Preliminary star ratings have been issued to residential aged care providers, with 90% receiving three stars or higher and 31% receiving at least four stars.
Star ratings – which will be published on My Aged Care this month – were part of the Albanese Government’s Royal Commission response bill, though the sector has expressed concerns that good providers may be unfairly marked down.
According to the preview data from the Department of Health and Aged Care:
- 1% of all aged care facilities in Australia received one star;
- 9% received two stars;
- 59% received three stars;
- 30% received four stars; and
- 1% received five stars.
Aged Care Minister Anika Wells (above) said the ratings are a “significant milestone” on the way to more transparent and accountable aged care.
“To achieve our shared goal of reforming aged care, providers need to embrace transparency and accountability, and not make excuses.
“We have issued providers a preview of their Star Rating which allows them time to prepare for their public release by talking to staff and residents, communicating with families, or developing an improvement plan.
“Star Ratings allow residential aged care providers the opportunity for continuous, measurable improvement,” she said.
Tom Symondson, CEO of aged care peak body ACCPA (pictured), said that it is encouraging that 90% of providers have received at least three stars, indicating that they are meeting requirements; however, he warns that the Government must make sure that information used to decide the ratings is “fair and accurate”.
“The scores for minutes of care are also reduced because they are taken from earlier in the year, at a time when the sector was neither funded for, nor required to meet, the 200 minutes of care requirement.
“We expect to see ratings increase in the new year as we approach October 2023 when that requirement begins, and providers will be working as hard as they can in the meantime to recruit the necessary workers. This will be challenging, especially in rural areas where shortages are at their worst,” he said.
Ryman Healthcare is one provider that has received four stars for all five of its Australian aged care facilities. Rami Kamel (pictured), Ryman’s General Manager of Operations – Australia, says it’s clear that three-star facilities are “doing everything they’re supposed to be doing to a good standard”, with four and five stars representing a premium.
Rami told The Weekly SOURCE that while he believes the rating system is a good start, it does not capture the full depth of resident experience, and that those considering a facility should still take the time to tour the home and meet with staff, residents and family members.
“Counting the number of minutes staff members spend with a resident is helpful, but measuring the kindness, care and connection a resident experiences during that time is even more important.
“The data provided through the star rating assessment also gives operators a fantastic opportunity to better identify areas for improvement and make sure they’re using their resources as effectively as possible to get the best results for the people who’ve been entrusted to their care,” he said.
