The new national Aged Care Quality Standards officially came into effect this Monday, 1 July. They’ve been put in place to protect our older mums and dads accessing aged care services across the country, including residential and home care.
Also in place as of Monday is the new aged care Charter of Rights, which we covered in more detail here back in March.
Starting from 1 July, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC) will now be monitoring and assessing the performance of all providers against the new standards, which have been in development since last year.
The ACQSC and the Federal Government consulted with residents, their families, providers, staff and health experts to build eight new key standards (pictured inset) that would set a new benchmark for safe and quality care in our aged care system.
A focus on ‘person-centred’ care
The new standards are very well-timed, given that the last round of hearings for the Royal Commission in Perth focused on how our sector can best deliver care that is ‘person-centred’ – a central goal of the new system.
Under the new rules, service providers will also now be required to provide a ‘statement of outcome’ to each resident or consumer to ensure open communication about how they are meeting each standard – holding operators accountable for the care they provide.
“The new standards require aged care providers to work with each of their consumers to ensure that they receive care that is shaped by the consumer’s needs, goals and preferences,” said ACQSC Commissioner, Janet Anderson.
“[They] are an important step in aged care reform which will help providers to clarify their responsibilities and help consumers to know what they can expect from aged care services.”
It’s a very positive move forward. While the Royal Commission continues its important work, the standards are one way that the wider community can see our sector working to achieve the best possible care for our residents.
You can learn more about the new standards here.
