Braemar CEO Launches In-Depth Aged Care Staffing Report

The CEO of Braemar Presbyterian Care, Wayne Belcher OAM, has launched a review of staffing numbers and quality of care in aged care homes, and their correlation with improved care outcomes for frail, vulnerable and elderly residents.

“It seems that in Australia rarely a month goes by where the public is not informed of another aged care failing and there is widespread public perception of a lack of care and low quality of life for residents within the aged care system,” writes Mr Belcher.

“The call for greater regulation of minimum staffing standards and additional funds to meet them is prominent but seems to fall on deaf ears.  However, without residential aged care provision, seniors would likely be inpatients in State-based hospitals at several times the daily cost of care of a residential aged care facility.”

Mr Belcher’s review goes on to discuss how regulated minimum staffing ratios impact on business viability and the quality of care in residential aged care services, and discusses regulated minimum staff ratios, the costs of child care versus residential aged care, an indicative cost impact of suggested reform, and a brief critique of quality care and the effectiveness of staff ratios.

The review goes on to suggest that workforce law reform is both obvious and compelling. 

“With a greater understanding of what the literature reveals about the significant positive correlation between additional staffing and improvement in quality, one wonders where the liability for continued poor service quality lies if no government changes are made,” adds Mr Belcher.

“Many providers would ideally like additional staff for care, but the accompanying cost impact will drive them to failure.  Therefore, I believe the Australian Government needs to reform the relevant provisions of the quality of care principles in The Aged Care Act 1997, and allocate the funds necessary to support that change.”

The report concludes with a number of recommendations, amongst them mandatory 24 hours per day, seven days per week, registered nurse cover in all aged care facilities and additional funding from the Australian Government, above a minimum benchmark, based on the overall acuity assessment per resident.

A copy of Mr Belcher’s report can be obtained by www.wlbelcher.com

Find out more about Braemar Presbyterian Care.