First charter of rights for older Australians receiving home care
The nearly 56,000 older Australians who receive help at home through Community Aged Care Packages will get a greater say in the provision of their services according to the Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot, who announced the Australian Government was developing a Charter of Rights and Responsibilities for community care and flexible care packages.
There will be consultation with consumers, aged care providers and other interested groups, and a draft Community Care Charter has been prepared.
The draft Community Care Charter says each recipient of a community care service funded by the Australian Government has the right to:
- Full and effective use of his or her personal, civil, legal and consumer rights;
- Quality care appropriate to his or her needs;
- Be treated and accepted as an individual, and to have his or her individual preferences taken into account and treated with respect;
- Maintain his or her personal independence;
- Maintain control over, and continue making decisions about, the personal aspects of his or her daily life, financial affairs and possessions;
- Complain and to take action to resolve disputes;
- Have access to advocates and other avenues of redress; and
- Be free from reprisal, or well founded fear of reprisal, in any form, for taking action to enforce his or her rights.
