Federal Govt announces 12 more months of emergency leave provisions for aged care residents

Some good news for aged care residents worried about COVID outbreaks: the Federal Government’s emergency leave provisions have been extended another 12 months.
 
The scheme, which provides continued subsidies to aged care providers if residents leave to stay with family or other loved ones during disasters such as fire, flood, and COVID-19 outbreaks, was introduced in May 2020 before being extended twice to June this year, and will now end in June 2023.
 
According to the Federal Department of Health, this latest extension will save residents from having to use their social leave entitlements in an emergency.
 
“The continued availability of emergency leave will provide certainty and reassurance to residents who wish to temporarily relocate to stay with family at these times."
 
“Aged care homes will continue to be paid residential care subsidy when residents are on emergency leave, ensuring neither residents nor providers are disadvantaged,” the Department said.
 
Two tiers of support are also available for residents through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme: Tier 1, which provides personal care and nursing services equivalent to a Level 4 Home Care Package and is available from those who relocate from an aged care home significantly impacted by COVID-19, and Tier 2, which is available for all aged care residents who decide to temporarily return to the community during the pandemic and covers meals, transport, individual social support, unaccompanied shopping, allied health and therapy services, and lower level nursing and personal care.
 
For more information, contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 for Tier 2 support or Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) on 1800 700 600 for Tier 1 support.

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A special thanks to our contributors

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Caroline Egan

DCM Media, agedcare101

Caroline has a wealth of experience writing within the retirement and aged care sector and is a contributing journalist for the Villages.com.au and agedcare101 blog and accompanying newsletters.

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Ian Horswill

Journalist

Ian is a journalist, writer and sub-editor for the aged care sector, working at The DCM Group. He writes for The Weekly Source, agedcare101, villages.com.au and the DCM Institute fortnightly newsletter Friday. Ian is in daily contact with CEOs of retirement living, land lease and the aged care operations and makes a new contact every week. He investigates media releases, LinkedIn and Facebook for a good source for ideas for stories.

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Lauren Broomham

Retirement and Aged Care Journalist

Lauren is a journalist for villages.com.au, agedcare101 and The Donaldson Sisters. Growing up in a big family in small town communities, she has always had a love for the written word, joining her local library at the age of six months. With over eight years' experience in writing and editing, she is a keen follower of news and current affairs with a nose for a good story.

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Jill Donaldson

Physiotherapist

Jill has been practicing as a clinical physiotherapist for 30 years. For the last 13 years she has worked solely in the Aged Care sector in more than 50 metropolitan and regional facilities. Jill has also toured care facilities in the US and Africa and is a passionate advocate for both the residents in aged care and the staff who care for them. She researches and writes for DCM Media.

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Chris Baynes

DCM Media, agedcare101

Chris has been a journalist and publisher in the retirement village and aged care sectors for 11 years. He has visited over 250 retirement villages and 50 aged care facilities both within Australia and internationally. Chris is a regular speaker at industry conferences plus is a frequent radio commentator.

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Annie Donaldson

Nurse and Carer

Annie has a long career in both nursing and the media. She has planned and co-ordinated the medical support from both international TV productions and major stadium events. In recent years she has been a primary family carer plus involved in structured carer support.