual’s journey to achieve their goal. This type of co-design thinking has led Uniting AgeWell to reimagine its services and develop AgeWell Centres (hubs) across Victoria and Tasmania. The aim is to create spaces where people can come in for a chat, find assistance to navigate the aged care system, and optimise their quality of life via evidence-based exercise programs. “We start from where the client is at currently and identify their destinations—their goals and aspirations,” he said. “Applying business principles associated with operating in an open market means that we subscribe to a customer first approach—accessible, inviting, tailored and solutionsorientated. “We want customers to have a great experience, tell their friends and to ultimately benefit from our diverse and everevolving range of services—in a high quality and friendly environment.” Uniting AgeWell Regional Manager, AgeWell Centres Melbourne, Amanda Mehegan, said the new model was based on research that showed exercise, social activities, relaxation, education and technology positively impacted wellbeing, anxiety and depression in older people. Ms Mehegan said the new model included more affordable services and an expanded range of programs that enabled

Uniting AgeWell client Kathy Bacsa has seen a dramatic improvement in her mobility since embarking on a tailored exercise and wellness program at the Noble Park AgeWell Centre.

MEMBER STORIES

“It’s important clients can access the services that best suit their personal situation, when they need them, and that’s what we strive to do.” Kathy Bacsa, pictured, is proof that tailored programs can have amazing results. Kathy came to the Noble Park AgeWell Centre in chronic pain and only able to lift her leg three inches off the ground. A problem during a knee replacement left the avid rock ‘n’ roll dancer in a coma and on life support, and when she eventually left hospital she could barely walk. “When I came to Uniting AgeWell’s Noble Park gym I was a little bit lost,” she said. “I’d been to other rehab places but they didn’t understand my needs. “The program and equipment have helped me so much; they’re just what I needed. They strengthened me up very, very well and what has been set out for me is just right. Now I’m working towards getting back to dancing!”

Social support forms an important part of that too. Uniting AgeWell offers activity groups and outings at their day centres across Victoria and Tasmania, including specialist groups for people with particular conditions including dementia and Parkinson’s disease. Under Uniting AgeWell’s wellness focus, exercise physiologists could help develop appropriate exercise and movement programs as part of these groups, ensuring everyone has the ability to enhance their social, physical and mental wellbeing to live well. As part of its commitment to enabling all people to age well, Uniting AgeWell sponsored the new series of Channel 31 program Move It Or Lose It, and created four episodes aimed at supporting seniors to live well at home. The new series airs daily at 8.30am, and is published on the Move It Or Lose It Australia YouTube channel. ■ Caitlin Pearson is Communications and Social Media Advisor, Uniting AgeWell. For more information visit unitingagewell.org

AUSTRALIA’S MAJOR SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE FOR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS

28th NATIONAL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION 2019

WHY ATTEND:

TOGETHER TOWARDS TOMORROW EXHIBITION OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC

Be inspired by 300+ oral presentations and 200+ electronic posters Engage with 100+ exhibitors to learn about the latest products and suppliers Earn up to 25 CPD Points! Participate in a tailored social program including the option to attend the Gala Dinner at the iconic Luna Park » Hear from keynote speakers; Leigh Sales, Dr Alison Gerlach, A/Prof Natasha Lannin and Prof Gail Whiteford

» » » »

SPONSORSHIP AND EXHIBITON OPPORTUNITIES Contact: Rebecca Meyer via events@otaus.com.au

10-12 JULY 2019 International Convention Centre

SYDNEY

www.otaus2019.com.au #otaus2019

AGED CARE TOPICS INCLUDE: » Rehab for Older People » Older People and Cognition » Dementia and Knowledge Translation » Community Living and Falls Prevention » People with Dementia Living at Home » Dementia and Complex Conditions

FURTHER INFORMATION

Ph: +61 3 9415 2900 Email: conference2019@otaus.com.au 71

Pam Bridges

Consulting

“A recognised leader in the field” Pam has worked within the aged care sector for many years. She has represented the industry on Commonwealth and State Advisory Boards, and Reference Groups. Pam has been re-appointed to the DSS Nurse Advisor and Administrator Panels for the next 3 years.

Contact Pam to find a solution! Pam Bridges Consulting ABN: 94 590 128 442 Ph. 0448 885 110 www.pambridgesconsulting.com

Services Include (but not limited to): • ACAR Applications • Accreditation Audits - Including Gap Audits • ACFI Reviews and Training • Advocacy • Complaint Investigation • Conflict Resolution • Montoring and Coaching • Risk Management • Service Reviews • Strategic Planning • Support during Interactions with Regulatory Bodies

LOOKING FOR STAFF TRAINING? Get the right support with LASA Aged Care Training Institute.

Take your team to the next level of knowledge and skill with LASA Aged Care Training Institute –the experts in education and professional development for the age services industry. Our training programs are designed to equip your leaders, managers and staff with the tools they need to thrive in our changing environment. From group training or individual support, to online coursework and face-to-face training at your premises, we make learning easy.

Speak to us today about how we can assist you 1300 111 636 or email education@lasa.asn.au 72

Accredited Training Certificate III in Business Diploma of Quality Auditing Diploma of Leadership and Management Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing) Certificate III in Individual Support (Home and Community) Certificate IV in Leisure and Health Certificate IV in Ageing Support Diploma of Community Services Assist Clients with Medication Skill Set Case Management Skill Set Provide Basic Foot Care Provide or Assist with Oral Hygiene Professional Development Governance and Leadership Workshops Diplomas Consumer Experience Workshops Mental Health and Wellbeing Training eLearning 20+ courses available Other Programs Support Residential Services Training (VIC only) Subsidised training under the Queensland Government Certificate 3 Guarantee Program (QLD only) Higher Level Skills Program under the Queensland Government High Level Skills Program (QLD only)

MEMBER STORIES

ROSEWOOD HITS THE RIGHT NOTE

COMMUNITY CHOIR IMPROVES WELLBEING AND SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT Rosewood residents Jim and Margaret Leavesley.

new community choir at Rosewood’s Leederville aged care home is hitting all the right notes with residents, families and community members alike.

Led by life-long singer Dorothy Ebel, the singing group meets every Friday morning, with the local community and Rosewood staff invited to join the weekly sessions. Rosewood community engagement manager Naomi Scott said the choir, which started in September, had been welcomed by residents and their families. “There’s something very magical about a choir like this,” Ms Scott said.

“Music brings people together and invokes a lot of happiness and emotion among the group, particularly with the older members. You can see the sparkle in their eyes when they realise they know a song and they start singing along in earnest. “The choir also provides stimulation and, in many cases, conjures happy memories from our senior citizens through songs from their past.” Ms Scott said Rosewood’s community choir had taken a shine to a range of older hits, including the loved Dream a Little Dream With Me, Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head and the crowd pleaser, I Still Call Australia Home. Continued on page 74

MEMBER STORIES Continued from page 73

Rosewood resident Jean Lukehurst and Rosewood community engagement manager Naomi Scott.

She said the choir was set up in response to a resident’s request for an in-house singing group.

Rosewood couple Jim and Margaret Leavesley say the new community choir is a welcome addition.

“Our residents are always singing at any opportunity, so we decided to initiate a community choir once a week,” she said.

“This is such good fun,” 89 year-old Mr Leavesley said. “It brings us a lot of happiness to join in the singing, especially when there are songs that mean something special to us.

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the response and the number of people keen to take part. We’re getting around 40 to 50 participants each week, including Rosewood staff who pop in for a song or two as they pass through the activity room.” Rosewood occupational therapist Elizabeth Biagioni said the choir provided numerous benefits for the residents, not least the social engagement with external community members and a professional choir director. Ms Biagioni said research showed music and singing is incredibly beneficial to the wellbeing of older people and those with dementia, by fostering social activity, triggering memories and emotion, and building new neural pathways to improve memory, language and concentration. “The reason this choir works so well is it is sensory-based so it can engage a wide variety of people, both those who are cognitively intact and also those with dementia,” she said. “Even those who may not have good memories can sing along. It really engages everyone on so many levels. “The point of difference with the Rosewood choir is that the participants enjoy having an external person to work with and having a choir director makes it much more official.”

“We’ve been married for 28 years, the second time around, so it’s just lovely that we can enjoy this together every week.” The Rosewood choir comes as the University of Melbourne’s Head of Music Therapy and neurorehabilitation and dementia expert Professor Felicity Baker undertakes a global study into the long-term impacts of different music therapy techniques on older people, including those living with depression. The study involves 1,500 participants living with dementia in nine countries, with around a third in Australia. Researchers have engaged with 40 residential care facilities in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane that do not currently offer structured music therapy as a treatment option. The multi-faceted study includes music therapists working with small groups of older people and larger sing-a-long groups, as well as bigger recreational choirs. The team will work with the same groups for a year to measure the impact of the music therapy over time. The research will also monitor what happens when music therapy ceases. ■ Naomi Scott is Community Engagement Manager, Rosewood Care Group Inc. For more information visit www.rosewoodcare.org.au

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MEMBER STORIES

AGEING WELL THROUGH ACTIVE LIVING AND COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

CULTURAL RELEVANCE IS PART OF THE SOLUTION PRONIA, a for-purpose community service organisation based in Melbourne, provides diverse services to the Greek and broader community.

aintaining good health and emotional wellbeing has become a significant problem within the Greek community due to a lack of healthy eating, lack of physical activity and social isolation. This has contributed to poor management of chronic disease, risk of falls, and mental health issues. PRONIA recognises the Greek older person’s choice to age in place, in their home and local community, maintaining social networks and staying physically active, which increases their wellbeing and participation in life. To help facilitate this, PRONIA offers direct services, such as generalist casework and counselling services supporting the individual needs of the older person. PRONIA also has expertise in developing and implementing innovative community programs optimising opportunities for improved health outcomes for older people and community participation improving quality of life. Programs provide physical, psychological and/or rehabilitative community support directly to the older person and extend services to carers through counselling and groupwork. PRONIA’s community consultations have shown that facilitated activities work best to engage people and keep them interested and involved in community programs. PRONIA strives to create environments that support community engagement, socialisation, education achieving improved health literacy and most importantly, increased participation in exercise. Physical activity is key to helping older people remain fit, healthy and independent. Reducing barriers to participation and service access are primary objectives of all programs, which include those funded through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme and home care packages.

Some examples of targeted programs within local communities include: • Greek Cardiac Rehabilitation Program. In partnership with the Royal Melbourne Hospital, the program combines heart health education and physical exercise for people who have experienced a heart episode or are at risk of heart attack. Peer leaders support new members and maintain social connections. • Greek-speaking community educators. These educators attend seniors’ clubs and Greek community groups to deliver prevention and early intervention education to improve health literacy, in particular on dementia care, carer support, palliative care, pain management and maintaining physical and emotional wellbeing. • “Get Active’ City of Monash project. This encourages older people to attend a local community centre to participate in education and exercise programs in a group setting for physical and mental health and wellbeing. • ‘Pop-up-Periptero’. This is a mobile kiosk that focuses on outreach to seniors’ groups and community events to reach older people who have limited capacity to access offices and require assistance and referral to MAC to access aged care services. • Family violence and elder abuse support. Community education, information and support services to older people which includes collaborations with other legal, law enforcement and family violence services. ■ Nikki Efremidis is Deputy Director, Manager Aged & Coordinated Care Services, PRONIA. For more information visit www.pronia.com.au

In the past year, PRONIA delivered 5,000 hours of direct service delivery, enabling people to stay active and independent in their own home and meaningfully engaged in community activities. Cultural relevance is key to their success. Programs are facilitated by Greek speaking educators, there is improved access to inlanguage resources, and the wrap around services offered by PRONIA provide a holistic approach to service provision.

PRONIA cardiac program participants.

MEMBER STORIES

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO REACH THE INTERNATIONAL GOLD STANDARD IN DEMENTIA DESIGN?

INNOVATION, INSIGHT AND QUALITY CARE

Aged care professionals know the environment has a huge impact on the quality of life and the quality of care for people with dementia. Residents enjoy socialising in bright, open communal spaces.

delaide aged care provider Life Care has been awarded a Gold Standard Accreditation for Dementia Inclusive design for their Gaynes Park Manor residential care home, which is unlike any traditional dementia ‘ward’ in Australia. The accreditation was awarded by the world-renowned Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC) in the UK who are recognised as a leader in research and innovation in dementia care. Home to 96 people, many of whom live with dementia, the design of Gaynes Park Manor is based around emulating a family home. Each person has their own chosen level of privacy, with bedrooms grouped around a central communal living space.

There are no corridors so nobody is alone and isolated in a small room at the end of a long hallway, encouraging socialisation and interaction while promoting a feeling of community and inclusion. There is a deliberately continuous line of sight from every room to the next, to reduce disorientation and foster a feeling of comfort and security for Gaynes Park Manor residents. Life Care CEO Allen Candy says the design award affirms the organisation’s commitment to the highest possible standards of care for older people and rewards their continuous effort to be at the forefront of dementia care models and design.

Continued on page 78

MEMBER STORIES Continued from page 77

Residents and staff develop more personal, sustained relationships.

“At a time when the care of our aged community is under more scrutiny than ever, we’re proud to be recognised for our approach to dementia care that promotes independence, choice and above all, respect,” Mr Candy said.

Mr Candy says the design of Gaynes Park Manor coupled with the model of care builds confidence in people living with dementia, creating a familiar, calm environment and promoting wellbeing.

“Key to Gaynes Park Manor receiving the award was our use of an innovative Real Time Location system. This removes the need for physically cordoned areas and enables people living with dementia to move around safely and with confidence within ‘virtual boundaries’.”

“The physical design of the facility supports the model of care that is aimed at providing the best possible standard of living for each person.

Gaynes Park Manor uses the ‘House Model’ of care where residents are grouped into six small communities or ‘houses’, each with its own theme and visual cues, to aid recall, recognition, orientation and familiarity. To articulate the themes (for example, beach, hills, city), each house has a different colour palette, a large pictorial display at the entrance of the house, large artworks and photography on the walls and different textural elements such as exposed brick and pressed copper. There are two houses on each floor and residents are encouraged to take on different roles within the home, should they choose, as well as to visit friends in other houses. Their own house and their own private room are then easy to find based on the unique visual cues to which people have become accustomed.

“Staff members are permanently assigned to the same house so that they build relationships with the same 16 residents and residents know the faces they are going to see every day. “Staff and resident relationships are like family connections where the giving of care is to a person they see every day. The care then becomes less ‘task list’ orientated and more like supporting a resident to live a day in their life,” Mr Candy explained. Improved inter-personal relationships also mean that staff can design and encourage programs that are specific to the wants and interests of the individual resident, meaning residents have a better sense of meaning and purpose. ■ Andrew Harvey is Marketing and Communications Manager, Life Care. For more information visit www.lifecare.org.au

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MEMBER STORIES

PUTTING THE FOCUS ON RELATIONSHIPBASED HOME CARE

A TRUSTED CAREGIVER CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE Continuity of care provided by consistent caregivers is fundamental to supporting the care needs of older Australians outside residential aged care.

Donato with his CAREGiver Novica.

t has been estimated that approximately 2.7 million people—most often family members—already provide informal care to older members in our society. This suggests that as a nation we are struggling to meet the rapidly growing demand for in-home care, and that it’s time to do things differently. Acknowledging this need, specialist in-home care provider Home Instead Senior Care Australia is focusing on providing relationship-based home care as the foundation of its service. This innovative form of care is designed to deliver impact. It is concerned with the individual needs of the care recipient and their family, and proactively encourages development of a relationship with a consistent and reliable CAREGiver. In contrast the current focus of home care services is on completion of a predefined set of tasks, which are often completed by different CAREGivers unknown to the recipient.

Relationship-based home care involves coordination of care across the entire team, including family members, physicians, nurses and pharmacists, and offers multiple benefits. According to the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, patient-centred care improves quality of safety and care, decreases costs, and improves satisfaction among care providers and the overall experience of the care recipient. Patient-centred care is much easier to deliver when there is continuity of care and a genuine interest in meeting the needs of the client. Relationship-based home care enables greater trust and comfort in caregiving. It supports continuity of care, which is fundamental to supporting emotional health, particularly for those living with dementia. CAREGivers have a better understanding of the care recipients’ needs and preferences, and represent a caring relationship, which is especially important for those who live alone.

MEMBER STORIES

Loneliness is a growing challenge for Australian seniors, and relationship-based home care is key to reducing loneliness and isolation and improving the daily lives for older people living alone. When it comes to dementia, more organisations in the aged care industry are recognising the importance and value of providing quality dementia care at home. A prime example of the benefits of relationship-based home care in Home Instead Senior Care Australia can be found by acknowledging Novica Blazeski, the first male National CAREGiver of the Year. A CAREGiver since March 2015, he has logged over 6,000 hours of person-centred care. Able to speak both Macdeonian and English, he is in popular demand, particularly among Macedonian clients. Due to Novica’s commitment and proven quality of care, he has been placed with clients who have very high needs, ranging from palliative care to those living with dementia. His experience and knowledge means he understands the struggles that clients with dementia and their families might encounter, including isolation and depression. One of his clients is Donato Pierro, who is 77 years old and a quadriplegic with extremely high needs. Initially both Donato and his wife were reluctant to accept support. However, after an initiative consultation, it was clear they needed a special CAREGiver to provide sufficient support. They requested an

Italian male CAREGiver. Novica was assigned to be Donato’s CAREGiver seven mornings a week and rose to the challenge, particularly as he does not speak Italian. He went above and beyond by learning Italian words in his own time to ensure their communication process would be more efficient. He persisted in finding common interests with Donato and discovered they share a love of sport as well as discussing global news. Rather quickly, Novica was able to develop rapport and trust with Donato and his wife. With his extensive knowledge of equipment and mobility aids, Novica would regularly make suggestions to the office that would benefit Donato. One of his suggestions was aids to assist in pulling up compression stockings, which greatly assisted Donato’s wife when Novica was unavailable. The biggest impact Novica has had on Donato is the reduction in hospital visits. Previously Donato would need regular hospital visits, but since Novica became his CAREGiver, Donato has had only two short hospital stays in two years. Carers like Novica who are detailed in their care and determined to make a difference demonstrate the core values of Home Instead Senior Care Australia, and the benefits of relationship-based home care. ■ Martin Warner is Chief Executive Officer, Home Instead Senior Care Australia. For more information visit www.homeinstead.com.au

Transition to the aged care quality standards with expert support and create a seamless pathway to success How LASA can support you:

Take a proactive approach to the new standards with tailor-made business support services from Leading Age Services Australia (LASA). Our expert team will give you the greatest chance of success in every area of the new framework.

Safety & Quality Management System. 50+ readymade and customisable policy and process templates for a better way to manage your business process and ensure your compliance. Quality audits and continuous improvement planning. Quality audit and continuous improvement planning that will mimic the process a Member may encounter from the Agency. Unannounced visits for compliance auditing. LASA audit to help you improve your systems, policies, processes and workplace. Organisation transition consulting. Expert guidance to help you develop a whole-of-organisation plan for transformation. Governance workshops. LASA in partnership with the Governance Institute of Australia training for leaders. Aged Care Quality Standards Masterclasses. You will better understand the Aged Care Quality Standards with a focus on demonstrating consumer outcomes. For more information or to register your interest in our Safety & Quality Management System, masterclasses, workshops, quality audits and continuous improvement planning, unannounced visits or organisation transition consulting please contact 1300 111 636 or quality@lasa.asn.au

MEMBER STORIES

BUILDING A COMMUNITY NOT AN AGED CARE FACILITY IT’S ABOUT PUTTING THE RESIDENT FIRST

From the beginning of its latest project, Shepparton Retirement Villages was adamant they were building a community.

Garden and alfresco dining at Maculata Place.

aculata Place, the new 120-bed, $34-million, twostorey community opened its doors to residents in November last year.

Situated at Tarcoola in Shepparton as one of Shepparton Retirement Village’s three campuses, Maculata Place is living up to the hype. With streets, letterboxes and doorbells, and a plaza for outings, it offers a real sense of community. There are also specific design principles used to cue behaviour of residents and staff which, combined with the increased focus on the relationship model of care adopted by Shepparton Retirement Villages, has resulted in an enabling environment. Breakfast bars much like you see in a hotel allow residents to help themselves to breakfast at any time—farmers are up early, while others like a sleep in. Resident choice is central to their model of care, the building facilitates this, and staff are well skilled at being in the background.

The building is designed in three zones. The front of the building is where residents will find the hairdresser, or they can visit the doctor or the gym, much like venturing to the shops. It also offers allied health rooms. The centre of the building houses the dining areas—cafés and restaurants. Equipped with kitchens for resident and family use, as well as commercial preparation kitchens tucked behind, this area is where all the chatter happens and where people naturally congregate with visitors and each other, much the same as any kitchen in most homes. Residents set the tables and fold the napkins and linger to chat once meals are finished. Coffee machines and continuous snacks are provided in the main dining area, and also in the various lounges and nooks, so residents and visitors can help themselves. The back of the building is where the residents’ homes are located. Corridors—named as streets— lead to residents’ homes, each with a letterbox and memory box to assist

MEMBER STORIES

Light filled interior and foyer area.

orientation, and a doorbell. Residents have an address (eg. 14 Woodhouse Lane, Maculata Place), an identity the same as anyone in the wider community, and can have mail sent to their letterbox address.

Helen Bertram loves her new home.

Floor to ceiling windows bring an abundance of light, and although the building is huge in size, it is still cosy with plenty of intimate lounges and nooks, a private dining room for resident use and four beautifully equipped courtyards that deliver al fresco dining, outdoor gardening, reflective space and tactile environments for those with cognitive impairment. Perhaps 91-year-old resident Helen Bertram summed it up best when she said, “I’m so happy here. The new building is perfect. I can’t think of a reason not to be happy here. “There is no pressure on us for anything we don’t want to do. They tell us this is our home and they make it quite clear we can do as we like, and I can’t think of a single rule that stops us from doing anything we want. “I love my room, I did right from the start. I walked through the purple door and my cover was on the bed and everything was all unpacked. The girls had done it all. “It is like home, it really is.” ■ Kerri Rivett is Chief Executive Officer, Shepparton Retirement Villages. For more information visit www.sheppvillages.com.au

MEMBER STORIES

ON-SITE PHARMACIST PROVIDES REAL-TIME GUIDANCE

AUSTRALIAN-FIRST PHARMACIST EMPLOYED FULL-TIME BY RESIDENTIAL AGED CARE PROVIDER

hen Canberra pharmacist Richard Thorpe joined the team at Goodwin Aged Care Services, he became the first accredited pharmacist appointed to a full-time position in residential aged care in

This service is different to Residential Medication Management Reviews, which are initiated by the resident’s GP and undertaken in collaboration with a contracted pharmacist, and only occur as needed.

Studies show that medication errors are commonly reported in aged care facilities and potentially lead to adverse drug events and further health complications.

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia Pharmacists in 2023 - Discussion Paper suggests embedding pharmacists in collaborative care arrangements wherever medicines are used is key to empowering pharmacists and fully utilising their skills.

Australia.

A great advantage of having a pharmacist on-site is that the pharmacist can respond to the needs of residents’ day-to-day. Goodwin has several facilities in Canberra and if an acute issue arises, Mr Thorpe has access to all the relevant information to provide accurate advice—regardless of the resident’s location.

This innovation may be a sign of the times. Goodwin hopes on-site pharmacists in residential aged care facilities become a common feature across Australia. ■

This initiative follows a successful six-month trial. Goodwin collaborated with the University of Canberra to fund pioneering research, which revealed that despite strong evidence that pharmacists can help to reduce the risk of medication errors in aged care, there wasn’t a single aged care facility in Australia that had an on-site pharmacist.

For more information visit www.goodwin.org.au

Chief Executive Officer of Goodwin Aged Care Services, Sue Levy said, “Goodwin’s research projects are self-funded with the purpose of making a positive difference in the lives of the people we serve. “Richard’s engagement is another milestone in our ongoing efforts to provide best-in-class medication safety for our residents and clients. “It demonstrates our commitment to researching innovative models, but also ensuring that the positive findings are put into practice.” Mr Thorpe is working closely with local GPs conducting medication reviews and providing advice to staff and residents on medication-related issues, with a particular focus on antimicrobial and antipsychotic stewardship with the goal of maintaining quality use of medicine (QUM). Goodwin residents are benefitting from easy access to pharmacist advice on the safe use of medicines. Mr Thorpe has a wealth of experience spanning more than 30 years in Australia and the United Kingdom. Being on staff at Goodwin means Mr Thorpe is also well placed to provide education for staff, prescribers and residents’ families.

Anne Walker is Marketing and Communications Manager, Goodwin Aged Care Services.

ichard Thorpe, Australia’s first on-site RACF pharmacist, assists a resident at Goodwin Aged Care.

OUT AND ABOUT

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WE MAKE IT OUR BUSINESS TO MAKE THE SUPPLY OF LPG AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE FOR OUR CUSTOMERS.

1300 362 389 www.elgas.com.au/careLPG LEADERS IN LPG

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OUT AND ABOUT

OUT AND ABOUT WITH LASA Advisory Group meetings help us advocate on behalf of Members WA Home Care Advisory Group met at Curtin Heritage Living.

Welcome new Members L-R Meryl Weckert, Paige Aldenhoven, Maureen Coffey, Merrilyn Hewett, Carol Elliott and Kate Manser from Barunga Village, Port Broughton, SA.

LASA Member Services Advisor QLD Chris Edith with new LASA Member Comlinkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chief Operating Officer Rosie Overfield.

The Vic Retirement Living Advisory Group held their meeting at The Old Colonists Retirement Village at Fitzroy North in February.

Februaryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s SA Retirement Living Advisory Group heard from Bob Ainsworth, SA Retirement Villages Residents Association.

QLD retirement living operators were well represented at the advisory group meeting in Brisbane in January.

LASA State Manager WA Christine Allen welcomes SHINE Community Services.

David Carver from Home Instead (North and Inner West Sydney) accepts a Membership certificate from LASA State Manager NSW Brendan Moore.

LASA State Manager VIC/TAS Veronica Jamison with Ashleigh, Ria and Fahrio from Empower Home Care.

Preparing for the Aged Care Quality Standards LASA has been working hard to help Members prepare for the new regulatory framework. Pictured is LASA Principal Advisor Residential Aged Care Sharyn McIlwain presenting one of our Masterclasses on the new standards in Melbourne.

Welcome to Home Instead Senior Care (Blackburn and Eastern Melbourne Suburbs). Pictured are Directors Annalise James and Briarna Fourche, along with Community Relations Manager Emma Peckham.

Warehouse inspection in WA L-R LASA Member Support Officer Ruth Metcalf with Amy Dwyer and LASA State Manager WA Christine Allen inspecting the enormous dispatch warehouse of our valued affiliate Independence Australia.

Site visit in Rockhampton Settlers Village Manager Luana Sammut gave LASA Principal Advisor Paul Murphy a tour of the site where they will be developing another 50 units to offer a total of 130 independent living units.

ASA Professional Development Training The Leadership Professional Development Program is 2.5 days of plenary sessions, interactive panels, workshops, speakers and discussions.

Supporting regional Victoria

LASA Consumer Experience Workshop A great turnout for LASA’s Consumer Experience Workshop in Sydney in February, highlighting the industry’s commitment to meeting and exceeding consumer expectations and industry standards.

We had a great turnout in February at Nowa Nowa, Victoria, for LASA’s Governance Workshop for Bush Nursing Centre’s Boards. Representatives from all of the Eastern Bush Nursing Centres were present. As volunteers, they are to be commended for their ongoing commitment to their respective communities. A special thanks to Fi Mercer from Governance Evaluator for their assistance in helping LASA State Manager VIC/TAS Veronica Jamison.

Mental health and wellbeing training

TECHNOLOGY |

COMPUTER SOFTWARE

Reduce workplace stress and improve business performance. New eLearning and face-to-face in-service opportunities available. LASA Aged Care Training Institute is pleased to offer two new learning modules to support the health and wellbeing of Australia’s aged care workforce: 1. A Healthy You – Understanding Self and Stress 2. Mental Health in the Workplace These modules are packed with insights and strategies to help you develop a greater awareness of mental health issues in the age services industry. Designed for leaders, managers and staff, our new modules will help alleviate workplace stress, improve morale and boost the ability of staff to care for themselves and others. LASA Aged Care Training Institute helps you conduct your professional development the way you want, with two options for delivery of all our training modules: online for people who want to work independently at their own pace; OR face-to-face at your premises to maximise whole-of-staff training, minimise down-time and reduce costs. (This option is available upon request anywhere in Australia.) Speak to our friendly LASA Aged Care Training Institute team to find out how we can assist you with your specific needs.

Purchase our mental health and wellbeing modules as a dual bundle or as part of a Professional Development package. A Healthy You – Understanding Self

Stress and Mental Health in the Workplace

One of the most important and often forgotten things caregivers can do, is care for themselves. When your needs are taken care of, the person they care for will also benefit. This course provides useful tips, advice and guidelines to help you understand the importance of self-care, how it will benefit you personally, and how achieving a ‘healthier you’ benefits not only yourself but how you perform in your personal and professional life.

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological and social wellbeing. It affects how we think, feel and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others and make choices. Topics include: mental health wellness; stress, burnout and anxiety; workplace stress; strategies for preventing and managing stress; workplace support and communication; personal mental health wellbeing.

1300 111 636 education@lasa.asn.au or visit www.lasa.asn.au/training/ 88

FASTER HORSES PTY LIMITED ABN 69 600 189 884

FUSION PUBLICATION CONTENT

WHAT’S NEW

BRINGING THE CONVERSATION FORWARD

BRINGING THE CONVERSATION FORWARD The inconvenient inconvenienttruth, truth,of ofwhich whichwe weare areall allaware, aware,isisthat thatpeople peopleavoid avoidthinking thinkingand anddoing doinganything about the care they need in their elderly years The anything about care they their Horses’ elderly years until theCare very last from until the very lastthe minute. Dataneed fromin Faster Inside Aged 2018minute. ReportData shows that even among those in their 70s, 19% (that’s 1 in 5!) those in their 70s, 19% Faster Horses’ Inside Aged Care 2018 Report shows that even among had not given any consideration to their aged care needs. (that’s 1 in 5!) had not given any consideration to their aged care needs. As the baby boomer population moves into requiring aged care services, there is an increasing need to bring forward conversations around requirements, preparing our elderly population for the next stage of their lives. Early, open conversations are important to minimise the emotional reactions we see evident today. Right now, the dominant emotions linked to the thought of engaging with the aged care sector is concern and apprehension. While a tertiary emotion is feeling cared for, an equal number feel sad.

! FASTER HORSES PTY LIMITED As the baby boomer population moves into requiring aged care services, there ABN is an69 increasing 600 189 884 HORSES PTY LIMITED need to bring forward conversations around requirements, preparing FASTER our elderly population for the ABN 69 600 189 884 next stage of their lives. Early, open conversations are important to minimise the emotional reactions we see evident today.

This is largely because a move into care takes place at a moment of crisis ... and there is little trust in the industry (only 18% of Australians have trust in the industry). Interestingly though, trust is higher among those involved in the industry (25%).

Right now, the dominant emotions linked to the thought of engaging with the aged care sector is concern and apprehension. While a tertiary emotion is feeling cared for, an equal number feel sad.

What does this tell us?

1. We need to improve the services we are offering to overcome the lack of trust

This is largely because a move into care takes place at a moment of crisis ... and there is little trust in theisindustry (only 18%a of Australians trust in the Interestingly though, trust This largely because move into carehave takes place at aindustry). moment of crisis ... and there is littleistrust higher among those involved in the industry (25%). in the industry (only 18% of Australians have trust in the industry). Interestingly though, trust is higher among those involved in the industry (25%).

2. We need to celebrate the good news stories – clearly there is a gap between broad market perceptions and those experiencing care and support from the industry 3. Once we have improved perceptions, we can encourage earlier conversations around requirements as we all move into our later years 4. This will ensure that we are not trying to manage things at a moment of crisis – an enormous challenge for the industry and the individuals involved!

Further information about the journey into care and support for both families and those in need of care can be found by contacting Veronica Mayne at Faster Horses on veronica@fasterhorses.consulting.

WHAT’S NEW

Throw Away Your Mop & Bucket, Let’s Evolve “Aged care centers today should have removed the mop & bucket technology to reduce a number of hassles involved in the cleaning process,” said Director of Duplex Healthcare, Murray McDonald, “It’s time consuming, exhausting, and never as clean as you wanted to be.” He believed it is essential for healthcare industry, particularly aged care, to have a look at replacing them with alternative tools. This is meant to reduce manual handling risk that will eventually increase the level of hygiene within aged care, as better tools should be able to ease the job of cleaners and increase productivity. For the last 20 years, Duplex Healthcare has been leveraging the standard of cleaning within healthcare facilities. Created a wide range of innovations that are not just about cleaning but also doing it right, including its eco-friendly concept and its constant attention towards manual handling risk reduction. The latest invention is Lithium Evolve – lightweight battery, cordless design, and now added with squeegee to ensure the cleaning is being done properly according to healthcare standard.

For flexibility, it is made for easy maneuver with built-in side wheel, as well as offset brushes that will clean right to the edge. “You just need to wheel it to the area, switch it on, and start cordless cleaning with an instantly dry floor,” McDonald added.

“The new machine will sweep, wash, scrub, and dry floors in single pass that resulted in 40% more cleaning performance,” said McDonald.

Care Systems & Emprevo build an industry changing partnership Are you tired of Aged Care management software that is not connected and seems to make your lifer harder, not easier?

solution. The integration to Care Systems means that Aged Care providers can now manage just-in-time shift filling centrally without the frustration of manually engaging staff by SMS or phone at short notice. This ensures a seamless rostering & shiftfilling experience for management and staff.

Care Systems came to the conclusion that there had to be a better way. After scoping possible solutions, Care Systems management system has been turbocharged through an integration of its Rostering function with the Emprevo shift-filling platform.

Care Systems users can now have Emprevo seamlessly integrated into the existing platform, delivering numerous benefits:

Emprevo takes the time, agency costs and frustration out of filling shifts and has developed a simple but powerful mobile

• All shifts accepted on Emprevo automatically populate the Care Systems Roster, requiring NO data entry;

• Publishing the working roster in Care Systems automatically makes unfilled shifts available to advertise to staff in Emprevo;

• All staff can set their availability in the Emprevo app, allowing managers to see who may be able to accept a shift vacancy; and • All staff will be able to view their standard rostered shifts, and new Emprevo shifts in the Emprevo work calendar on their mobile phone. For managers and staff wanting more time in their day and less frustration, Care Systems now has an end-to-end solution that ensures much better outcomes and significant cost savings.

Contact Paul Johnston at Care Systems on 0432 396 399 or paul.johnston@ caresystems.com.au to find out more.

The Dementia Centre The Dementia Centre is running a series of one-day Dementia Fundamentals Symposiums across the country. This event aims to empower carers and practitioners with vital expertise and capability across the core areas for day-to-day care in aged care settings, the community, and homes. Leading sector experts will cover proven and latest thinking on key topics essential to better care including:

- The physiological effects of dementia on the brain

- Understanding the powerful role of environment and design

- Approaches for understanding & managing behavioural change

Each topic is comprehensively evidence based and proven in clinical practice to empower carers & practitioners with a deeper understanding and practical strategies in care.

- Understanding the impacts of medication - Best practice approaches to identifying and managing pain - Using music as a life engagement tool - Strategies to support positive eating and drinking

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Armidale Coffs Harbour

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South Pacific Laundry (SPL) has been a provider of commercial laundry and linen services to the hospitality industry in Melbourne for the last 20 years. Currently, the South Pacific Group is establishing a strong network of modern laundries across Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia with plans for several more facilities up the East Coast of Australia. The relocation of our Sydney operations to a new larger facility in Bankstown together with the relocation of our Brunswick plant to Broadmeadows will establish South Pacific Laundry as the single largest privately owned laundry in Australia and in the Southern Hemisphere.

Contact Robert Teoh National PR & Marketing P: (03) 9388 5300 M: 0421 716 888 Coverage Australia wide

Pricing Information Contact supplier direct Delivery Free daily delivery within 25km city metropolitan areas Minimum Order Contact supplier direct

• A 365 day service to all its clientele with a 24 hour turnaround (depending on location). • A leading edge technology in RFID to assist housekeeping and managerial staff in time reduction and efficiency. • Dedicated account managers and experienced support staff who are available 7 days a week. • A dedicated software design package and centralised billing system enables seamless transactions, paperless and customised reports. • Delivery rationalisation systems, providing and streamlining efficient delivery routes which will reduce the company’s carbon footprint. • Building of partnerships and sharing benefits with the customers from savings made through its constant laundry process innovations and group purchasing power of linen products. • Dry cleaning and uniform cleaning services. • Provision and supplying of corporate uniforms/work wears and customised hotel room amenities.

Full Contact Information South Pacific Laundry 9-23 King William St Broadmeadows VIC 3047 P: (03) 9388 5300 F: (03) 9387 2399

*Melbourne, Albury only

E: customerservice@southpacificlaundry.com.au robert.teoh@southpacificlaundry.com.au