Oct 21, 2020

Royal Commission survey: only one in four people in residential or home care feel their needs are met

Only around one-quarter of the people living in a residential aged care facility or receiving a home care package feel that their care needs are always met, according to new surveys by the National Ageing Research Institute (NARI). The share of people with care needs at least ‘mostly’ met is 39.0% in residential care and 32.5% in home care. Care needs are met only ‘sometimes’, ‘rarely’ or ‘never’ for 33.4% of people in residential care and 44.1% in home care. The share of people with care needs met ‘sometimes’, rarely’ or ‘never’ are even higher among people who use aged care respite services.

The surveys were undertaken by the NARI for the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. The findings are presented in Research Paper 13 – Inside the system: aged care residents’ perspectives andResearch Paper 14 – Inside the system: home and respite care clients’ perspectives.

In the surveys people identified concerns across many areas of their aged care. Aged care facility residents are most commonly concerned about staffing, which includes lack of staff, call bells not being answered, high rates of staff turnover, inadequate training, and agency staff not knowing the resident or their needs. The most common area of concern for people receiving a home care package is finance and administration, which includes lack of value-for-money, fee transparency, service coordination and rostering.

NARI’s reports say many of the concerns that people have about their aged care are not raised as an official complaint or even informally because they do not think anything will change, the concerns are seen as too minor, they do not want to be a nuisance, or they are not sure who to report to. Of the concerns that are raised officially, less than 1% are raised with the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, and less than half are resolved to the satisfaction of the care recipient.

The authors note that the survey results provide a benchmark that can be used to monitor the progress of aged care reforms over time and ensure public awareness is maintained.

The research paper was prepared for the information of the Royal Commission and the public. Any views expressed in it are not necessarily the views of the Commissioners.

To read the Royal Commission’s research papers, please visit the publications page.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. Hi, I’m shermyra I’m a former ward of the state in Allambie Victoria I’ve come forward to report against the family perpetrated in frankston Victoria and I’ve also told my story to the royal commission in nsw!

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Aged care staff worked late on Christmas Day to stay with lonely resident

  Every day, all around Australia, thousands of aged care staff to do their very best to look after and support the residents they care for.  Many of these staff regularly go above and beyond what is required of them. Whether it be forming close personal bonds with a resident and their family, paying for... Read More

Free TAFE aged care courses: making it easier to enter the industry

The Victorian government has announced it will make 30 TAFE courses available for free in the upcoming state budget in an effort to address that state’s skills shortages. The free courses will be those that prepare workers for the state’s most in-demand jobs – including in the construction, aged care, and disability sectors. The announcement... Read More

Dementia Cottage a Hidden Gem

Maree grew up watching her mum Alice lead a very busy social life with daily lunches, the phone constantly ringing and a household of visitors. But when Alice developed dementia several years ago her friends drifted away, unable to cope with or understand her changing behaviour.  Maree then took over, becoming her mum’s full-time carer... Read More
Advertisement