Revealing Variations in the Quality of Australian Aged Care Services

A comprehensive national investigation, conducted by the Registry of Senior Australians (ROSA) Research Center at SAHMRI in collaboration with the Caring Futures Institute at Flinders University, has uncovered notable disparities in the quality of aged care provided across Australia. Published recently in the Medical Journal of Australia, the study examined data from over 390,000 individuals enrolled in government-funded long-term care programs, including residential facilities and home care packages.

The research evaluated 12 safety and quality indicators for residential care and 15 for home care services. These measures included medication administration, emergency department visits, waiting times for care, and hospitalization rates. While some care providers demonstrated high standards, the study highlighted considerable variability between different providers in key areas.

Professors Gill Caughey, Associate Director of ROSA, explained that over 80% of individuals receiving home care experienced waits exceeding six months to access services, revealing significant delays that vary widely across the country. In residential environments, discrepancies were observed in antibiotic prescribing patterns, with 14% of facilities using antibiotics more frequently than the national average. Other concerns included high sedative usage and fluctuating rates of emergency department visits.

These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted quality improvement initiatives within Australia's aged care sector. Addressing these inconsistencies is vital for enhancing the overall quality of life and health outcomes for older Australians. Experts advocate for a nationally standardized, evidence-based approach, including implementing safe prescribing practices and reducing wait times for home care services.

Furthermore, a review in the latest issue of MJA emphasized that delivering high-quality, person-centered care across settings—supported by collaborative multidisciplinary teams—is essential for successful aging in place. The ROSA outcome monitoring system plays a crucial role by integrating data from multiple sources, enabling providers, policymakers, and the community to identify areas for improvement.

Prof. Caughey highlighted that ensuring equitable access to high-quality care regardless of location or provider is the ultimate goal, advocating for reforms to achieve consistent standards nationwide.