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Ken Wyatt. Photo: Mick Tsikas, AAP
Gold standard
New commission, quality
standards legislated: here’s
what they cover.
T
he aged care sector has again
welcomed legislated quality
standards that will take effect mid
next year, following a function held in
Parliament House to thank those involved
in their development.
The Aged Care Quality Standards will
replace the existing four sets of standards
and cover all aged care services, including
residential care, home care, flexible
care, and services delivered under the
Commonwealth Home Support Programme.
Leading Age Services Australia (LASA)
said aged care providers have been working
for several months to successfully transition
to the new single set of standards.
Chief executive Sean Rooney said
members have also been encouraged to
use the peak’s guidance materials as a
measuring stick to self-assess their own
performance against the organisational
requirements.
Minister for Senior Australians and
Aged Care Ken Wyatt said the boards and
governing bodies of aged care providers
will be “clearly accountable for every one of
their consumers’ safety and quality of care”.
“Providers delivering clinical care
will be mandated to maintain quality
clinical frameworks, including infection
control, open disclosure to consumers,
their families and representatives, and
minimising the use of restraint,” Wyatt said.
Aged & Community Services Australia
chief executive Pat Sparrow said all residents
and providers need the aged care system to
function with “firm but fair regulation”.
“It is vital the community has confidence
that the regulation protecting their loved
Photo: Dementia Australia.
Appier times
New app designed to improve communication
between people with dementia and loved ones.
F
or gamer, television presenter and Dementia Australia
ambassador Stephanie Bendixsen, it was tricky coming
up with different topics of conversation or activities
she could share with her mother, who died earlier this year
from dementia.
That’s why she’s excited about the release of a new free
app from the peak body, which aims to help families and
loved ones connect and communicate with those living
with dementia.
Called A Better Visit, the app is filled with short games that
are designed to be played together, like co-colouring, washing
windows, bowling and a tango-inspired version of tic-tac-toe.
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agedcareinsite.com.au
ones enshrines safety and quality of
life and also functions effectively, and
quickly, to identify and respond to
any instances of sub‑standard care,”
Sparrow said.
Wyatt said the new Aged Care Quality
Standards cover:
• Consumer dignity and choice
• Ongoing assessment and planning
with consumers
• Personal care and clinical care
• Services and supports for daily living
• Organisation’s service environment
• Feedback and complaints
• Human resources
• Organisational governance.
Adherence to each standard will
require a statement of outcome for the
consumer, a statement of expectation
for the organisation, and requirements to
demonstrate the standard has been met.
The standards will be enforced by
the new Aged Care Quality and Safety
Commission, which will come into force
on 1 January 2019.
Providers will be held to the new
standards from 1 July next year. ■
“I wish an app like this had been available then because it
can be challenging to come up with different things to do and
talk about, especially as symptoms progress,” Bendixsen said.
“Anything that helps you bring on a smile is welcome in my book.”
Dementia Australia’s chief executive, Maree McCabe,
explained that Bendixsen was not alone in her experience with
her mother. She said family members tell Dementia Australia
they often simply don’t know how to communicate and
interact with a loved one who has dementia, especially as their
dementia advances.
“It may follow that other family members, children and friends
start to withdraw and perhaps become less likely to include the
person with dementia in everyday activities or schedule in regular
visits,” McCabe said.
Lifeview Residential Care supported the development of the
app by helping connect Swinburne University developers with
residents living with dementia.
Chief executive Madeline Gall said by observing and listening
to residents living with dementia, Swinburne’s team of researchers
were able to tailor the app. Some of the resulting inclusions were
classic songs to prompt toe-tapping and singalongs, and clear
button designs.
“Our staff observe families visiting and sitting next to their loved
one struggling to maintain conversation. Through the stimulation
and interaction A Better Visit prompts, we would hear more
laughter and chatting,” Gall said.
“What’s more, we observed that after the game play, the mood
of the resident living with dementia would be more upbeat,
and often that positive mood would continue on, even after the
families had gone home.”
A Better Visit is available for iPad only and can be downloaded
for free at the App Store. ■