Setting the standard for aged care

Have your say on the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards until 25 November 2022. The Australian Government is strengthening the Quality Standards in response to recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.

The Quality Standards provide a shared understanding of what is expected in aged care, making quality everyone’s business.

You may be interested in noting the actions in the outcomes below as they apply to advance care planning and care at the end of life.

Outcome 5.4: Comprehensive care

Outcome statement:

Older people receive safe, quality and person-centred clinical care. Clinical safety risks to older people are identified, managed and minimised.

Advance care planning

5.4.5 The provider implements advance care planning processes to:

1. support the older person to set goals of care, develop and review advance care planning documents that are consistent with their needs, preferences, cultural practices and traditions
2. ensure that advance care planning documents are stored, managed, used and shared with all relevant parties and at transitions of care; in accordance with relevant law and evidence-based guidance.

Outcome 5.5: Care at the end of life

Outcome statement:

The older person’s needs, goals and preferences for care at the end of life are recognised and addressed. The older person’s pain and symptoms are actively managed, their dignity is preserved, and their representatives are informed and supported at the end of life and during the last days of life.

Actions:

5.5.1 The provider has processes to recognise when the older person is approaching the end of life, supports them to prepare for the end of life and responds to their changing needs and preferences.

5.5.2 The provider supports the older person approaching the end of life to develop or review advance care planning documents to align with their needs, goals and preferences, including requesting or declining life-prolonging care or responding to reversible acute conditions.

5.5.3 The provider uses its processes from comprehensive care, to plan and deliver end of life care that:

1. prioritises the comfort and dignity of the older person, and supports their spiritual, cultural, and psychosocial need
2. identifies and manages changes in pain and symptoms in a timely way
3. communicates information about the older person’s preferences for end-of-life care and the place where they wish to receive this care with workers, representatives, and others
4. supports access to specialist palliative care
5. provides a suitable environment for end-of-life care, including timely access to specialist equipment
6. provides information about loss and bereavement to others.

5.5.4 The provider implements processes to minimise harm to older people in the last days of life including to

1. recognise that the older person is in the last days of life and respond to rapidly changing needs
2. provide pressure care, oral care, eye care and bowel and bladder care
3. recognise and respond to delirium
4. minimise unnecessary transfer to hospital, where this is in line with the older person’s preferences
5. ensure that medicines to manage pain and symptoms are prescribed, administered and available 24-hours a day.

Find out more about the revised Quality Standards, register for online focus groups or complete the survey at https://agedcareengagement.health.gov.au/qualitystandards/.