The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner has published a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Commissioner, Janet Anderson, said that in the context of the pandemic, the community was looking for reassurance that older people receiving aged care are being well looked after and kept safe.
“We have published on our website our proportionate, risk-based approach in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Ms Anderson said.
“Our regulatory response aims to minimise infection risks to consumers, staff and the Commission’s own employees,” she said.
“This means adjusting our regulatory activities and focusing additional effort where it is needed most to ensure that aged care consumers are safe.”
Ms Anderson said her current regulatory focus included continuing to closely manage complaints about aged care services including those related to COVID-19, and escalating matters for regulatory action based on risk.
She said the Commission had received more than 1,800 calls during March, up from 1,298 in February.
The Commission was also conducting site visits to services assessed as high risk in relation to infection control, imposing regulatory tools and sanctions to monitor compliance, she said.
Ms Anderson said her Office was contacting all aged care approved providers to monitor their preparation for a COVID-19 outbreak and manage visitor restrictions in line with the Communicable Diseases Network of Australia (CDNA) infection control guidelines and the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) advice on visits to vulnerable groups.
She said it was also conducting an online survey of all aged care residential and home care services, asking them about their preparedness for COVID-19 based on the CDNA and AHPPC guidelines.
The Commissioner said her focus was also on conducting roundtables with provider and consumer representatives to share information about issues and consider solutions; developing resources and tools to assist aged care service providers in responding to the COVID-19 outbreak; and developing an approach to directly engage with consumers about their experience of the quality of care and services they are receiving.
Her full 2-page statement regarding COVID-19 can be viewed at this PS News link.
