Publications
Information for People Receiving Aged Care
To Community Aged Care Providers
The Australian Government is committed to ensuring that people who receive community aged care services receive high quality care and/or services.
The National Ageing Research Institute recently completed a research project for the Department of Health and Ageing that looked at ways service providers provide information to their clients.
The project found that older people who are receiving community aged care services need to receive written information that assists them to understand their rights and entitlements. It is important that this information is presented in a format that is easy to read and understand.
The project findings indicate that information on consumer rights and responsibilities; decision making; choice and access to independent advice; complaints and dispute resolution; service standards and how these standards are monitored was of importance for people receiving community care.
In response to these findings, the Department of Health and Ageing has developed a folder of information for people who receive community aged care services. The folder provides information for these people on what they should expect from the services they receive, their rights and responsibilities and what they can do if they have concerns about their service.
The information folder includes:
- Information Sheet: Introduction.
- Information Sheet: What standard of care and services should I expect?
- Information Sheet: Charter of Rights and Responsibilities for Community Care.
- Information Sheet: What if I have concerns about my care and services?
- Copy of the Charter of Rights and Responsibilities for Community Care.
The information sheets are available electronically on the Department of Health and Ageing website.
Copies of the “Information for People Receiving Community Care” folders and information sheets will be forwarded to all community aged care service providers over the coming weeks.
Additional copies of the “Information for People Receiving Community Care” folder and information sheets are available from National Mailing and Marketing and can be ordered on (02) 6269 1060 or email: National Mailing and Marketing.
The Department of Health and Ageing will be developing additional information for people who receive community aged care services in the coming months, including translations of information into community languages.
I hope these fact sheets will assist your clients to become more aware of the information and services available to them.
Yours sincerely
Lyn Murphy
Acting Assistant Secretary
Quality and Monitoring Branch
23 May 2011
