National Seniors Australia has welcomed the Queensland Government’s announcement that all government-run aged care homes will be required to publish information about the number and skills of staff caring for older people.
This comes in addition to moves to legislate minimum staff ratios in public facilities in Queensland.
Chief Advocate Ian Henschke said National Seniors has been calling for transparency in staffing for all privately-run aged care facilities nationally.
National Seniors backed a private members bill put forward by Federal MP Rebekha Sharkie in 2018 to do just that.
“It is reassuring on the eve of the National Elder Abuse Conference in Brisbane next week, that the Queensland Government is taking action to improve the quality of care for public aged care residents.”
“Requiring public aged care homes to publish staffing levels will give the kind of information that consumers need when choosing a home and send a message to providers that staffing is important.”
“As many of our members have said to us, the biggest factor in poor outcomes for aged care residents is simply whether or not they get the time and care they need.”
