Aged Care Royal Commission Announcement
You may have seen in media reports the announcement from Prime Minister Scott Morrison, that he will be asking the Governor General to establish a Royal Commission into the aged care sector.
The aim of the Royal Commission will be to focus on the quality of care provided in residential and home aged care to senior Australians. It will also include young Australians with disabilities living in aged care settings.
The detailed Terms of Reference will be determined in consultation with the community, including residents and their families and aged care providers.
It is expected that the Royal Commission will report on:
- The quality of care provided to older Australians, and the extent of substandard care;
- The challenge of providing care to Australians with disabilities living in residential aged care, particularly young people with disabilities;
- the challenge of supporting the increasing number of Australians suffering dementia and addressing their care needs as they age;
- The future challenges and opportunities for delivering age care services in the context of changing demographics, including in remote, rural and regional Australia;
- And other matters that it considers necessary.
In light of the call for a Royal Commission, when considering aged care service providers, you might like to ask some of these questions for clarification about the quality of the services they offer:
Quality of Care
- How can my family and friends be involved in a resident’s care?
- How are staff involved in quality improvements?
- How is the quality of care and services measured?
- What are you doing to improve the quality of care and services?
- How do you involve older people, their families and carers in quality improvement?
- How do you ensure the privacy of information of your residents?
Accreditation
- How did the home perform in its accreditation audit?
Quality Indicators
- What do you do if people lose weight unexpectedly?
- If you are using a physical restraint, can you provide more information about the other ways of managing this issue?
- What are you doing to prevent/treat pressure injuries?
- How do you encourage physical activity and exercise?
The above questions are just a starting point in terms of finding the right aged care solution for your family. We at Perth Aged Care Financial Advisers are here to help you navigate the financial aspects and assist you in accessing the help you need. If you or a family member wishes to discuss your needs, please contact us on 1300 472 232.
Source of information: myagedcare.gov.au