The Federal Government is extending emergency leave arrangements for people living permanently in residential aged care who want to temporarily stay with family to reduce their risk of contracting COVID-19.
The 12-month extension means the emergency leave provisions are now in place until 30 June 2022 thereby maintaining the resident’s limited social leave entitlements and ensuing the Government will continue to pay residential care subsidies ensuring providers are not disadvantaged.
“The Morrison Government is providing two tiers of support available through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) for people taking emergency leave,” said Senior Australians and Aged Care Services Minister Richard Colbeck in a statement.
“This includes personal care and nursing services, as well as entry level supports, such as meals and transport.”
Emergency leave provisions were introduced in May 2020, giving permanent aged care residents the option to take emergency leave during a declared emergency.
The entitlement was initially in place from 1 April 2020 to 30 September 2020 and has already been extended once to 30 June 2021.
