Your Dementia Care rights

Everyone should have access to care that respects their choices and helps them enjoy quality of life. But this is sadly not every Australian’s experience, as the recent Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety has shown us.

What is the Charter of Aged Care Rights?

When you are provided with government-funded aged care services, you are entitled to feel safe and be treated with respect. You should also have choice and control over the services you receive.

At Home Caring, we believe all of our clients have a right to feel safe, comfortable and empowered while receiving our services. Home care is based on trust, and we’ll work with you to ensure that your support maintains your dignity while helping you live the life you choose.

This is why we uphold the Charter of Aged Care Rights. This charter came into effect in July 2019. It replaces previous charters of care recipients’ rights and responsibilities, and provides the same rights to all consumers – no matter what type of care you receive. Here is the charter.

I have the right to:

1. safe and high-quality care and services;
2. be treated with dignity and respect;
3. have my identity, culture and diversity valued and supported;
4. live without abuse and neglect;
5. be informed about my care and services in a way I understand;
6. access all information about myself, including information about my rights, care and services;
7. have control over and make choices about my care, and personal and social life, including where the choices involve personal risk;
8. have control over, and make decisions about, the personal aspects of my daily life, financial affairs and possessions;
9. my independence;
10. be listened to and understood;
11. have a person of my choice, including an aged care advocate, support me or speak on my behalf;
12. complain free from reprisal, and to have my complaints dealt with fairly and promptly;
13. personal privacy and to have my personal information protected;
14. exercise my rights without it adversely affecting the way I am treated.

For more information on Home Caring’s mission and personalised approach to care, visit our About Us page.

What is the Aged Care Quality Standards?

On 1 July 2019, the Quality Standards were developed to clearly define what good aged care should look like. They apply to all Australian aged care services that are funded by the government. The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission assesses each provider’s performance against these standards to ensure Australians receive the care they deserve.

Like other providers, Home Caring is assessed against these standards, and must regularly provide evidence of our compliance. But more than that – we are proud to support and uphold these standards. We believe good care is not just about ticking the box, but doing our best for our clients and putting them first.

Here are the eight Aged Care Standards:

1. Consumer dignity and choice: I am treated with dignity and respect, and can maintain my identity. I can make informed choices about my care and services, and live the life I choose.
2. Ongoing assessment and planning with consumers: I am a partner in ongoing assessment and planning that helps me get the care and services I need for my health and well-being.
3. Personal care and clinical care: I get personal care, clinical care, or both personal care and clinical care, that is safe and right for me.
4. Services and supports for daily living: I get the services and supports for daily living that are important for my health and wellbeing and that enable me to do the things I want to do.
5. Organisation’s service environment: I feel I belong and I am safe and comfortable in the organisation’s service environment.
6. Feedback and complaints: I feel safe and am encouraged and supported to give feedback and make complaints. I am engaged in processes to address my feedback and complaints, and appropriate action is taken.
7. Human resources: I get quality care and services when I need them from people who are knowledgeable, capable and caring.
8. Organisational governance: I am confident the organisation is well run. I am a partner in improving the delivery of care and services.

If you’d like to read more about the standards, you can visit the Aged Care Quality Standards page on the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission’s website.