Sector improving but more to be done: aged care data

The latest Sector Performance Report for the April to June 2024 quarter has been released by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.

The Sector Performance Report is part of the Commission’s commitment to keep improving the experiences of older people who receive government-funded aged care, as well as to protect them from harm.

For the first time, the report includes performance data for the last two financial years, showing growing evidence of improvements in the quality and safety of aged care but also shining a light on areas of underperformance by providers.

In Q4 2023–2024, 81% of residential care providers were fully compliant with all requirements of the Aged Care Quality Standards (Quality Standards). This is a big improvement on the 58% compliance at the beginning of the previous financial year (2022–2023).

In Q4 2023-24, 65% of home services providers were fully compliant with the relevant Quality Standards, compared with a 46% compliance rate at the beginning of the previous financial year. While this is an improvement since last year, compliance rates in home services still lag well behind those for residential care.

Home services include both home care packages and services delivered under the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (including delivered meals and community transport).

Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner Janet Anderson said that the improvements are noteworthy, reflecting the hard work that many providers are putting into lifting the quality and safety of their care.

“The improvements we have seen in overall sector performance are welcome, and I commend providers who are putting in the effort to lift the quality and safety of their care,” she said.

“At the same time, the lower rates of compliance found in home services continues to be concerning.”

As part of its efforts to lift home services provider performance, the Commission increased its audit program for home services in 2023–24 and is continuing that stronger focus in 2024–25.

The Commission’s recently released Regulatory Strategy 2024–25 outlines how the Commission is working to drive improvement across the sector and the delivery of high-quality aged care for older Australians.

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