Aged care focus group: quality indicators

Interested in quality of care for aged care residents?

People interested in quality of care and quality of life in aged care are invited to take part in one of six consumer and carer focus groups being run by professional services company KPMG.

The groups are part of the federal Department of Social Services voluntary National Aged Care Quality Indicator Program from 2016, which relates to the assessment of care and services.

KPMG said the input would be used for the development of home and residential aged care indicators for quality of care, quality of life/consumer experience and in aged care.

Have your say!

To register to attend a focus group session, please click here to register or call KPMG on 1800 881 436.

The identity of people providing information to the focus groups will be protected and any information that may identify them will be removed.

Information will be used to inform a consultation report for the Department of Social Services, which will aid the development of a National Quality Indicator Program.

All information collected by KPMG is covered by its Privacy Policy.

If you would like more information on the project, please contact KPMG:

• This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by calling: 1800 881 436

Further general information is available on the Department of Social Services website: Quality Indicators for Aged Care.

Full statement below:

Register to attend a consumer and carer focus group regarding quality of care, quality of life and indicators in aged care

Register your interest to attend one of six consumer and carer focus groups to be held across Australia, to provide your input into the development of home and residential aged care indicators for quality of care, quality of life and indicators in aged care.

Background

The Productivity Commission report, Caring for Older Australians (2011), and the Australian National Audit Office report, Monitoring and Compliance Arrangements Supporting Quality of Care in Residential Aged Care Homes (2011), recommended that quality indicators be developed for aged care.

KPMG has been engaged by the Department of Social Services to undertake a project to implement a national aged care quality indicator (QI) programme. The overall project objective is to implement a national quality indicator programme that comprises a set of evidence based quality indicators that are reliable and valid and supported by feasible and reliable data collection methods.

The project involves:

• 1) review of literature and evidence;
• 2) consultation;
• 3), quality indicator definition;
• 4) initial pilot; and,
• 5) national implementation planning for the ongoing programme.

This projects seeks to build on the significant amount of work has already been undertaken with regard to researching, scoping and implementing quality indicators in aged care, particularly in residential aged care.

What is a quality indicator? Why are they important?

Quality indicators are measures that relate to the assessment of care and services. Aged care indicators are in use in a number of countries internationally, such as the United States and the United Kingdom, and within some areas of Australia, including in the Victorian Public Sector Residential Aged Care Services.

The pilot project will include three initial quality indicators, which cover three important aspects of care. These are:

• pressure injuries
• physical restraint
• unplanned weight loss.

These areas can all have serious impacts on health and quality of life for residents. Monitoring and measuring performance in these areas is vital to support quality care and continuous improvement.

Focus group sessions available

Five focus groups will be held across Australia, with a maximum of 10 participants in each focus group (first in, best dressed). The following sessions are available

How will the information I provide be used?

The information you provide will be used to inform a consultation report to be provided to the Department of Social Services, which will inform the development of a National Quality Indicator Programme that is to be launched in July 2015.

The information you provide to us will be de-identified and you will not be named in our report. All information collected by KPMG is covered by our Privacy Policy.

Where can I get more information?

If you would like more information on the project, please contact KPMG at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or on 1800 881 436.