The 8 standards in aged care

What are the 8 Standards in aged care?

The 8 Aged Care Quality Standards are a set of guidelines that all aged care providers in Australia must follow. They ensure that care given is safe, high quality and tailored to each individual’s needs and preferences. Here’s a quick overview:

1. Consumer dignity and choice
2. Ongoing assessment and planning with consumers
3. Personal and clinical care
4. Services and supports for daily living
5. Organisation’s service environment
6. Feedback and complaints
7. Human resources
8. Organisational governance

These Standards apply to all forms of aged care, including home care services, ensuring that providers maintain high-quality, consistent care.

Standard 1 — Consumer dignity and choice

This Standard is all about respect. It ensures that care recipients are treated as individuals with unique preferences, beliefs and goals. Providers must honour these preferences and give people the freedom to make choices about their care. This might mean letting someone decide on their daily routine, choosing their carer or even deciding what meals they’d like help with.

Standard 2 — Ongoing assessment and planning with consumers

Care needs can change over time, so ongoing assessment is crucial. This Standard ensures that providers regularly review care plans and update them as needed. This could involve working closely with the care recipient and their family to adjust support services as health conditions or personal circumstances evolve.

Standard 3 — Personal and clinical care

This Standard focuses on delivering safe, effective care that meets personal and clinical needs. Providers must ensure that all care, whether it’s help with hygiene or managing medications, is proactively carried out to the highest standard. The goal is to proactively support health and wellbeing professionally and compassionately.

Standard 4 — Services and supports for daily living

Independence and quality of life are at the heart of this Standard. It ensures that services go beyond basic care to help individuals enjoy their daily lives. This might include helping with meal preparation, cleaning or even assisting with hobbies and outings. The idea is to support individuals in living life to the fullest.

Standard 5 — Organisation’s service environment

A safe, comfortable and inclusive environment is essential for quality care. While this often applies to residential facilities, it’s just as important for home care settings. This could mean ensuring the home is safe for mobility aids and that any modifications are completed to a high standard while keeping the living space welcoming, preserving the feeling of home.

Standard 6 — Feedback and complaints

Feedback is a cornerstone of improvement. This Standard ensures that care recipients and their families have easy access to a system where they can raise concerns or suggestions. Providers should encourage open communication and act promptly on feedback. Knowing that your voice matters helps build trust and ensures continuous improvement.

Standard 7 — Human resources

The people providing care make all the difference. This Standard ensures that staff are qualified, skilled and empathetic. Care workers should be well-trained and professional but also compassionate and understanding. Providers must invest in ongoing assessment and training to maintain high Standards.

Standard 8 — Organisational governance

Strong governance ensures that providers meet their legal, ethical and financial responsibilities. It involves accountability and trust. This means providers should have clear policies and processes in place to deliver safe, reliable care while continuously improving the quality of their services. Families and care recipients should feel confident in the organisation’s ability to deliver what they promise.

Quality Standards Performance for aged care homes

Since July 2020, it has become easier to see and compare aged care homes’ performance against the Quality Standards. The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission assesses providers and rates their performance for each Quality Standard using a four-bar system:

• Four bars — The provider meets all the requirements of the Standard.
• Fewer than four bars — Indicates areas requiring improvement and triggers compliance actions.
• No bars — The provider hasn’t been assessed against that Standard yet.

This information can be found using the Find a Provider tool on My Aged Care. When searching for aged care homes, you can:

• View their performance against each Quality Standard.
• See a list of the requirements considered for each Standard.
• Download or print a Summary Assessment Report.
• Compare ratings across different services.

Using this tool can help you shortlist providers and understand what to look for when visiting aged care homes.

How the Standards improve your experience

High-quality care means feeling safe, respected and well cared for. The 8 Standards ensure that aged care services align with these principles. For example, they aim to ensure you can say:

• “I am treated with dignity and respect and can maintain my identity.”
• “I can make informed choices about my care and live the life I choose.”
• “I get the care and services I need for my health and wellbeing.”
• “I feel safe and supported to provide feedback or make complaints.”
• “I am confident the organisation is well-run and transparent.”

When care doesn’t meet the Standards

If you believe your provider needs to meet the Quality Standards, it’s essential to raise your concerns. Here’s how:

• Start with your provider — Share your concerns directly with them, as this is often the quickest way to resolve issues.

• Contact the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission — If needed, you can lodge a formal complaint or provide feedback by calling 1800 951 822 or emailing info@agedcarequality.gov.au. Your input helps hold providers accountable and improve services.

You can file a complaint anonymously, confidentially or openly. You can also contact the Commission directly, even if you haven’t discussed your concerns with your provider yet.

• Seek advocacy support — The Older Persons Advocacy Network can guide you through your rights and options, ensuring your concerns are addressed.

Why are the 8 Standards important for home care?

These Standards provide consistency and quality across all aged care providers. For individuals receiving home care, the Standards ensure that services are tailored, safe and delivered with respect.

At Homecare My Way, we’re committed to meeting and exceeding these Standards with our care management options. We believe in empowering individuals to live independently and comfortably in their own homes, with care that’s built around their unique needs and preferences.

How to ensure your provider meets the Standards

Choosing the right care provider is crucial. Here are some practical tips to ensure they’re meeting the Standards:

• Ask questions — How do they involve you in care planning? What’s their process for handling complaints?
• Review staff qualifications — Are their carers trained and experienced?
• Check accreditation — Ensure the provider is fully accredited and has good reviews.

At Homecare My Way, we’re transparent about our processes and dedicated to delivering top-quality care. Contact us to learn more about how we can support you or your loved one.

Explore our range of home care packages at Homecare My Way

Knowing what the 8 Standards in aged care are empowers you to ensure the services you receive are reliable, personalised and truly supportive of your needs. After all, these Standards are more than just guidelines — they should be a promise of quality, respect and safety for all individuals in aged care.

If you’re looking for a home care provider that prioritises these Standards, look no further than Homecare My Way. We’re here to help you navigate self-managed aged care with confidence and peace of mind. Reach out today to see how we can make a difference in your life.