Aged Care Rating System to launch in April

Australia will soon have its own independent ratings system to measure the quality of its residential aged care.  

Aged Care Online Managing Director Ben Hannemann is proud to announce the official launch of the Aged Care Rating System (ACRS) on April 15 in Melbourne.

The ACRS is the joint enterprise of Aged Care Online, Ansell Strategic and Millennium Aged Care Placement Consultants.

Based on current industry standards and a detailed knowledge of consumer expectations, the three parties have compiled a consistent set of criteria from which to review aged care facilities.

There are four components to the criteria:  physical form, resident input, resident services and staff culture.

To generate a star rating a provider must first register their facility on the Aged Care Ratings website and complete an online “self-review.”

An accredited ACRS representative will then visit the facility to objectively verify their results.

Mr Hannemann says he is confident the new system will provide considerable assistance to consumers in weighing up their residential care alternatives.

“Finding a suitable aged care home for someone is a stressful, complex task and the introduction of the Aged Care Rating System to assist in evaluating provider options is something we see as overdue,” Mr Hannemann says.

He says the system will be equally beneficial for the providers, as it allows them to showcase their services against a consistent industry benchmark.

BlueCross Community and Residential Services are the first aged care provider to pilot the new ratings system.

BlueCross Manager for Client Relationships Julie Maya said she was excited to be nominated for the trial.

“BlueCross are enthusiastic about the potential of a nationwide aged care ratings system in validating to consumers the quality of our residential aged care service offerings,” she said.

Macquarie Bank are proud supporters of the Aged Care Rating System and will host the event at their offices on Collins St.

If you are interested in attending the launch, please click on the invitation and register to RSVP.

Spaces in the theatrette are limited.