The New Standards and Person-Centred Care
Note: image reproduced with permission, from Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission website www.agedcarequality.gov.au. Use does not constitute their endorsement of this information.
* 27 May 2019 *
The most significant impact that the new Aged Care Quality Standards (coming into force on 1 July) will have on our community is the increasing role that residents and home care consumers will play in directing their own care and supports.
The new Standards encourage true ‘Person-Centred Care’, where:
- Each individual is seen as the best expert in their own life and is actively involved in setting priorities and making decisions
- The individual’s strengths are recognised and maintained
- Flexibility and choice are maximised so that the individual is respected and empowered
- Staff use their skills, capabilities, knowledge and resourcefulness to tailor care and services to meet the individual’s unique needs
Person-Centred Care seeks to maintain engagement and involvement so that care is a partnership between the individual and those who are there to care for and support them.
The new Standards are not prescriptive: they do not set out how to carry out person-centred care. Rather, each of the eight Standards provides a statement of outcome for the consumer, a statement of expectation for the organisation, and the organisational requirements required to demonstrate that the standard has been met.
“Person-centred care ensures that the resident (consumer) is an active participant in decision-making about their life and their care,” says General Manager Quality & Risk, Annette Greenwood. “As care-providers, our role is to provide them with support to live their life as they wish to.”
Full-day training sessions have been provided for all staff in leadership roles, including team leaders, supervisors and managers, totalling around 120 people.
“We are committed to changing our practice across the organisation,” says Annette. “We realise that this is a major change that will affect every aspect of our organisation – and we believe it will be beneficial for the quality of life, health and wellbeing of those entrusted to our care.”
Person-Centred Care – click image to read more.