The standards cover care delivered through home care, in residential aged care and aged care community settings.
What is the purpose of the Standards?
The primary purpose is to have a single set of standards. They replaced the Home Care Standards, Accreditation Standards, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program Quality Framework Standards and Transition Care Standards.
The standards aim to simplify what the consumer can expect from their care provider, with a greater focus on outcomes for consumers rather than provider processes.
What do the Aged Care Quality Standards cover?
The Aged Care Quality Standards are made up of eight standards, each covering a different aspect of care, safety, health and wellbeing.
The eight standards are:
1. Consumer dignity and choice
2. Ongoing assessment and planning with consumers
3. Personal care and clinical care
4. Services and supports for daily living
5. Organisation’s service environment
6. Feedback and complaints
7. Human resources
8. Organisational governance
As demonstrated in the above infographic, consumer dignity and choice are at the heart of the standards – giving everyone the right to choose how they wish their care to be delivered, regardless of the setting of that care. The standards reinforce the idea that everyone has the right to be treated as an individual who is able to make their own choices about what’s important to them when it comes to their care.
The standards also highlight the right of care consumers to raise concerns if they feel their care needs are not being met. People are encouraged to share these concerns directly with their provider, however, if they are uncomfortable doing so they’re able to contact the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.
The standards in action
The standards have wide-ranging effects on how care is delivered. Those providers who deliver truly consumer-directed care are ahead of the curve with delivering care in line with the standards.
More information on the standards in this video:
For more information on the Aged Care Standards, visit the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission website.
