The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission has reported significantly increased numbers of site visits to aged care services this year.
Commissioner, Janet Anderson (pictured) said the national regulator had conducted more than 1,100 site visits since January, including 410 visits to check infection control practices.
“The Commission modified its regulatory program in March to focus additional effort where it is needed most to ensure that providers are doing everything possible to keep aged care consumers safe,” Ms Anderson said.
“Throughout the pandemic, the Commission has continued to expand its monitoring and compliance activities, including undertaking telephone assessment contacts and self-assessment surveys with all aged care residential and home services.”
She said it also conducted site visits to monitor and assess the quality of care at aged care services.
“Between 16 March and 14 August, a total of 487 unannounced and short-notice visits were undertaken to aged care services across all States,” Ms Anderson said.
“Unannounced visits were changed to short-notice visits for 11 weeks from 16 March, and recommenced in June,” she said.
“The Commission is working with State and Territory Governments and their local health authorities to monitor and test preparedness of aged care residential services.”
Ms Anderson said the approach drew on lessons from outbreaks in NSW and Victoria to ensure that all services nationally had well-tested plans, adequate training and infection control practices to minimise infection risks, and were able to respond immediately, decisively and effectively if a positive case was identified.
