When deciding on the right aged care facility, it’s important to compare facilities against each other. What is the food like? Do they offer quality care?

Aged care star ratings, first introduced in 2022, offer the opportunity to compare aged care facilities. They were introduced following a recommendation by the Aged Care Quality & Safety Royal Commission. They were designed as a way for prospective aged-care residents and their families to compare the quality of aged-care facilities.

However, some say the system doesn’t provide an accurate representation of the quality of aged care facilities.

So what does the star rating system involve, and how could it be improved?

How are aged care star ratings determined?

Star ratings are decided by 4 subcategories. These are:

· Resident experience: Based on survey feedback from 10% of residents of their experience at their aged care facility.
· Compliance: Based on regulatory decisions by the Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
· Staffing: Based on the average amount of care time residents receive from registered nurses, enrolled nurses, personal care workers and assistants in nursing
· Quality measures: based on quality of care for pressure injuries, restrictive practices, unexpected weight loss

However, there are significant flaws with the star-rating system.

Some aged care homes that did not meet minimum safety requirements were awarded 4 or 5 stars Some homes with more than 3 stars did not meet basic standards of accreditation.

Many families say that star ratings provided by some facilities do not match the level of care that they provide.

Therefore, some are concerned that star ratings may not be transparent or fully reflective of the level of care provided.

Of concern is that one in three aged care residents have received sub-standard care, yet there are few aged care homes with poor ratings.

This suggests that the star rating system may not be providing an accurate indication of the level of care provided.

Experts say rating systems can be blunt and generic when, in fact, each person has their own individual needs.

In addition, many facilities sit in the middle bracket in terms of the quality of care that they provide. This can make comparisons difficult.

What other resources can you use to help you decide on an aged care facility?

Choosing an aged care facility for you or your loved one is the big decision. Therefore, you should rely on more than one tool to help you decide. As well as the star ratings, you can use several other resources and strategies to make an informed decision.

It’s important to start planning early, not wait until you or your loved one needs urgent care. This will give you more time to make an informed decision.

To help make an informed decision, you should:

· Visit the aged care homes: This can provide a good indication of the services that are on offer and whether they are clean.
· Check their finances: A detailed overview of the finances of Aged Care Facilities can be found on the My Aged Care website. Checking what they spend on food and nutrition can provide a good indication of the level of care they provide.
· Check non-compliance register: You can also check the non-compliance register to see if a home is listed.
· Check dementia training: If your loved one is suffering from dementia, consider asking a facility if their staff have been trained in dementia care.

Choosing an aged care facility isn’t a simple process. There will be several factors you need to consider when choosing the right facility for you or your loved one.

Are you looking for a new career? Aged Care Resumes can help. We are pleased to offer various services including our resume and cover letter writing service.

Article References

Belot, H (6 November 2024) ‘Aged care homes star rating system needs transparency overhaul, ombudsman says’, The Guardian, accessed 6 November 2024.

Department Of Health & Aged Care (31 January 2020) ‘About star ratings’, Department Of Health & Aged Care, accessed 6 November 2024.

May, N (25 August 2024) ‘How do you best choose an Australian aged care facility and what do the star ratings mean’, The Guardian, accessed 6 November 2024.