Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC) to survey 5,000 home care clients and families in June and July – to inform assessments?

A sign that the regulator is keeping a close eye on whether providers are stepping up to help clients during COVID-19?

The Commissioner, Janet Anderson PSM, has announced the Commission will be interviewing Home Care Package recipients or their representatives via telephone throughout June and July.

The questions will cover aspects of the Aged Care Quality Standards, including whether consumers are treated with respect, if staff follow up when issues are raised, the frequency that services are updated, and how services could be improved.

“The survey aims to better understand the quality of care being provided to aged care consumers by service providers,” the Commissioner states.

“The responses will provide valuable intelligence to further inform our regulatory activities.”

The survey is voluntary and participants will be told that they can choose not to participate.

Will the Commission find some providers are not meeting their service obligations?

We will find out – the findings will be published on the Commission’s website.