Welcome news: unannounced checks for aged care facilities start 1 July
Previously, aged care homes would be given the date of their re-accreditation audit by the Australian Aged Care Quality Agency (AACQA).
The changes to re-accreditation audits also include:
- Improved avenues for resident and family feedback;
- Tighter profiling of homes to identify potential care and safety risks; and
- Self-assessment of performance before the audit.
It’s good news for residents and their families who may have been worried by recent media reports on the quality of some facilities.
In fact, the AACQA has already tightened standards, conducting over 1,500 unannounced assessment visits on homes since October last year.
The result? Five homes have since had their accreditation revoked – so they will no longer receive Government funding.
While these failing homes are a serious concern, it proves the system is working – and the vast majority of providers are doing the right thing.
Residents and families can be confident in the care being delivered – and that those that are not meeting standards will be identified.
