Annual QI data shows slight decrease in incidents by year’s end

Every quality indicator percentage dipped in a more positive direction by the end of the 2022-23 financial year, a new report shows.

Released on 14 November by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the Residential Aged Care Quality Indicators Annual Report 2022-23 – which collates four quarters of data – found that 6.5 per cent of residents had one or more pressure injury in quarter one. By quarter four, the number had fallen to 5.8 per cent.

Data for the year also shows:

• physical restraints were at 21.1 per cent in Q1; in Q4 they were down to 17.8 per cent
• significant unplanned weight loss was at 9.2 per cent in Q1; Q4 7.7 per cent
• consecutive unplanned weight loss in Q1 11 per cent; Q4 a drop to 7.9 per cent
• residents prescribed multiple medications in Q1 36.7 per cent; Q4 35.5 per cent
• residents prescribed antipsychotics in Q1 18.6 per cent; by Q4 18 per cent
• residents who recorded a fall in Q1 32.3 per cent; Q4 32.1 per cent
• falls that resulted in major injury in Q1 2.1 per cent; Q4 1.9 per cent.

The latest annual report includes data from around 2,550 residential aged care services, representing approximately 95 per cent of eligible services. However, not all care recipients are counted in each QI measurement due to various reasons, such as not consenting, being absent or receiving end-of-life care.

Since 1 July 2019, participation in the National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program has been a requirement for all Australian Government-subsidised aged care homes.

Until 30 June 2021, the QI Program featured three QIs – pressure injuries, use of physical restraint, unplanned weight loss. On 1 July 2021, the QI Program was expanded with falls and major injury, and medication management added to the list.

Then, on 1 April 2023, the QI Program was further expanded to include six new categories:

• activities of daily living
• incontinence care
• hospitalisations
• workforce
• consumer experience
• quality of life.

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