Concerns aged care homes are falling short on care targets
Concerns are rising as six in 10 aged care homes fail to meet mandatory care targets despite increased funding.
Recent revelations that six out of 10 aged care homes are still failing to meet their mandatory minutes of direct care and registered nurse targets have raised significant concerns, according to COTA Australia.
Data released for the April to June 2024 quarter indicates that, despite increased funding, many aged care facilities—particularly in metropolitan areas where workforce issues are not as severe as in regional and rural locations—are still unable to comply with their direct care targets.
Patricia Sparrow, Chief Executive of COTA Australia, stressed the urgent need for aged care facilities to enhance the quality of care provided.
“Increasing the mandatory minutes of care provided to aged care residents was a key recommendation of the Royal Commission into Aged Care and a substantial piece of reform introduced by the Federal Government last year. The fact that too many older people are still not getting the mandated minutes of care is a real concern,” Ms Sparrow said.
“Australians have a right to expect that if they or a loved one goes into aged care, they’ll be given the attention and quality care they need and deserve. Basic direct care isn’t a ‘nice to have’; it’s crucial and the absolute minimum we should expect for older Australians in aged care.”
In an open letter to aged care providers, the Hon Anika Wells, Minister for Aged Care, echoed these sentiments, stating that “the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety found that staffing levels are vital to the quality of care for older people living in residential aged care homes.”
She highlighted the importance of the mandatory care minutes, which began on 1 October 2023, as a key recommendation from the Royal Commission’s final report, describing it as “a once in a lifetime change to shape and improve the overall quality and safety of care of older people living in residential aged care”.
Ms Wells acknowledged the efforts made by some providers to improve staffing levels, noting that “sector average care minutes have increased to 207.7 minutes per resident per day, including 41.4 registered nurse minutes, in the June quarter of 2024.” However, she pointed out that many homes are still not meeting their individual targets.
Data from the Department of Health and Aged Care also revealed that compliance rates are disproportionately low in metropolitan areas, even though workforce constraints are generally greater in regional, rural, and remote areas. Furthermore, it showed that compliance rates of aged care homes run by for-profit providers are much lower than those operated by not-for-profit providers.
“We shouldn’t have a situation where aged care homes are making profits off government funding while falling short of their mandatory care targets,” Ms Sparrow said. “This data shows that far too many older people are going without the basic, mandated level of care they deserve.”
Supporting this call for accountability, the National Health Services Union has strongly endorsed Minister Wells’ letter. National Secretary Lloyd Williams praised the initiative, saying: “This open letter is a crucial step towards addressing the longstanding issues in our aged care system. It’s precisely why we’ve been advocating for a legislated ‘workers voice’ in the Aged Care Act—a provision that was regrettably removed at the insistence of the Liberal Party.”
Mr Williams highlighted key concerns raised by the Minister, including the disproportionately low compliance rates in metropolitan areas and the significantly lower compliance rates among for-profit aged care providers compared to their not-for-profit counterparts.
“Never forget, it was workers who blew the whistle on the appalling operating conditions in aged care that led to residents being fed jelly and frankfurts and having sanitary pads rationed,” he said. “Providers need accountability. We cannot allow profit motives to compromise the quality of care for our elderly citizens.”
The Health Services Union is committed to working alongside the government and responsible providers to improve conditions in the aged care sector.
“We stand ready to support any initiatives that enhance transparency, accountability, and most importantly, the quality of care for our seniors,” Mr Williams stated.
As of 1 October 2024, average care funding is expected to be around 58 per cent higher than it was in September 2022, with a substantial portion of this increase aimed at supporting providers to meet the new care minutes requirements of an average of 215 minutes per resident per day, including 44 minutes of registered nurse care.
The Australian Government expects that providers will allocate their increased care funding to meet these mandatory care minutes. Ms Wells has also requested her department to explore options to boost compliance with care minutes while ensuring that these measures do not impose financial pressure on aged care homes facing workforce challenges.
As the aged care sector continues to navigate these reforms, the ongoing need for regulatory oversight remains critical to ensure that older Australians receive the care and attention they rightfully deserve.
“COTA looks forward to being part of further discussions about how to increase the number of older Australians getting access to the minutes of care, and quality of care, they deserve,” Ms Sparrow said.
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