Slight improvement in star ratings, latest data shows
The second aged care star rating update shows an uptick in the number of providers delivering good or excellent quality care.
The second aged care star ratings update shows an uptick in the number of providers delivering good or excellent quality care.
The October to December 2022 quarter also shows the number of lowest ratings have reduced slightly, decreasing from 8 per cent to 5 per cent of providers needing to improve the quality of care.
“I’m pleased we’re seeing incremental improvements in the ratings but there’s a lot more work to be done in aged care,” said Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells upon the release of the data.
Collected by the Department of Health and Aged Care and the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, the latest data shows:
- 54 services (2 per cent) achieved five stars – excellent
- 964 services (39 per cent) achieved four stars – good
- 1,357 services (54 per cent) achieved three stars – acceptable
- 119 services (5 per cent) received two stars – improvement required
- 6 services (0 per cent) received one star – significant improvement.
To those services recording low ratings, Ms Wells said: “I encourage providers to continue to look at ways they can improve the care they offer.”
Since its introduction in December 2022, the star ratings system has offered insight into the quality of care delivered by individual aged care homes.
Services are awarded an overall star rating based on four sub-categories:
- residents’ experience
- compliance
- staffing
- quality measures.
“Star ratings offers insider access for the first time to those it impacts most,” said Ms Wells, “– older people and their families.”
She added: “Everyone can now check how a particular service is performing and use that knowledge to make choices about the best residential care for themselves and their loved one.”
You can search and view homes’ star ratings through the ‘Find a provider’ tool on the My Aged Care website. Ahead of the next update, Ms Wells encourages providers to visit the department’s website and download a copy of the Star Ratings Improvement Manual.
“This guide offers practical examples to help you plan, implement and assess quality improvement activities in your facilities and lift the quality of care for your residents,” she said.
Comment on the story below. Follow Australian Ageing Agenda on LinkedIn, X (Twitter) and Facebook, sign up to our twice-weekly newsletter and subscribe to our premium content or AAA magazine for the complete aged care picture.
