Everything to know about Victoria’s aged care coronavirus chaos
With Victoria’s aged care system at the centre of the state’s battle against a seemingly worsening second coronavirus wave, we’ve compiled everything you need to know about the embattled sector’s latest efforts.
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How many current cases are there within the aged care system?
There are 683 active cases linked to 61 separate facilities.
How did it spread from one facility to the next?
Community transmission has been blamed for the majority of the outbreaks. Much of that has been attributed to staff working at various locations.
Who can visit people in aged care facilities?
Visiting is restricted, with limits on who can visit and the time and number of visits.
What conditions apply to visitors?
Visitors are banned from entering care facilities if they are unwell with flu-like symptoms, such as a cough, sore throat, runny nose, shortness of breath, or fever of 37.5 degrees or higher, or have had known contact in the past 14 days with a person who was a confirmed case of coronavirus. They must wear a mask if in metropolitan Melbourne or the Mitchell Shire.
Why are residents who test positive not automatically transferred?
In the event of an outbreak of coronavirus in a residential aged care facility, decisions about care, including whether the resident should be managed in their home aged care facility or transferred to hospital, are made on a case-by-case basis.
What PPE is required to be worn by staff?
When caring for residents who are not in quarantine or self-isolation, DHHS guidelines do not require PPE to be routinely worn. Surgical masks, eye protection, gloves and disposable gowns must be worn when caring for residents in quarantine or self-isolation whether they are symptomatic or not.
Can new residents be admitted into residential aged care facilities?
Yes, provided adequate pre-admission screening has occurred and no current coronavirus outbreak exists within the facility.
Have all new residents been isolated upon admission during the pandemic?
No. DHHS guidelines stipulate where residents are asymptomatic and screening is negative, isolation is not required. All admissions must however be admitted in line with infection control practices that support coronavirus screening requirements. Isolation is a requirement when a resident returns a positive screen or presents with symptoms consistent to the testing criteria for coronavirus.
Who is in charge of Victorian aged care homes?
Most aged care homes are run by private companies, with oversight from the federal government including through the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. Victoria also runs the country’s biggest network of public aged care facilities.
Which body is leading the response to COVID-19 in Victorian aged care homes?
The Victorian Aged Care Response Centre was established over the weekend to co-ordinate the response effort and share and expand resources between state and federal agencies. It is led by Federal Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer Alison McMillan, and includes representatives of agencies including the Federal Health Department, the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services, Emergency Management Australia, Emergency Management Victoria, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission and the Australian Defence Force.
What are the key responsibilities of the new body?
Federal Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck says it will oversee the handling of outbreaks, lead rapid responses for facilities in need, ensure communication with families and liaise with industry and stakeholder groups.
What is the reporting framework for that body into the state and federal governments?
The Commonwealth Government is leading the new response centre as they are the aged care regulator/funder. But the centre sits at Victoria’s State Control Centre within Emergency Management Vic which is led by the Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp. The joint command team includes a senior representative from the state’s public health team within DHHS, as well as from the ageing branch which oversees the Victoria’’s public sector aged care facilities.
What changes have been made to protect aged care homes since the first wave of the virus?
Along with the new response centre, Federal Deputy Chief Medical Officer Michael Kidd says authorities have honed their rapid response plans to tackle outbreaks. Extra personal protective equipment for staff has also been provided, along with COVID-19 infection training. At St Basil’s in Fawkner, commonwealth staff have taken over the operation of the facility.
What shortcomings have been identified in the effort to protect aged care homes?
Industry bodies say some facilities have struggled with shortages of personal protective equipment. Staff numbers have been an issue, with many having to be isolated after coming into contact with positive cases. Authorities have had to restrict staff working across different facilities to prevent the spread of the virus, even though many workers rely on casual positions across multiple sites. Industry bodies have also criticised delays in tracing and testing cases linked to aged care homes.
Have any protocols been breached in the response?
The Victorian Department of Health and Human Services has passed on concerns to the Commonwealth about poor PPE usage in some non-government services.
Have any changes been made to the response?
The Victorian Department is meeting with the Commonwealth daily to share information – and the State Response Plan continues to be adapted to respond to these settings.
From a state perspective, are there any improvements which should be made to the aged care preparedness and response?
The aged care royal commission has pointed out many deficiencies in the aged care sector in an interim report, “A Tale of Neglect”. The Commission found an “underpaid, undervalued and insufficiently trained” staffing in aged care.
“A consistent theme in the evidence before the Royal Commissioners has been that aged care workers are insufficiently remunerated for the work they perform and endure poor working conditions. We submit that these deficiencies need to be addressed so that this important work is appropriately rewarded; and the sector becomes a more attractive one in which to work to improve both attraction of new employees and retention of existing ones,” the commission said.
The Commission found an “underpaid, undervalued and insufficiently trained” staffing in aged care.
Victoria is the only state to have legislated staff-resident ratios and registered nurses in high care public sector residential aged care services.
Only two of the 61 current outbreaks are public sector aged care services, total six cases (four of which are staff).
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