Monitoring Australian Aged Care Facilities.

High level aged care services with more intensive medical and personal care services are provided in an accredited residential care facility.  (Unlike retirement villages which provide mainly independent living units for residents able to care for themselves, with some additional support services if required).  Residents must first be assessed as needing higher level care by an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) before they can be placed in a residential care facility.

If you have a family member requiring intensive support and personal care who is already in an aged care facility, or if you are currently looking for a permanent or respite place, you need to know that Australian residential care homes are monitored and accredited by the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency.

You can search for the most recent government audit of any residential care home by using the search by state, suburb or name of the residential care home using the Agency’s online search tool.

You can also find out more about government regulation of aged care facilities or lodge a complaint using the website.

Regulation of Australian aged care services will change under reforms released in August 2011, as discussed in previous Seniors Housing Online news articles. The Productivity Commission report “Caring for Older Australians” recommends staged introduction of the reforms over a 5 year period and protection of those currently receiving aged care services during a transition period.