INDUSTRY UPDATE – DECEMBER

INDUSTRY UPDATE – DECEMBER

Jan 11th, 2019 | article

Farewell 2018 and welcome to a brand new year! What a year 2018 was for the industry. We faced the announcement of the Royal Commission, widespread and controversial media coverage, budget highs and lows. Confronted with many challenges, the industry was, as always, resilient in the face of adversities and we know that we are ready for the year that is ahead with the Royal Commission continuing and a pending election. But just before we leap into our 2019, let’s take a look at the news from December 2018 that

INDUSTRY UPDATE – NOVEMBER

INDUSTRY UPDATE – NOVEMBER

Dec 10th, 2018 | article

The industry has been buzzing with Royal Commission news in November! After the release of the Terms of Reference in October, the first requests for information have been the next key topic in the news, along with how Providers need to prepare. The Affiliate Agreements, signed by peak and advocacy bodies was established; and a new Bill introduced which would require facilities to have compulsory CCTV cameras installed in Resident rooms. The Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission Bill was passed in senate, and a number of exciting innovations, technological

INDUSTRY UPDATE – OCTOBER

INDUSTRY UPDATE – OCTOBER

Nov 23rd, 2018 | article

The busy month of September rolled right into another eventful month for October! This month brought with it more on the Royal Commission with the release of the Terms of Reference, announcement of the Commissioners and a great deal of conversation around what Providers need to prepare for. Staffing ratios and the Aged Care workforce were another hot topic, with the Royal Commission and the industry review on workers highlighting both. The first Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner was appointed, and lack of funding was again highlighted as a

Little Moments; Big Change Impact Competition

Little Moments; Big Change Impact Competition

Oct 30th, 2018 | article

Share your impact and ignite change in the industry! Tell us in 200 words or less how you made an impact on the life of an older person living in care and WIN a $500 Coles Myer voucher to spend on your Christmas lunch or use it to make even more of an impact on your facility! Click here to share your story! The best 3 entries will each win the following prize: Best judged entry: $500 COLES MYER voucher Second best judged entry: $300 COLES MYER voucher Third best

INDUSTRY UPDATE – SEPTEMBER

INDUSTRY UPDATE – SEPTEMBER

Oct 19th, 2018 | article

What a month we have had in the industry in September. A Royal Commission was announced, and the media and public is full of talk, questions and opinions. The Four Corners investigation into Australian Aged Care was aired which added to the conversation, putting the spotlight on the industry and throwing a great deal of negativity into the air. This broadcast has thrown panic and fear for both potential residents having to enter care and family members who have residents currently in care; and significantly increased the workloads of Facility

2018 ACFI RATES

2018 ACFI RATES

Oct 10th, 2018 | news

The ACFI rates for the 2019 financial year are in! For all other New Rates of Payment from 1 July 2018 for any Aged Care Subsidies and Supplements – you can visit the DoH here. The ACFI rates are as follows:   In addition to the Daily ACFI subsidy rates above, the Quality Care Fund will be paid as an additional daily ACFI subsidy amount for the period 20 September 2018 to 30 June 2019 to assist providers to transition to new quality standards. The additional rates are as follows:  

INDUSTRY UPDATE – AUGUST

INDUSTRY UPDATE – AUGUST

Sep 7th, 2018 | article

August was a month of politics: a new Prime Minister, a new bill introduced and a new study added to the RUCS. Home Care was a huge focus this month, the concern about the lack of funds and rising needs of Home Care places becoming a larger and larger issue. The boost of funding to Mental Health in Aged Care sees a number of programs and studies coming together and Elderly Abuse awareness also benefits from a funding injection. To top off the month a number of awards were held

Changemaker Series: How I’m connected to Provider Assist’s purpose

Changemaker Series: How I’m connected to Provider Assist’s purpose

Aug 20th, 2018 | article

At PA, we are a team of 60 Remarkable and passionate professionals all driven towards the same purpose: To ensure that all Australians receive the care, dignity and quality of life they deserve. In 2017, to reconnect our day-to-day to our impact and to continue to make changing the lives of older Australians our beacon, we set out on a social impact measurement journey to embed it in our culture forever. We realised, if we are living our truth that the entire reason we exist is to impact older Australians,

INDUSTRY UPDATE – JULY

INDUSTRY UPDATE – JULY

Aug 8th, 2018 | article

The new financial year has begun and the second half of the year is in full swing. This month in the industry has seen some big changes with the My Aged Care overhaul and the opt-out period beginning for the controversial My Health Record. Calls for the Government to review funding and its sustainability (or lack thereof) continue and the number of future Aged Care facilities going up (yes, we are talking skyscrapers!) rises as Aged Care building projects are announced. A drop in the number of GPs visiting Aged

The Aged Care Supplement, Subsidy & Fee Glossary

The Aged Care Supplement, Subsidy & Fee Glossary

Jul 12th, 2018 | article

We understand that payment statements can be a little challenging to read at times (or all the time). A sound understanding of the supplements that your facility is entitled to ensures that you and your residents are not missing out. The team who reads your payment statements need to know not only what is listed on a payment statement, but what you might be missing out on and how to get it. So, to make your reconciliation easier, we have put together a glossary covering the current supplements, subsidies, fees

INDUSTRY UPDATE – JUNE

INDUSTRY UPDATE – JUNE

Jul 5th, 2018 | article

We’ve left budget month behind and leapt straight into end of financial year! An extremely interesting month of news this June; with the 2018-19 ACFI rates released while the conversation continues to blaze around the rise of facilities making losses; the approaching rollout of the single set of quality standards and a look at a number of varied different models for dementia care. The discussion surrounding the Aged Care workforce gets political as the topic continues to be a hot issue in the industry. Check out our summary of the

The New Accreditation Standards

The New Accreditation Standards

Jul 4th, 2018 | article

Big change afoot with a new single set of standards transition year. As you would know, 1st July marks the 12 month transition period for the new standards (with formal assessment against them to commence 1st July 2019). What does that mean for me? Firstly, these new standards will impact not only residential care, but home care, flexible care and services under the Commonwealth Home Support Program. July 1 is an opportunity to review where you are up to on your road to transition into the new world, while at

INDUSTRY UPDATE – MAY

INDUSTRY UPDATE – MAY

Jun 5th, 2018 | news

The month of May was budget month, making it an extremely busy time in the industry, with many conversations arising from the budget release. There were many opinions on what the budget meant for both Home Care and Residential Aged Care, with a number of initiatives well-received, but also many areas that generated much discussion about what was absent. Once again, quality was a focus-point this month with the new quality framework bill entering Parliament, as is the topic of the Aged Care workforce and the workforce strategy taskforce. Cyber

THE 2018-19 BUDGET BREAKDOWN

THE 2018-19 BUDGET BREAKDOWN

May 11th, 2018 | article

This week came the release of the 2018-2019 budget, and with it a number of key factors for the Aged Care Industry on the changes that are coming. The budget for Aged Care contained a number of recommendations from the Tune Review. Here, we’ve broken down the different aspects of what the budget means for the Industry, what was welcomed, what key areas were not addressed and what the future holds. Firstly, let’s look at what areas the budget addressed in Aged Care, and some of the initiatives that have

INDUSTRY UPDATE – APRIL

INDUSTRY UPDATE – APRIL

May 3rd, 2018 | article

The past month has been very busy in the Aged Care industry, with some big issues and announcements coming to the fore. The Department has released the new reforms for quality in Aged Care, which has sparked an enormous amount of discussion and feedback. The topic of funding in Aged Care once again became a highlighted issue, as has sustainability and viability of the sector. Staffing ratios and a mandate to offer flu shots for care teams were also big topics. Check out our summary of the month that was

Significant Refurbished Incentive: Are you Eligible?

Significant Refurbished Incentive: Are you Eligible?

Apr 17th, 2018 | article

As we all know, the July 2014 reforms brought about a lot of change to our industry; how consumers pay for their accommodation, consumer fees and much more! Included in these changes was the Significant Refurbishments Incentive. This means that approved providers who build or significantly refurbish a residential care service on or after 20 April 2012, are eligible to receive a higher rate of the Accommodation Supplement! This also means that Residents classified as “Low Means” can be eligible to contribute a higher amount to their accommodation costs than

INDUSTRY UPDATE – MARCH

INDUSTRY UPDATE – MARCH

Apr 11th, 2018 | article

We are now well into 2018, and it has been another busy month for the industry. This month we touch on revenue streams, respite investigation, palliative care recommendations, some legislation enactments and much more from the month of March. ‘ASSET REPLACEMENT’ FEES RULED AGAINST IN FEDERAL COURT CASE Asset replacement charges! We’ve already written an article about this (which you can find here) but we thought it was worth revisiting. In case you missed it, the Federal Court made a ruling this month on the legality of asset replacement charges.

PROVIDER ASSIST’S FIRST EVER IMPACT REPORT

PROVIDER ASSIST’S FIRST EVER IMPACT REPORT

Mar 21st, 2018 | article

Welcome to Provider Assist’s FIRST EVER Impact Report! In 2017, to reconnect our day-to-day to our impact and to continue to make changing the lives of older Australians our beacon, we set out on a social impact measurement journey to embed it in our culture forever. We realised, if we are saying that the entire reason we exist is to impact older Australians, shouldn’t we be able to define that impact and measure and report on it? We’ve learned a lot through this process. We’ve already made changes, big and

MYTHS & FACTS UPDATE

MYTHS & FACTS UPDATE

Mar 15th, 2018 | article

The ACFI Rumour mill keeps on churning and we are still getting panicked calls about how ACFI will be gone in 6 months…so we’re taking the opportunity to dispel some more rumours. We know that there has been much talk in the industry about the new funding instrument to replace ACFI, and in particular, the RUCS being the new tool. Here’s what you need to know. The RUCS The RUCS tool is designed for the current study that is occurring regarding the Resource Utilisation and Classification Study. This study is

INDUSTRY UPDATE – FEBRUARY

INDUSTRY UPDATE – FEBRUARY

Mar 9th, 2018 | article

Right back into it in the swing of the New Year! There’s been a lot going on in the industry this month – especially around quality, after a few more saddening incidents in the industry and the release of another report on Oakden Nursing Home! Other big ticket items this month – the draft of the Aged Care Quality Standards have been released and we’re running a bit low on respite beds! The question of quality in Aged Care continues The Australian Aged Care Quality Agency (AACQA) will be overhauled

‘Asset Replacement’ Fees Ruled Against in Federal Court Case

‘Asset Replacement’ Fees Ruled Against in Federal Court Case

Mar 8th, 2018 | article

You may remember back in September 2016 the Department of Health released information about charging fees known as ‘capital refurbishment fees’ or ‘asset replacement fees’. If you don’t remember let’s catch you up! Basically, the Department advised that according to their interpretation of the relevant legislation these fees were not legal as they did not provide a ‘direct benefit’ to the Resident. You can find that information here. Following this, many Aged Care Providers stopped charging this type of fee, however Regis debated the Department’s interpretation of the legislation and

INDUSTRY UPDATE – JANUARY

INDUSTRY UPDATE – JANUARY

Feb 20th, 2018 | article

We’ve hit the ground running in January! Great to see everyone is refreshed and ready for a new year of opportunities. Since there is always so much going on in our industry we can’t cover everything, but we’ve got a few highlights of the month for you. This month we’ll cover taking a stand against ageism, a boost to the Aged Care workforce, you can find out which state has the oldest population and understand the true cost of caring for someone with dementia. Fighting Ageism A campaign to tackle

INDUSTRY UPDATE – DECEMBER

INDUSTRY UPDATE – DECEMBER

Jan 16th, 2018 | article

Happy New Year, welcome to 2018! While we all may have slowed down during the festive season that didn’t mean things slowed down in the Aged Care industry! This month on the Industry Update – another inquiry into Aged Care, an update on the Resource Utilisation and Classification Study, a little more bad press and a good news story from Illawarra. Inquiry into the Quality of Care in Residential Aged Care Facilities in Australia Another inquiry into the Aged Care sector has been announced this month. The Standing Committee on

2017: THAT’S A WRAP!

2017: THAT’S A WRAP!

Dec 20th, 2017 | article

This time of year is a wonderful opportunity to sit back and reflect on the last 12 months. Thank you so much to each and every one of you for being on this journey with us. We LOVE this industry we’re in and the people we get to work with, so we’d love to share these reflections. It’s been a big year for change in our industry (but we could say that every year!) and here we are on the other end, bigger, stronger and of course the proud owners

INDUSTRY UPDATE – NOVEMBER

INDUSTRY UPDATE – NOVEMBER

Dec 5th, 2017 | news

Another month goes by and the Aged Care industry continues to change! This month on Industry Updates you will hear about the growing problem of homelessness among ageing Australians, a workforce taskforce, gap years and a consumer questionnaire for evaluating quality care. Ageing and Homelessness – The Problem is Growing A report released by Mission Australia has highlighted the growing problem of the increased number of people at risk of ageing into homelessness. The report highlighted that older women are particularly vulnerable as they rent more than men in the same

INDUSTRY UPDATE – OCTOBER

INDUSTRY UPDATE – OCTOBER

Nov 3rd, 2017 | article

If you thought Aged Care was going to have a quiet month in October, you thought wrong! Another month full of many of the same things we saw last month, with a few bonuses: everyone loves a report, talk of Consumer Directed Care, some more bad press and some excellent new initiatives. SURPRISE! MORE REPORTS! All things ACFI – More Proposals Released Another report on proposed changes to the funding tool was released this month! Applied Aged Care Solutions released their Government Commissioned Report ‘Review of the Aged Care Funding

Question: “What if we can’t provide a 4a or 4b treatment because my facility is in lockdown?’

Question: “What if we can’t provide a 4a or 4b treatment because my facility is in lockdown?’

Nov 1st, 2017 | article

One question we often get asked is “what if we can’t provide a 4a or 4b treatment because my facility is in lockdown?’. It’s a great question, so we went to the DoH for the answer. We asked: Given the amount of facilities that have been in lockdown due to influenza and gastro outbreaks, what would the potential outcomes or risk be on review if some treatments were not conducted during this period, if it could be evidenced that the facility was in fact, in lockdown? Especially in the case

Review of the Aged Care Funding Instrument Report

Review of the Aged Care Funding Instrument Report

Nov 1st, 2017 | news

On the 19th of October came the next step in the Aged Care funding review process, which was the release of a new report into Aged Care funding. The Review of the Aged Care Funding Instrument Report (R- ACFI) has conducted a comprehensive review of ACFI with numerous recommendations, including removing redundancies in claiming and enhancing the tool to give it further longevity. Presenting a number of options to redesign the current ACFI system, there is no doubt this report will generate lots of discussion and speculation about what is

INDUSTRY UPDATE – SEPTEMBER

INDUSTRY UPDATE – SEPTEMBER

Oct 24th, 2017 | news

Every month there is plenty that goes on in our industry whether it be in parliament, the news and beyond – it can be hard to keep up! Bills being introduced, passed, changes, proposed changes and more. To make things a bit easier, each month we’ll be giving you the low down on what’s been going on to help you keep up to date. Phew! Wow, September was a big month in the Aged Care industry! Reports galore, a LOT of negative publicity and as a result Senators proposing staff-to-care

ACFI CHANGES: THE MYTHS VS FACTS

ACFI CHANGES: THE MYTHS VS FACTS

Oct 9th, 2017 | article

There’s been a lot of discussion and speculation recently about potential changes to ACFI and the introduction of a new funding tool. As always, we’ve made the complex simple and have provided a breakdown below of both the myths and facts. If you have questions and would like to speak to one of our ACFI experts, call us on 1300 419 119 or email team@providerassist.com.au.

Supplement Rates & Aged Care Fees

Supplement Rates & Aged Care Fees

Sep 27th, 2017 | news

We’ve got you up to date and covered with the need to knows of the new rates of Supplements & Aged Care Fees from the 20th of September 2017. The Supplements will be updated again on the 20th of March 2018 and new fees will be released from the 1st of January 2018. For all other New Rates of Payment from the 20th of September 2017 for any other Aged Care Subsidies and Supplements – you can visit the DoH here. For all other Aged Care Fees and Charges –

ACFI in the My Aged Care Provider Portal

ACFI in the My Aged Care Provider Portal

Sep 27th, 2017 | news

From September 25, the DoH is transitioning some ACFI related information into the My Aged Care provider portal. What is Changing? • ACFI reviews and reconsiderations will be available through the My Aged Care provider portal. • A new role will be available in the portal: “ACFI Contact”. Assigning people to this role will allow the individual to receive and act on notifications in relation to reviews and reconsiderations • The “ACFI reviews” tile will be visible in the portal to those assigned as “ACFI Contacts”. • All information regarding

AGED CARE INDUSTRY VALIDATION TRENDS AND TIPS

AGED CARE INDUSTRY VALIDATION TRENDS AND TIPS

Aug 16th, 2017 | article

ACFI Validation is a hot topic in the industry now so we’ve compiled some insights from the most recent validation stats to be released (for the period ending 31 December 2016) and the trends we’re seeing both from our clients’ and our own packs. For many Facilities and ACFI Managers, an ACFI validation visit can be daunting. However, it needn’t be! Remember the entire point of a validation visit is to ensure your team is claiming accurately. So as long as your ACFI claims are based on comprehensive assessment, the

WHAT’S INVOLVED IN AN ACFI VALIDATION?

WHAT’S INVOLVED IN AN ACFI VALIDATION?

Aug 16th, 2017 | article

There are 3 types of ACFI validation. 1. E-validation: Offsite validation process where you forward ACFI packs and supporting evidence for nominated Residents to the Department via Registered post or courier. 2. 1 Domain or 1 Question Validation: The Review officers will focus on 1 ACFI question or 1 ACFI domain for the validation. 3. Full Validation: This is when you will have a Review officer on site conducting a validation of nominated Residents. DOCUMENTATION: The review officers will review the documentation relating to the residents that have been selected

HOT TIPS FOR A POSITIVE VALIDATION EXPERIENCE

HOT TIPS FOR A POSITIVE VALIDATION EXPERIENCE

Aug 16th, 2017 | article

1. PREPARATION Preparation begins well before an ACFI validation is booked in. Good systems and training is what’s required to lower stress levels and workloads around ACFI validation time. • Maintain a supporting evidence pack while completing your ACFI pack so you don’t need to dig through archives during the visit. This pack contains all the additional information that validates your claim including information about allied health, hospital discharge, progress notes, x-ray/pathology results etc. • Let your team know that an ACFI validation has been booked and brief them on

2017 ACFI RATES

2017 ACFI RATES

Jun 30th, 2017 | news

The ACFI rates for the 2018 financial year are in for July 1! As advised by the Government in December 2016, there has been an indexation pause across all domains and therefore no changes to the ACFI Subsidy will occur. For all other New Rates of Payment from 1 July 2017 for any Aged Care Subsidies and Supplements – you can visit the DoH here. The 2017 ACFI rates are as follows: Interim rate for new residents with an ACAT approval awaiting submission of an Application for Classification (default rate)

Significantly Refurbished Status – what does it mean for your Facility?

Significantly Refurbished Status – what does it mean for your Facility?

Mar 24th, 2017 | news

The status of significantly refurbished comes with a few great benefits – besides having top quality facilities for your residents, it also means a higher rate of the Accommodation Supplement. This means from the 20th of March 2017 you are now eligible to receive up to $55.09 per day for all of your Residents who are supported by the Government for their accommodation costs (if you are also meeting the Supported Ratio). This may also mean that your Low Means Residents can contribute a higher amount to their accommodation costs

Amendments to the Classification Principles 2014

Amendments to the Classification Principles 2014

Mar 10th, 2017 | news

On January 1, 2017 amendments were made to the Aged Care Act 1997 to strengthen compliance actions. The Department of Health is now beginning to implement some of the changes announced in the 2015-16 MYEFO measure, Aged Care Funding – improved compliance. As such, amendments to the Classification Principles 2014 have been outlined and have come into effect from 1 March, 2017. Download the Article Mathew Brincat – ACFI & Clinical Services Leader Author

Here’s to the changemakers: Our favourite moments of 2016

Here’s to the changemakers: Our favourite moments of 2016

Dec 15th, 2016 | article

2016 has certainly been a tumultuous year for the Aged Care industry in Australia. But that’s not what this article is about! These challenges have filled our inboxes and newsfeeds and often overshadow the amazing, remarkable, inspiring, and magical moments in Aged Care during the year. So at this time of year we prefer to focus on some heartwarming stories of people doing Remarkable things to impact the lives of one or many older Australians living in care. Stories that remind us all of why we all joined this Industry…because

A Celebration of Life – The Pirates of Punt Road Ball

A Celebration of Life – The Pirates of Punt Road Ball

Dec 12th, 2016 | article

In October 2016 we were lucky enough to attend the Celebration of Life event held at Collingwood Town Hall in Victoria. Organised by Paul Brophy from the Brotherhood of St Laurence and Father Bob Maguire, the biannual event has been successfully running since 2006. This year’s theme was ‘The Pirates of Punt Road’ and residents from 20 different aged care facilities came together to dance, make friends, and have fun! Students, families, staff, friends, and volunteers all got involved too – there was even a fantastic 27-piece band called the

Remarkable news for Aged Care Residents

Remarkable news for Aged Care Residents

Dec 7th, 2016 | article

Yesterday, the Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Ken Wyatt, outlined a revised package of aged-care funding measures. Overall, this revision to the ACFI changes represents the hard work and lobbying of many Providers, Members of Parliament and Industry bodies including ACSA, LASA, ACIA and the Aged Care Guild and is absolutely Remarkable news for residents comprehensively and appropriately assessed with complex health and pain management needs. “The revised package provides more certainty for the sector and will deliver sustainable expenditure growth over the short term while paving the

Download our ACFI Calculator App: Available on iOS and Android!

Download our ACFI Calculator App: Available on iOS and Android!

Nov 8th, 2016 | tools

We are excited to announce that the Provider Assist ACFI Calculator is now available as an App on your iPhone, iPad or Android device! The Provider Assist ACFI Calculator is designed for you to quickly and easily calculate your resident’s ACFI entitlement, based on current assessed care needs and compare it to their existing classification. Using our ACFI calculator couldn’t be easier. Simply register and then select your rating for each ACFI question. Features include: The ACFI Calculator with reminders, alerts and warnings built in to steer you in the

Changes to the Viability Supplement

Changes to the Viability Supplement

Nov 4th, 2016 | news

January 1, 2017 is prompting quite a few changes, one of the lesser known changes is the change to the Viability Supplement. We’ve had a lot of questions about it how it is going to work, so we’ve broken it down into the essentials for you! What is the Viability Supplement? It aims to provide funding to assist Providers in rural and remote areas with the extra cost of delivering the services in those areas. It was also expanded in 2012 to provide assistance to Providers that are caring for

September 2016 on Twitter – Aged Care Wrap Up

September 2016 on Twitter – Aged Care Wrap Up

Oct 3rd, 2016 | news

Every month we round up some of the most important and interesting topics in aged care on Twitter. This month we recognised Dementia Awareness, an awesome facility design, more calls for funding, a new Technology Roadmap and a university graduate… who’s 90! Check out the full September summary below! Dementia Awareness Month September 2016 was Dementia Awareness Month, which each year aims to educate and raise awareness on what it’s like for approximately 353,800 Australians living with dementia. In line with the theme for 2016, everyone was encouraged to upload

Meet the Residents of #THEWISDOMPROJECT

Meet the Residents of #THEWISDOMPROJECT

Sep 26th, 2016 | article

This year we’re celebrating International Day of Older Persons again with #TheWisdomProject! This ongoing project encourages older people to film and upload a video of themselves (or have someone else film them) where they share the one piece of advice they would give to their younger self. We went to Belmont Grange in Geelong and spoke to four residents who generously shared their stories and life advice with us. Gillian Bill Parmesh Marie Are you, or someone you know, over 60 and want to get involved? Hit the link below

THE OMNIBUS BILL 2016 : WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR YOU?

THE OMNIBUS BILL 2016 : WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR YOU?

Sep 22nd, 2016 | news

There’s been much discussion regarding the Budget Savings (Omnibus) Bill 2016, passed by the Senate last week. We’ve been receiving lots of queries about what it actually means and how it relates to Aged Care Organisations in practice. So, in the interest of making the complex simple, we’ve collated all the important information. This translation of The OMNIBUS BILL 2016 compares the current legislation, the changes and of course the impact on you and what you need to consider. Download the Article   Download the Article   Mathew Brincat –

August 2016 on Twitter – Aged Care Wrap Up

August 2016 on Twitter – Aged Care Wrap Up

Sep 6th, 2016 | news

Every month we round up some of the most important and interesting topics in aged care on Twitter. This month we saw a lot of cool innovation going on with new research into Alzheimer’s, new technology being developed, fall-preventing flooring, a cute therapy robot called Paro and the importance of having emotional intelligence in aged care. Check out the full August summary below! Paro the robotic seal Residents at Elizabeth Lodge in NSW have recently been introduced to an adorable little seal called Paro. Although he may be a robot, Paro

This July 2016 on Twitter – Aged Care Wrap Up

This July 2016 on Twitter – Aged Care Wrap Up

Aug 3rd, 2016 | news

Every month we round up some of the most important and interesting topics in aged care on Twitter. With the federal election wrapping up in July, politics and the budget were still very much in the spotlight. Demand in Hospital Services One of the most widely accepted reasons for the increased pressure on our health system is the growing ageing population. Statistics have shown that over the 2014-15 period, hospital admissions doubled for people aged over 85. Despite this data, older people are not the sole contributors to the increased demand

2016 ACFI RATES

2016 ACFI RATES

Jul 1st, 2016 | article

The ACFI rates for the 2017 financial year are in just in time for July 1! Remember to update any internal tools and calculators you might be using for the new rates to get a true picture. Overall there’s a 1.5% increase for ADL and BEH and a .75% increase for CHC, remembering that the Government advised they would only be passing on half indexation for CHC. For all other New Rates of Payment from 1 July 2016 for any Aged Care Subsidies and Supplements – you can visit the

This May on Twitter – Aged Care Wrap-Up

This May on Twitter – Aged Care Wrap-Up

Jun 6th, 2016 | news

Every month we round up some of most popular topics in Aged Care on Twitter. This month, the talk was all about the 2016 federal budget and its impact on the aged care industry. There was a lot of discussion on the cuts to ACFI and 24/7 nursing, as well as celebrations for International Nurses Day and National Volunteers Week. 24/7 Nursing The NSW Baird government’s decision to abandon 24/7 RN nursing in aged care caused plenty of discussion this month. There were plans to have requirements for aged care facilities

ACFI CHANGES: THE FACTS, THE IMPACT & THE ANSWERS

ACFI CHANGES: THE FACTS, THE IMPACT & THE ANSWERS

May 12th, 2016 | article

Our message is: keep calm & take action! Yet again, there’s a lot of sensationalism and fear mongering from media and people within the industry. That’s not to say the industry won’t be impacted by the changes, more so the Jan 1 changes than the July 1 changes, but we first need to focus on what our organisations need to do now to prepare. There is plenty you can do now to ensure you enter the “new world” in a Remarkable position. Then, when we get there, we’ll be there

This March & April on Twitter – Aged Care Wrap-Up

This March & April on Twitter – Aged Care Wrap-Up

Apr 14th, 2016 | news

Every month we round up some of most popular topics in Aged Care on twitter. This month we saw many tweets on the rise of technology in Aged Care and how it can be used to improve the lives of residents. We also saw awareness being raised for the LGBTI residents and heard the new funding announcement from the Government. Further along in April the Aged Care Roadmap was released and staffing issues in aged care were highlighted. Aged Care Roadmap This April the Aged Care Sector Committee released the

LASA PANEL: LEGITIMATE CARE OR SHARP PRACTICE – WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON WITH ACFI CLAIMS?

LASA PANEL: LEGITIMATE CARE OR SHARP PRACTICE – WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON WITH ACFI CLAIMS?

Apr 1st, 2016 | article

There has been much in the media in recent months regarding the Aged Care industry; accusations of rorting, profiteering and over-claiming of the Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI). This was ignited by Aged Care Minister Sussan Ley and the Commonwealth stating that there is a ‘concerning number’ of false claims and ‘unaccounted growth’ in complex health care spending. So, what is really going on with ACFI Claims? This topic was a focus of the recent LASA Panel held on 8th March 2016. I was lucky enough to be invited to

Good News Story: The challenge of gaining resident trust

Good News Story: The challenge of gaining resident trust

Mar 22nd, 2016 | story

In this week’s Good News Story, Allen Jones, one of our remarkable ACFI Specialists, talks about how he convinced one resident it was in his best interest for staff to manage his medication. Watch the video or read the transcript below. Allen: There was a gentleman that was managing his own medications and clearly he had a cognitive deficit. However, the staff when they were approaching him about this were having great difficulty in convincing him of the need for staff to manage his medications. So when I entered this

Try our free ACFI Calculator

Try our free ACFI Calculator

Mar 15th, 2016 | tools

Our ACFI calculator has had a makeover! Using our ACFI calculator couldn’t be easier.  Simply register and then select your rating for each ACFI question.     Features: Compare current funding against projected funding. Use the calculator to help you make your ACFI workflow decisions. Save your calculations to return to later as new information is available. Export one or more calculations as an excel sheet or PDF. Be reminded with important alerts including when your projected claim requires a diagnosis.   Click to use the ACFI Calculator   The

Good News Story: Recognising the needs of individual residents

Good News Story: Recognising the needs of individual residents

Mar 14th, 2016 | story

In this Good News Story, Gem Brown, one of our remarkable ACFI Specialists, shares the story of how she noticed a change in one resident’s behaviour, mood and energy levels, and took action to realise what was wrong and how she could help. Watch the video or read the transcript below. Have your own good news story? Share it in the comments below or send this to a friend. Gem: I had a resident who came in, she was a new admission, so there wasn’t a lot of history on

Meet Jan Grainger – Remarkable ACFI Specialist

Meet Jan Grainger – Remarkable ACFI Specialist

Mar 14th, 2016 | people

Meet Jan Grainger, one of our remarkable ACFI Specialists from Brisbane. Jan shares what she loves about working in the aged care industry and making a difference in people’s lives. Watch the video and read more about Jan below. How long have you been in your current job? Almost 2 and a half years. How did you find yourself working in aged care? Just over twenty years ago I wanted to return to working after a brief time away to have a baby. I was lucky enough to be offered a position

Good News Story: How Mark helped a resident with dementia hear again

Good News Story: How Mark helped a resident with dementia hear again

Mar 7th, 2016 | story

In this Good News Story Mark Bravery, one of our Remarkable ACFI Specialists, shares the story of how he helped a resident with dementia hear again and the effect this had on her life. Watch the video or read the transcript below. Mark: When I was doing a pass for a lady and I asked her, “Can you remember these three things – apple, table, penny?” And she said to me, “Apple, mable, many.” And the “m” sound is from a glue ear. When you have liquid in your ear,

Meet Scott Hill – ACFI & Clinical Services Education Specialist

Meet Scott Hill – ACFI & Clinical Services Education Specialist

Mar 7th, 2016 | people

Meet Scott Hill, one of our Remarkable ACFI Specialists. Here, he shares his background and experience working with Provider Assist. Watch the video and read what he had to say below. Where are you from? Adelaide. How long have you been in your current job? I have been with Provider Assist for two years now – approximately 12 months as an ACFI Specialist and 12 months as the Education Specialist. How did you find yourself working in aged care? I started working as a carer over 25 years ago… did

This February on Twitter – Aged Care wrap up

This February on Twitter – Aged Care wrap up

Mar 1st, 2016 | news

Every month we round up some of most popular topics in Aged Care on twitter. This month’s top tweets dealt with some pretty heavy issues, such as the need for a national body to investigate cases of elderly abuse, and calls from the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) for improvements in working conditions and resident care. On a more uplifting note, WA Governor Kerry Sanders officially opened Amana Living, a transitional care facility for older people living with dementia, one aged care worker shares their relatable story in “The

Meet Andrea McGill – ACFI Business Operations Manager in Adelaide

Meet Andrea McGill – ACFI Business Operations Manager in Adelaide

Feb 26th, 2016 | people

Meet Andrea McGill, Business Operations Manager of ACFI & Clinical Services, who shares her story of how she came to work in aged care and the passion she has for the industry. Watch her video and read her story below. Where are you from? Everywhere! Born in Melbourne, lived in Canberra, Adelaide, Ballarat, Melbourne again and finally stopped moving last time in Adelaide! My parents were gypsies. How long have you been in your current job? 17 months How did you find yourself working in aged care? After leaving the public

Good News Story: The improvements Provider Assist can make

Good News Story: The improvements Provider Assist can make

Feb 17th, 2016 | story

Jacqui shares a Good News Story of how one of Provider Assist’s specialists improved the services and lives of an aged care facility. Watch the video or read the transcript below. Jacqui: There’s so many good news stories. I think of one particular very much resident-centred story where one of our specialists has been working with an organisation for quite a long time now. She has been in there for 12 months, and she has actually transformed the way residents are cared for. She’s transformed the way documentation, clinical documentation

Are you ready for the ACFI changes?

Are you ready for the ACFI changes?

Feb 12th, 2016 | article

Working in an industry that is so significantly funded by Government, we are at the mercy of the instability of future political and policy changes which, can make decision making difficult and stressful.  The major source of concern right now  for the industry is the looming changes to ACFI coming in July 1. No one can predict the future funding changes, but organisations can certainly mitigate the risk by being completely across both their funding position and claiming profile, making it easier to adjust to changes as they occur. In

Why you should expect more with Provider Assist

Why you should expect more with Provider Assist

Feb 11th, 2016 | media

In this, one of our most popular videos, Pete Watson, Jacqui Banham, Peter Morley, Frank Price and Vivian Allanson speak passionately about what’s at the heart and soul of Provider Assist. Discover who we are, what we do and why we do it. Watch the video or read the transcript below. Pete Watson: There is a saying that we often here in aged care, and that is it’s good enough for aged care. It just really makes me angry, because it’s not good enough for aged care. Nothing is good enough for aged care.

Meet Kerry Reinhardt – ACFI Specialist

Meet Kerry Reinhardt – ACFI Specialist

Feb 8th, 2016 | people

Meet Kerry Reinhardt – she’s one of our amazing Provider Assist ACFI Specialists, whose passion shines through when they talk about the industry. Watch her video and read her story below. Where are you from? Caloundra on Qld’s Sunshine Coast How long have you been in your current job? I’ve been with PA 20 months now and still loving it. How did you find yourself working in aged care? Quite by accident. I needed a job very quickly and took the first interview I got – which was in Sundale

What will the July 1 changes to ACFI be?

What will the July 1 changes to ACFI be?

Feb 2nd, 2016 | article

There has been plenty of talk in the industry around the July 1 changes. Of course we won’t know for sure until the changes are launched, but based on our extensive research we have summarised what we think we will see below. Key Changes 1. Validation Validation will be more stringent and larger samples reviewed Validators (Review Officers) will expect more stringent assessments and directives for 4b The fines everyone is talking about will be limited to providers who “had been caught making multiple, deliberate false claims, not genuine one-off

Meet Jacqui Banham – ACFI & Clinical Services Director

Meet Jacqui Banham – ACFI & Clinical Services Director

Jan 19th, 2016 | people

Meet Jacqui Banham – ACFI & Clinical Services Director with Provider Assist. Here she speaks to us about her history in the industry and how Provider Assist’s services positively impact the lives of residents. Watch the videos or read the transcripts below. Jacqui Banham: I did my general nursing training in Sydney. Once I completed that and worked for a while in the acute area, I then decided that I would embark upon a different direction and went into the mental health area. I really loved mental health. It was

Aged Care Profiteering? A Detailed Analysis

Aged Care Profiteering? A Detailed Analysis

Jan 13th, 2016 | article

Further to our Media Release explaining our position on the media claims in relation to the alleged Aged Care rorting. We’re here to help you cut through the hysteria the media has caused by providing a more informed analysis of the data. So let’s take a look at the facts and some alternative views and explanations than what has been published. In this article we discuss: Why the data being used by the media is inappropriate as a base for claims of profiteering Alternative reasons for increasing profit including the deregulation

Provider Assist testimonials – The benefits of PA’s Supplement Recovery service

Provider Assist testimonials – The benefits of PA’s Supplement Recovery service

Dec 18th, 2015 | article

Viv Allanson (CEO at Maroba Aged Care Facilities), Frank Price (COO at RFBI Aged Care) and Peter Morley (Director Financial Solutions at Provider Assist) speak about the benefits of PA’s Supplement Recovery service. Watch the video or read the transcript below. Vivian Allanson: Our partnership with Provider Assist started when I had a phone call, probably followed by an email from Pete Morley from Provider Assist raising the option of Supplement Recovery. Now, I hadn’t even heard of that, but I thought, “Well, it sounds like a good arrangement. I’ve got

Merry Christmas from Provider Assist

Merry Christmas from Provider Assist

Dec 17th, 2015 | article

This is the Christmas story of one remarkable Australian. This year, to celebrate the festive season, we visited the residents of Belmont Grange in Geelong Victoria. We asked them to share their Christmas stories. This is Alf’s story. All we, at Provider Assist, want for Christmas is for you to chat with your Residents and share their Remarkable stories. Merry Christmas from the team at Provider Assist.

Good News Story: When care begins with a smile

Good News Story: When care begins with a smile

Dec 17th, 2015 | story

Sue returns to the Good News Story chair to tell us of how she encouraged an isolated resident of aged care to come out of his shell through personal care. Watch the video or read the transcript below. Sue: When I met Jack, he was very unresponsive. He didn’t want to talk. He didn’t want to interact with anybody, and he just dismissed everybody very quickly. I said good morning to him and he grunted at me. And I thought I’m going to make a change in this man’s life.

Good News Story: Making a difference through effective pain management

Good News Story: Making a difference through effective pain management

Dec 17th, 2015 | story

In this Good News Story, we speak to Caleb, who tells us about how he helped one organisation revolutionise their pain management system through training and development. Watch the video or read the transcript below. Caleb: I spoke to this physio regarding how we observe pain in our residents and how we treat the pain, which then I realised I was hitting a brick wall. So then I set up some meetings with the managers of which they realised there was an issue, something was not being done with this

The evolution and future of Aged Care

The evolution and future of Aged Care

Dec 16th, 2015 | article

Peter Morley (Director Income Solutions at Provider Assist), Viv Allanson (CEO at Maroba Aged Care Facilities), and Frank Price (COO at RFBI Aged Care), discuss the future of the Aged Care industry. Watch the video or read the transcript below. Peter Morley: Well, there’s a lot of talk about what the aged care industry will look like in the next 10 years. A lot of people think there’s only going to be a few providers, so a few major providers in the aged care industry where a lot of the private

Good News Story: What it means to provide the care older Australian’s deserve

Good News Story: What it means to provide the care older Australian’s deserve

Dec 15th, 2015 | story

Jan and Sue sit down for this Good News Story to discuss what it’s like when organisations have the opportunity to provide the level of care their residents deserve. Watch the video or read the transcript below. Jan: What’s it’s all about is not about necessarily just individual people. Sue: No. Jan: It’s about a change in general, where you’re looking at people who don’t understand and you watch the light bulbs go off in their brain and you see it Sue: Oh yeah. Jan: And it’s . . .

How Provider Assist builds positive relationships for better outcomes

How Provider Assist builds positive relationships for better outcomes

Dec 14th, 2015 | article

Vivian Allanson speaks about the positive outcomes she’s experienced through Provider Assist. Watch the video or read the transcript below. Vivian Allanson: Well, in working with Provider Assist, I have a basic philosophy here at Maroba, and it’s friendship before function. We’ve built this relationship based on real openness, our ability to be frank and honest with one another, and we’ve asked them, “Look, don’t hide anything from us. Don’t pretend were doing okay if you don’t think we are. We want to hear the real story.” And they’ve felt

Good News Story: Adding that extra touch to providing aged care

Good News Story: Adding that extra touch to providing aged care

Dec 13th, 2015 | story

In this installment of Good News Story, Maggie tells us about a cheeky elderly resident who went out of her way to receive the remarkable level of care that Maggie gave to all her residents. Watch the video or read the transcript below. Maggie: I love my job. I meet a lot of diverse people. I meet some beautiful, beautiful residents. Actually, yeah, now there may be a good news story. In this same facility, doing my rounds every day, there’s this little lady. We’ll call her Grace. And every

Good News Story: Improving facilities by implementing pain treatment systems

Good News Story: Improving facilities by implementing pain treatment systems

Dec 13th, 2015 | story

Delynn joins us for Good News Story and talks about how the training and advice she gave on pain treatment strategies improved the quality of care to aged care residents. Watch the video or read the transcript below. Delynn: My good news story is about a facility that I visited here in Victoria. So basically they had no physio or pain treatments for their residents or a system that they used. So when I first got there, we used one of the physios that we use. So I recommended for

Improving ACFI performance – Receive the funding you’re entitled to

Improving ACFI performance – Receive the funding you’re entitled to

Dec 12th, 2015 | article

Viv Allanson, CEO at Maroba Aged Care Facilities, and Frank Price, COO at RFBI Aged Care, talk to us about the benefits of Provider Assist’s MyVitals. Watch the video or read the transcript below. Vivian Allanson: Provider Assist has a great program called MyVitals, and so they’re actually monitoring, sort of like a heart monitor honestly, monitoring our ACFI arrangements and income and how we’re travelling with that. So that’s a great service, which I think is a very affordable service that they provide to help us. In doing that, they are

Good News Story: Combatting a resident’s loneliness through personal care

Good News Story: Combatting a resident’s loneliness through personal care

Dec 9th, 2015 | story

Gem joins us for Good News Story to discuss the issue of the loneliness and isolation that can often be felt by residents of aged care, and how she recognised these signs and helped bring one resident back to life through her care. Watch the video or read the transcript below. Gem: Thank you. My story is about a lady who I found was depressed and lonely. I think loneliness isn’t a diagnosis, but that was actually a major issue in this resident’s life, and it wasn’t detected by the

This November on Twitter – Aged Care wrap up

This November on Twitter – Aged Care wrap up

Dec 3rd, 2015 | article

Every month we round up some of most popular topics in Aged Care on twitter. This month the twittersphere is calling for more data collection in the aged care industry, a more innovative approach to our industry and improvements in government communications over aged care reform. Plus, a novel approach to treating patients with dementia.

How Provider Assist Affects and Improves Operations

How Provider Assist Affects and Improves Operations

Nov 30th, 2015 | media

Viv Allanson, CEO at Maroba Aged Care Facilities, and Frank Price, COO at RFBI Aged Care, talk about how Provider Assist have helped their facilities improve operations. Viv Allanson: On the operations, with the team expanding the way that it has, it’s improved our operations in that, yes it has improved the bottom line. Now, it hasn’t improved it to the point where we’re going to have mammoth surpluses, because here at Maroba we choose to plow back those opportunities, those surpluses, into the care provision. So yes, we have seen

Is Consumer Directed Care the right move for Residential Aged Care?

Is Consumer Directed Care the right move for Residential Aged Care?

Nov 13th, 2015 | article

Consumer Directed care, or CDC, is certainly a buzz word at the moment. So what is CDC? In technical terms, It is a way of delivering services that allow consumers to have greater control over their own lives by allowing them to make choices about the types of care and services they access and the delivery of those services, including who will deliver services and when.1 At the core CDC is about enhancing choices for a resident, this can be as simply as choosing what time to eat dinner, or

The Commonwealth’s advice on consulting services

The Commonwealth’s advice on consulting services

Oct 12th, 2015 | news

The Commonwealth has recently released some valuable advice relating to the use of Consulting Services for your ACFI appraisals. The advice centered around organisations’ individual responsibilities for the accuracy of appraisals and supporting documentation when using a consultant. The release states that: If your organisation […] uses Consultants to assist with the preparation of Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI) appraisals and ACFI supporting documentation, you should be aware that you are responsible for the accuracy of these materials under the Aged Care Act 1997 (the Act). The Department recognises the value

Are my residents receiving their entitled ACFI income?

Are my residents receiving their entitled ACFI income?

Oct 11th, 2015 | article

Sustainable ACFI funding is critical for Aged Care Organisations to maintain Remarkable standards in care and to achieve desired business outcomes. The good news is that with the appropriate education, tools and support, all organisations have the potential to improve this critical income stream. When we work with Aged Care organisations, we find that many are simply not receiving the funding they are entitled to. Even more alarming, many facilities are not even aware of this shortfall in funding. It is our collective goal to help organisations, like yours, receive

Good News Story: Are we just about getting you money?

Good News Story: Are we just about getting you money?

Oct 5th, 2015 | story

Sue and Jan explain why increasing funding to aged care is not about the money at all, but about improving the quality of residents’ care. Watch the video or read the transcript below. Pete: What do you say to those that say that this is all about getting more money from the government? Sue: No way! It’s… Jan: Money is an essential thing, though. Sue: It’s giving you what you deserve. Jan: Exactly. Sue: It’s giving you the care that you deserve. Jan: But if you do an ACFI that truly

This September on Twitter – Aged Care wrap up

This September on Twitter – Aged Care wrap up

Oct 3rd, 2015 | news

Every month we round up some of most popular topics covering aged care in Australia on twitter. This September we highlight Maggie Beer’s ambition to have higher food standards in aged care facilities, changes to the healthcare industry under our new Government, what dementia is and how important it is for carers to ‘see the person’.

Meet Sue Lambert – ACFI Specialist in NSW

Meet Sue Lambert – ACFI Specialist in NSW

Sep 22nd, 2015 | people

We spoke to Sue Lambert, one of our ACFI specialists in NSW, who told us her experience of working with Provider Assist, and what she hopes for the future of aged care. How long have you been in your current job? 6 months How did you find yourself working in aged care? I have been working in aged care for 18 years, I am just as passionate, if not more from my first day in working in aged care. Started off as a carer, then EEN, Manager, then RN, Clinical

Meet Della Firth – ACFI Specialist in Gold Coast, Queensland

Meet Della Firth – ACFI Specialist in Gold Coast, Queensland

Sep 10th, 2015 | people

Meet Della, an ACFI Specialist for Provider Assist, based in Queensland. We asked her what it was like to work at Provider Assist and this is what she told us. How long have you been in your current job? 17 months How did you find yourself working in aged care? I’ve been in aged care for 15 years. I was a young mum at the time I entered the industry, and needed to do part time work due to a young family, so I started doing casual agency work. Most

This August on Twitter – Aged Care wrap up

This August on Twitter – Aged Care wrap up

Sep 4th, 2015 | news

Every month we round up some of most popular topics covering aged care in Australia on twitter. This August we highlight the problem with turning a blind eye to our older homeless population, the new initiative seeking to tackle dementia, the taxation of aged care workers and more.

Meet Victoria Kelly – COO of Provider Assist

Meet Victoria Kelly – COO of Provider Assist

Aug 28th, 2015 | people

We sat down with Victoria Kelly and asked her about her experiences working with Provider Assist – from the highs to the lows and everywhere in between. Read on to find out what she has to say. How long have you been in your current job? Nearly 5 years with Provider Assist. 12 months as COO and prior to that 4 years as CFO. How did you find yourself working in aged care? I always wanted to make an impact on the industry. My Nan spent 9 years in care,

Why focus on income generation, not cost cutting

Why focus on income generation, not cost cutting

Jul 30th, 2015 | media

Our ACFI and Clinical Services Director, Jacqui Banham, speaks about the difference that proper funding can make to your aged care facility and the level of care offered to your residents. Watch the video or read the transcript below. Most managers in aged care are nervous about spending money. And that comes largely from having to keep within budgets, having to be very careful about what they spend money on. And so when they’re up for a cost, a significant cost, the often response is, “No, we can’t afford it.”

This July on Twitter – Aged Care wrap up

This July on Twitter – Aged Care wrap up

Jul 22nd, 2015 | news

Every month we round up some of most popular topics covering aged care in Australia on twitter. This July we highlight a looming aged care crisis, the pitfalls of social media for the aged care industry (ironic, we know), a new play, the value of nurses in aged care facilities and a selection of events and awards just for our industry.

The ACFI Glossary

The ACFI Glossary

Jul 22nd, 2015 | article

A resource allocation instrument, The Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI) focuses on the main areas that discriminate care needs among residents. From there, ACFI assesses core care needs and allocates funding based on the assessments.

How does Australia’s ageing and growing population affect aged care facilities?

How does Australia’s ageing and growing population affect aged care facilities?

Jul 19th, 2015 | article

Our population is growing and ageing. Currently sitting at 22 million,  Australia’s population has been projected to dramatically increase to 35.9 million people in 2050.  We also face an ageing population. Our ageing population is largely attributed to sustained low fertility levels and increasing life expectancy at birth. By the year 2050 we will see the number of people aged 65 to 84 years more than double and the number of people 85 years and over more than quadruple.