Getting safe and quality aged care services, whether in your own home or an aged care home, is your right.
We help to make this happen through the Aged Care Quality Standards.
They make sure your needs, choices, rights and protections are at the centre of your aged care.
They help ensure your care and services are respectful, and your culture and language are respected.
We strengthened the Quality Standards after talking with aged care providers and workers, older people, families, carers and experts.
Government-funded aged care providers for home and residential aged care, must follow the strengthened Quality Standards.
This means you will: be treated with dignity and respect, be supported to remain independent, have your culture, beliefs and language valued, have a say in all decisions about your life and the aged care services you receive, receive communication in an easy-to-understand way, have the right to stay connected to your community, culture, Country and Island Home.
The Quality Standards also mean aged care providers must: listen to your ideas, feedback and concerns and make things better, give you the right to choose what your care looks like, give you the information about the services you receive, make sure the people who look after you are respectful of your goals, physical, spiritual and cultural needs, make sure your aged care home is safe, and you have a clean and comfortable environment, give you the right to choose what you eat and drink in an aged care home and that your food is enjoyable, nutritious, and appetising, keep you safe by planning for emergencies, keep your information safe and private.
You have the right to always be treated with dignity.
Your needs and culture must be respected throughout your aged care journey.
That is what the Quality Standards do.
If you have any concerns about your care, you or your carer can speak with your provider.
Or contact the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission on 1800 951 822 email info@agedcarequality.gov.au or visit the Commission's website.
You can also ask an independent advocate to help you with concerns and understand and understand your rights through the Older Persons Advocacy Network on 1800 700 600.
Advocates can help you yarn with your provider or raise a complaint with the Commission.