Latest QI data shows 10% of aged care residents still going hungry

The latest Quality Indicators from the Department of Health for the three months to 30 June 2022 make for sober reading. More than 21% of the residents assessed, or over 35,000 residents, were physically restrained. That number includes 28,000 residents who were restrained through the use of a secure area. Nearly one in five received antipsychotic medication during the quarter. Nearly 10% of residents experienced unplanned weight loss – despite the Federal Government’s additional $10 per day aimed at improving nutrition in aged care. Nearly one third experienced a fall, and one in fifty suffered a fall that resulted in a major injury. More than one third – 37% – were prescribed nine or more medications, the threshold for polypharmacy. More than 6% of residents had pressure injuries. The results come from assessments of about 150,000 residents across 2,268 aged care facilities. Quality Indicators were introduced in July 2019. Initially tracking three indicators, pressure injuries, physical restraint and unplanned weight loss, falls and medication management were later added. Six new quality indicators will be added next year: activities of daily living, incontinence care, hospitalisation, workforce, consumer experience, and quality of life. The latest QI data is available in full here.