With many rural and regional aged care providers facing significant challenges finding staff, the requirement to have an RN on site 24/7 later this year will pose a significant challenge.
An exemption for the requirement is available for small residential aged care providers with 30 or fewer beds in specific regional, rural and remote locations.
Tom Symondson, CEO of Aged and Community Care Providers Association (ACCPA), believes country residential aged care homes are an important community asset and should be treated differently from other homes. He made the comment in response to the closure of Allambi Elderly Peoples Home in Dimboola in regional Victoria, when all 11 residents were forced to find a new home, as reported by the ABC. The home closed because it was deemed to be financially unsustainable.
“More than 80 per cent of ACCPA Members already have RNs on a 24/7 roster so they are unlikely to be affected,” said Tom. “However, those who are unable to fulfil the requirement are more than likely in areas where staff shortages are acute and where agency staff are less likely to be readily available.
“ACCPA understands that the Department of Health and Aged Care has already been in contact with the small number of providers who would qualify for an exemption.”
Tom told The SOURCE ACCPA doesn’t want to see aged care homes close due to the new regulations, particularly in regional and rural areas.
“Closure of homes have a devastating impact on residents, families, and communities, and would not be in anyone’s interests,” he said.
ACCPA would like the Government to consider different models for rural and remote aged care homes, such as employing the use of telehealth, when providers have not been able to recruit RNs.
“We need a considered response towards providers of country aged care services who have made genuine attempts to recruit nurses but have been unable to do so due to ongoing workforce shortage.
“We cannot risk losing them from country towns lest older Australians experience social dislocation should those services close.
“We have recommended that the regulator take workforce shortages into consideration when providers are able to demonstrate that they have made a genuine effort to recruit but through no fault of their own have been unable to.”