From the CEO – OCAV welcomes Review of National Aged Care Quality Regulatory Processes

The Old Colonists’ Association of Victoria welcomes the recommendations to address the quality of aged care, saying that it is critical that past failures are learned from and addressed.

The review was ordered after shocking revelations about the Oakden mental health aged care residence in South Australia which included elder abuse.

The review was conducted by Kate Carnell and Professor Ron Paterson, who put forward ten recommendations.

Of the key recommendations noted in the review, recommendation eight – which calls for ‘ongoing accreditation, with unannounced visits, to assure safety and quality of residential aged care’ – is one Minister for Aged Care Ken Wyatt says will be implemented by Government as soon as possible.

Phillip Wohlers, CEO of OCAV, endorsed the Minister’s desire for a strong aged care sector, supported by an accreditation system that protects consumers’ safety.

“We have been delivering aged care for almost 150 years, and our residents’ needs are at the heart of our care. Safety and quality are essential.”

“Elder abuse is unacceptable in any situation, and if these recommendations assist to stamp it out, or at least minimise the risk, they have our support.”

OCAV recently experienced an unannounced visit, and received the tick of approval.

“The switch to comprehensive unannounced visits over two days is welcomed, as is the recommendation to share findings across the aged care sector. We also concur with the concept that one in five Residential care residents be engaged as part of the process,” Mr Wohlers said.

He said independent evaluation of the recommendations, once enacted, was essential to ensure that they did protect consumer safety and led to improved standards.

“The review is bold but is also realistic in what should be expected of all aged care services.

The full list of recommendations released with the review include:

·   Establish an independent Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission to centralise accreditation, compliance and complaints handling

·   The Aged Care Commission will develop and manage a centralised database for real-time information sharing

·   All residential aged care services in receipt of Commonwealth funding must participate in the National Quality Indicators Program

·   The Aged Care Commission will implement a star-rated system for public reporting of provider performance

·   The Aged Care Commission will support consumers and their representatives to exercise their rights

·   Enact a serious incident response scheme (SIRS) for aged care

·   Aged care standards will limit the use of restrictive practices in residential aged care

·   Ongoing accreditation, with unannounced visits, to assure safety and quality of residential aged care

·   Ensure that assessment against Standards is consistent, objective and reflective of current expectations of care

·   Enhance complaints handling