Silverchain announces free mental health training for aged care workers

As carers are increasingly expected to address and report on all facets of a person's health and wellbeing, one home care provider has launched a free online training program designed to equip the workforce with the knowledge and skills required to effectively support the mental health of the older Australians they care for.

Silverchain this month introduced a free Foundations in Mental Health program, designed to help ready providers for the updated Aged Care Quality Standards and the Support at Home framework, both of which become effective alongside the new Aged Care Act on November 1.

Revised aged care standards will place greater importance on the psychological and emotional health of older Australians, meaning providers will need to deliver more extensive assistance, demonstrating a heightened focus on mental health care alongside physical wellbeing.

Silverchain chief executive Adjunct Professor Dale Fisher said the provider's research indicates an increasing number of older Australians receiving care at home face mental health challenges.

“Our commitment extends to innovative ways of supporting our colleagues across the sector, to ensure care workers can provide the skilled support and care older people need to maintain their health and wellbeing at home,” Professor Fisher said.

“As part of this, we are sharing our Foundations in Mental Health training with the aged care sector, free of charge, in recognition of the benefits it will bring to older people and to the dedicated aged care workers who support them.”

Over the past year, Silverchain has trained more than 1,000 staff in how to identify the need for better mental health support for their clients, also introducing routine mental health screenings.

“With more than one million Australians receiving aged care at home and the accelerating demand from the community to age at home, we must ensure as a sector, we are attuned to every health need, not just physical health care,” Professor Fisher added.

The importance of such training is further reinforced by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission's updated Quality Standards.

Requirement (3)(d) mandates that “Deterioration or change of a consumer’s mental health, cognitive or physical function, capacity or condition is recognised and responded to in a timely manner,” therefore requiring providers to ensure robust processes are in place to support their workforce in identifying and responding to changes in a consumer’s mental health.

Early identification of mental health changes can significantly improve outcomes for the individual, potentially reversing temporary loss of function or preventing further health complications.

The Commission highlighted that warnings signs are not always recognised or acted upon promptly, making workforce capability in this area crucial. Organisations are expected to ensure their staff are supported to recognise signs and symptoms of deterioration and know the appropriate actions to take.

“While mental health is a national health priority, older people have not been prioritised by government or public health initiatives and aged care staff have historically received minimal mental health training, leaving a significant gap in their ability to support the growing mental health needs of older Australians,” Professor Fisher said.

“Foundations in Mental Health was crafted to help aged care workers better understand depression and anxiety, boost their confidence in supporting clients, and reduce stigma.

“It will promote early detection of mental health concerns and encourage appropriate referral for further assessment and treatment. It will also enable providers to prepare their own employees for the Strengthened Standards and for Support at Home.”

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Aged care providers can access the Foundations in Mental Health training through the Silverchain website.