New aged care standards apply from July 1: ACSA’s Pat Sparrow

New standards are set to take effect from July 1 in the aged care sector. Here Pat Sparrow, CEO of Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA), outlines for providers how they will need to comply with the new standards, which are focused on consumers and relate to consumer choice, dignity and respect.

The new Aged Care Quality Standards, administered by the federal department of Ageing and Aged Care, will be used to assess and monitor aged care providers. This new single set of standards will replace the:

• Accreditation Standards
• Home Care Standards
• National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program Quality Framework Standards
• Transition Care Standards.

The Aged Care Quality Standards will apply to all aged care services including residential care, home care, flexible care and services under the Commonwealth Home Support Programme.

“The Aged Care Quality Standards focus on quality outcomes for consumers rather than provider processes. This will make it easier for consumers, their families, carers and representatives to understand what they can expect from a service,” the department says. “It will also make regulation simpler for providers working across multiple aged care services, and encourage innovation, excellence and continuous improvement.”