The Australian Aged Care Quality Agency (AACQA), the peak body that accredits aged care homes, is publishing real-life reviews by aged care residents online from today.
The AACQA interviews over 50,000 aged care residents every year as part of its accreditation processes, but until now, there hasn’t been a way for these interviews to be qualified.
So how will it work?
Under the new system, between 10 and 15 per cent of visitors to the Government’s MyAgedCare website will be randomly selected to answer 10 questions, plus two open-ended ones.
Real insights into residential care
These include:
- Do you feel safe here?
- How often do staff follow up when you raise things with them?
- If I’m feeling a bit sad or worried, there are staff here who I can talk to.
- The place is well run.
- What would you say was the best thing about this home?
- What is one thing you would suggest as an improvement at this home?
These results will be published as ‘Consumer Experience Reports’ that residents and their families will be able to read and compare to see which facilities may be a better fit for their needs.
The reports will also allow providers to compare their own ratings against other providers and regional and national standards to see what works – and what doesn’t.
With all of us getting older, that can only be a good thing.
You can see a sample of the reports here.
