Minister announces 1,000 unannounced visits to nursing homes

By 2 October, the independent Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency has conducted a record 1,001 unannounced visits, the  Minister for Ageing, Mrs Justine Elliot, has announced.

She has set a minimum target of 3,000 unannounced visits this financial year.

The 1,001 unannounced visits were conducted between 1 July and 2 October, resulting in action on six nursing homes, including five sanctions.

Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency (1 July to 2 October)

NSW/ACT                    333
VIC                              296
TAS                               30
SA/NT                          100        
QLD                             141
WA                              101

Total                         1,001
 
In addition, the Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) has conducted 391 unannounced visits for the same period.

NSW/ACT                    86
VIC                              99
TAS                             12
SA/NT                          85
QLD                           101
WA                                8

 Total                          391
 
Currently, there are 11 nursing homes under sanction, out of a total of nearly 3,000 aged care homes around Australia.

There have been six instances where the DoHA has taken compliance action as a result of the unannounced visits during this period.

In five cases, the DoHA imposed sanctions at: Kirralee Aged Care Facility, Victoria; Parkdale House, Victoria; Lakes Entrance Aged Care Facility, Victoria; Sir James Terrace, Queensland; and Rosden Private Nursing Home, Victoria.

(The DoHA also issued a Notice of Non-Compliance on Brighton Aged Care, South Australia, as the result of an unannounced visit.)

The Accreditation Agency has a set of ‘at risk factors’ to identify nursing homes for further unannounced visits.

They include:

• existing non-compliance problems in any of the areas of the 44 standards, including nutrition and hydration;
• the number of complaints against a facility;
• the known financial difficulties or business restructuring;
• a change of approved provider;
• major changes in key personnel and senior staff;
• ambitious building programs; and
• a sudden change in resident population and mix of residents.