Get ready for more visits

Record numbers of agency visits in residential aged care are set to begin this week with the beginning of the new financial year.

The new era of accreditation will see 7000 visits to the nation’s 2870 nursing homes and hostels during 2008-09. Almost half of those visits will be unannounced.

All facilities run by approved providers will receive at least one unannounced visit over the next twelve months.

And homes with quality issues or findings of non-compliance in previous inspections may receive more.

“Make no mistake, accreditation of Australia’s nursing homes is about the health, safety and well being of residents,” said the Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot.

The Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency recently reminded homes to let it know when key staff will be unavailable.

The agency said it will “try not to make unannounced visits during those times” in its monthly newsletter.

“We cannot guarantee we will not conduct an unannounced visit on a day that corresponds with a significant event – especially where the health, safety or wellbeing of residents is concerned – but we will try to work around those dates,” the newsletter said.

Homes were asked to contact the Assessment Manager in their state before 1 July with the dates when key staff are away. They have also been advised to contact the agency immediately if a key staff member is forced to take unexpeceted leave.

Mrs Elliot said she felt confident that providers would see the benefits of the increased visits.

“The overwhelming majority of aged care providers are providing top quality care for our nation’s elderly,” she said.

“I have seen world-class facilities and programs in every State and Territory, but I have also seen areas where improvement is needed.”

The annual indexation for residential, community and flexible aged care also comes into effect this week, bringing an extra $163 million in Commonwealth funding to the sector.