Staff working in aged care may find it useful to view a new webinar now available to provide grief and loss support to those working in the aged care sector.
The webinar is provided as part of the national grief and loss support the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement (ACGB) is providing for those living and working in aged care, and for the loved ones of aged care recipients, who have been impacted by COVID-19.
The Federal Government is funding this support as part of the Aged Care COVID-19 grief and trauma response package.
ACGB recently hosted their first in a series of 4 webinars designed to provide grief and loss support to those in and around the aged care sector: The loss and grief experienced by aged care staff in the wake of COVID-19.
You can view the webinar here and please take the time to view and share it with your colleagues in aged care.
Webinar Overview
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the aged care sector in Australia.
Aged Care staff have experienced extraordinary levels of uncertainty and distress.
This has generated an extra dimension to the grief and loss which already has been so prominent within the aged care sector.
What the webinar covered
The webinar explored impact that COVID-19 has had on residential aged care staff. The webinar reflected on this situation, identified some of the major issues of concern and offers practical strategies aimed at assisting staff so that they can work safely and productively within the aged care sector.
Who should view the webinar?
- All staff working in the aged care sector, including those working in residential aged care or providing home care for older persons.
- People working in management or organisational leadership within the residential aged care sector.
- Anyone interested in providing support with grief and bereavement issues within aged care residential settings.
The Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement has support and information resources available in five languages on its aged care grief and bereavement support website.
Hard copies of information in print, and in language can be ordered at no cost to you by using the order form on the program resource page.
To contact ACGB, email: education@grief.org.au.
For more information about the aged care COVID-19 grief and trauma response package, or for questions, contact ageing.and.diversity@health.gov.au.
Visit the program page for more information, brochures, posters, translated resources and social media content to raise awareness of the services.
Reminder – survey to evaluate the Aged Care COVID-19 Grief and Trauma supports
The Department of Health is looking to continue to improve consumer supports, programs and services.
They are presently rolling out a five-minute survey to help the Department evaluate the aged care COVID-19 grief and trauma response package.
The survey will assess:
- how many people know about the services provided in the package.
- how many people used the services provided
- how the services and communication about the package could be improved
Who should fill in the survey?
The Department would like to hear from all aged care stakeholders, regardless of awareness/involvement in the package.
This survey is intended to capture the aged care provider experience, so is for:
- aged care providers, including home care and residential care
- aged care staff
- aged care stakeholders
- Community Visitors Scheme auspices and volunteers
Background on the package:
The emotional and psychological impacts of COVID-19 right across the aged care sector have caused grief and trauma for many.
The Federal Government has funded a Grief and Trauma Response Package (the Package) to provide grief and trauma support and resources to aged care recipients, their loved ones and the aged care staff.
You can complete the survey which will be open until 16 August 2021.
There will be a subsequent survey to capture the perspective of older people and their loved ones.
If you have any questions about the survey, contact: HealthConsult Project Manager Amy Monk via amy.monk@healthconsult.com.au or the Department project team ageing.and.diversity@health.gov.au.
