The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission is undertaking a consumer engagement survey aimed at better understanding the quality of care being provided to aged care consumers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a statement, the Commission said it will be conducting direct interviews with home care consumers in receipt of a Home Care Package or their representatives throughout June and July.
“The responses will provide valuable intelligence to further inform our regulatory activities,” the Commission said.
It said consumer experience interviews will be conducted over the telephone, with a target of approximately 5,000 respondents.
“Aged care consumers, or their representatives, will be reminded that taking part in the survey is voluntary and they can choose not to participate,” it said.
The survey will cover aspects of the Aged Care Quality Standards, such as whether consumers are treated with respect, to staff follow up when issues are raised, the frequency that services are updated, and how services could be improved.
“The Commission had input from Dementia Australia in designing this approach and has built on the initial findings of La Trobe University which highlighted that the telephone interview is the preferred mode for consumers.”
Outcomes will be evaluated and information on the survey findings will be published on the Commission’s website.
