The Australian aged care system relies on a set of fundamental requirements known as the Aged Care Quality Standards. These standards are the foundation for safe, high-quality care and services. They apply to all government-funded aged care providers, including residential homes, home care packages, and short-term care services.

Understanding these standards is key for older Australians, their families, and care providers.

What Are the Aged Care Quality Standards?

The Quality Standards consist of eight distinct standards, each focused on a different aspect of care and service delivery. They were introduced to put consumers first and reflect the expectation that people receiving care should be treated with dignity and respect, and receive services that meet their needs and preferences.

The standards are written in a way that centers on the outcome for the person receiving care, not just the systems the provider has in place.

The Eight Aged Care Quality Standards

The Quality Standards are structured to cover the entire spectrum of aged care experience. Here is a breakdown of the eight standards:

• Standard 1: Consumer Dignity and Choice
  This standard focuses on treating every person with dignity and respect. It requires that care supports the consumer's identity, culture, and diversity. Consumers must be supported to make choices about their care and services, maintain relationships, and live the life they choose.
• Standard 2: Ongoing Assessment and Planning with Consumers
  This standard ensures that assessment and planning identify the consumer's current needs, goals, and preferences. Care planning must be done in partnership with the consumer and others they wish to involve. Planning must also address risks to the consumer's health and well-being.
• Standard 3: Personal Care and Clinical Care
  This standard addresses the delivery of safe and effective personal care and clinical care. It requires that care is consistent with current best practice, manages high-impact or high-prevalence risks, and ensures the needs, goals, and preferences of consumers nearing the end of life are addressed.
• Standard 4: Services and Supports for Daily Living
  This standard focuses on services and supports that promote the consumer's well-being and quality of life. This includes food services, recreational activities, social support, and personal equipment, all of which must meet individual needs.
• Standard 5: Organisation’s Service Environment
  Applicable mainly to residential care, this standard requires that the service environment is safe, clean, well-maintained, and comfortable. It should support consumer independence and allow them to move freely both indoors and outdoors.
• Standard 6: Feedback and Complaints
  This standard requires that consumers and their families are strongly encouraged to give feedback and make complaints without fear of retribution. Providers must have clear, accessible, and confidential processes for managing feedback and complaints, which are used to consistently improve service delivery.
• Standard 7: Human Resources
  This standard focuses on having a sufficiently skilled and qualified workforce to deliver safe and quality care. Staff must be competent, and the workforce must be planned to meet the needs of consumers.
• Standard 8: Organisational Governance
  This standard requires that the organization’s governing body is accountable for the delivery of safe, quality care. It covers risk management systems, quality systems, and openness with consumers about how the service is run.

How the Standards Are Used in Aged Care

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC) is the independent body responsible for regulating and monitoring the compliance of aged care providers against these standards.

For Aged Care Providers:

Providers must demonstrate how they meet the requirements of all eight standards. This involves continuous self-assessment, developing policies and procedures, training staff, and collecting data to show consistent delivery of quality care. Compliance is not a one-time event; it is an ongoing commitment to improvement.

For Consumers and Families:

The standards give older Australians a clear expectation of the quality of care they should receive. They serve as a benchmark against which consumers can judge their provider’s performance. If consumers feel the standards are not being met, they have the right to raise the issue directly with the provider or make a formal complaint to the ACQSC.

The ACQSC conducts regular audits and site visits to assess provider compliance. If a provider is found non-compliant, they may face sanctions, requiring immediate changes to their operations to protect consumers. This regulatory framework ensures accountability and acts as a mechanism for maintaining trust in the sector. The ultimate aim is to ensure that aged care services support the well-being and independence of older Australians.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Who is responsible for overseeing the Quality Standards?

A: The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC) is responsible for regulating, monitoring, and enforcing the Aged Care Quality Standards across Australia.

Q: Do the Quality Standards apply to Home Care Packages?

A: Yes, the Aged Care Quality Standards apply to all government-funded aged care services, including residential aged care, Home Care Packages, and flexible care services.

Q: What should I do if I believe a service is not meeting the standards?

A: First, you should raise your concerns directly with the aged care provider using their internal feedback and complaints process. If the issue is not resolved, you can contact the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission to lodge a formal complaint.