Residential aged care
Quality and safety in residential aged care
Ageing Australia supports residential aged care providers by engaging with government and stakeholders on funding, policy and reform issues.
Residential aged care covers two of the five pillars for aged care reform flowing from the Aged Care Royal Commission.
These pillars are
Sustainability
The pillar of sustainability focuses on ensuring that residential aged care facilities are financially sustainable and can continue to provide high-quality care to residents.
It includes measures to improve funding models and support for aged care providers.
Quality and safety
The pillar of quality and safety aims to enhance the quality and safety of care provided in residential aged care facilities.
It involves implementing stricter standards, regular inspections, and better training for staff to ensure that residents receive the best possible care.
Residential aged care facilities must provide quality care and services, manage fees and charges and meet Australian Government requirements.
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC) monitors quality of care and services.
To support providers in meeting the Aged Care Quality Standards, Ageing Australia offers two reliable, robust quality systems.
View more details on the quality and compliance platforms available for subscription through Ageing Australia.
Guidelines for closing residential aged care homes
In collaboration with the Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN), Ageing Australia has developed comprehensive best practice guidelines for the closure of residential aged care homes in Australia.
These guidelines detail the legislative and compliance requirements providers must follow when closing an aged care home.
Beyond the legal requirements, the guidelines offer practical advice aimed at minimising disruption for residents, their families, and the wider community. They emphasise the importance of understanding and addressing the concerns of those affected.
Additionally, they provide strategies to support aged care workers impacted by the closure, ensuring their needs are considered throughout the process.
Guidelines for closing residential aged care homes
Ageing Australia offers tailored Transition to Practice programs for graduate nurses in their first year of clinical practice and for experienced nurses who are transitioning to aged and community care or working towards new leadership roles.
24/7 registered nurses in residential aged care
Care minutes in residential aged care.
Starting from January 1, 2025, the required amount of direct care in residential aged care facilities is 215 minutes per resident per day.
This includes 44 minutes specifically allocated to Registered Nurses (RNs)
The remaining 171 minutes can be provided by a combination of ENs and PCWs.
In addition to the care minute requirement – as of 1 January 2025.
Award wage increases
There will be award wage increases for many aged care workers, aimed at improving the workforce’s conditions and retention.
Single Assessment System
The ACAT (Aged Care Assessment Teams), RAS (Regional Assessment Services), and AN-ACC (Australian National Aged Care Classification) workforces will transition into a Single Assessment Workforce to deliver a more streamlined and efficient assessment system.
The Integrated Assessment Tool is available on the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (formally Department of Health and Aged Care) website.
These changes are part of ongoing reforms to enhance the quality and sustainability of aged care services.
Our submission
Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Registered Nurses) Principles 2023 exposure draft
Our media release
ACCPA proposes solutions for 24/7 RNs in aged care homes.
Adopting My Health Record in residential aged care
Ageing Australia and the Australian Digital Health Agency are supporting
providers to adopt My Health Record in their resident information systems.
Our My Health Record Readiness toolkit helps providers assess the implementation resources required.
Palliative care support from ELDAC
Ageing Australia is a partner of End of Life Directions for Aged Care (ELDAC) who provide information, guidance, and resources to health professionals and aged care workers to support palliative care and advance care planning to improve the care of older Australians.
