Published 29th September 2020
Minister Colbeck has announced an extension to the new emergency leave provision for permanent aged care residents until 30 June 2021.
This will allow aged care residents to take emergency leave during the COVID-19 pandemic, rather than using and potentially exhausting their social leave entitlements.
It will also provide certainty and reassurance to residents who have temporarily relocated to stay with family during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Aged care homes will continue to be paid residential care subsidy when residents are on emergency leave, ensuring neither residents nor providers are disadvantaged.
A copy of the media release is available here.
A national model of emergency support is available to aged care residents who choose to take Emergency Leave and temporarily move out of residential care due to COVID-19. Support is available through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) for up to eight weeks.
Tier 1 Clinical support is available for residents who temporarily re-locate from an aged care home that is significantly impacted by COVID-19. This support covers personal care and nursing services equivalent to a Level 4 Home Care Package. To access this support, residents or their family in significantly affected aged care homes can contact the Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) on 1800 700 600 to discuss their care needs. OPAN will then arrange a referral to a suitable CHSP provider to deliver clinical services in the family home for up to eight weeks. Residents receiving Tier 1 will also need to contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 to obtain the additional Tier 2 supports detailed below.
Tier 2 Entry-level services are available for all people who decide to temporarily return to the community from their aged care home during the pandemic. This support covers meals, transport, individual social support, unaccompanied shopping, allied health and therapy services, and lower level nursing and personal care. To access this support, residents or their family can contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422. They will arrange a referral to access entry-level home support services through the CHSP for up to eight weeks. This support is available to all people across Australia who choose to return to the community from an aged care home during the pandemic, regardless of whether their aged care home is significantly impacted by COVID-19.
Aged care homes should liaise with residents, families and their new CHSP provider about the residents' care needs. No fees will be charged for Tier 1 CHSP supports. Client contributions may apply for Tier 2 support where clients can afford to pay, consistent with normal arrangements under the CHSP. More information on these supports are available CHSP Supports for Residents on Emergency Leave.
Please note that residents who take Emergency Leave must continue to pay their:
This is the same arrangement as when a resident takes social leave.
Updated resources on Emergency Leave are now available in a factsheet for residents and a factsheet for providers.
Services Australia has deployed the payment system functionality for Emergency Leave, which includes suspending the social leave count during the emergency leave period. Service providers should continue to enter claimable social leave events for a resident who is on Emergency Leave, as per the current process. No additional leave coding is required. Further information is available from Services Australia:
Source:Unknown Author, 2020, Department of Health
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