Ita Buttrose Launches New Report on Quality of Residential Care

Current Australian of the Year and Alzheimer’s Australia National President, Ita Buttrose, has released a report, Quality of Residential Care: The Consumer Perspective, which calls for urgent action to improve the quality of residential aged care.

Speaking at the Aged and Community Services Australia Conference in Melbourne (Nov 12), she said that “the report was prepared on behalf of the courageous people who have told their stories about their experiences of residential aged care – some good but many of concern.”

“We have much to be proud of in terms of our aged care system in Australia,” Ms Buttrose said. “There are many dedicated, compassionate people who are working hard every day to provide the best care they can. “But what worries me is that a minority of facilities are not providing good care, and that residents are not being respected and, in some cases, are subjected to physical or psychological abuse.

“The objective of the report, which was developed by Alzheimer’s Australia, is to articulate the concerns of consumers, to set out for discussion possible strategies to address them and to seek a higher priority for tackling them.” Ms Buttrose said. "It proposes strategies that aim to bring providers, staff and consumers together to address the systemic issues in the aged care system that have led to breakdowns in quality care.

“Two lines of action are proposed. Firstly, to take the short term action necessary to give consumers greater confidence in the complaints scheme and accreditation and to ensure minimum standards are in place and being upheld for all residents.

"Secondly, to develop a more consumer oriented system by the greater involvement of consumers in the monitoring, assessment and complaints processes and by much greater transparency in the care outcomes being delivered ” Ms Buttrose continued.

“Funding issues are important but equally so are the leadership and culture that respects the rights and dignity of older people. Common decency and respect costs nothing.”

Glenn Rees, CEO Alzheimer’s Australia said that the Quality of Residential Care: The Consumer Perspective report supports the findings identified in another report also being released today, Collaborating for a better future for Australians living with Alzheimer’s disease.

“The report is an important reminder that if the quality of dementia care is to improve, coordinated action is necessary across the health and the aged care system,” Mr Rees said.

“Over the years there has been inadequate recognition of the importance of timely diagnosis, dementia care in hospitals and dementia risk reduction.”