Change is a constant in the aged care industry when it comes to compliance and service delivery, as it’s a way to ensure that all residents across Australia are receiving quality care.
Only recently, in 2023, the National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program (NQIP) updated its rules and regulations by adding six new indicators. See our other article for more information: How aged care facilities can comply with the six new Australian NQIP quality indicators.
While these changes demonstrate the dedication of the industry to ensure a high standard of care across all Australian aged care facilities, it also has significant business impacts. This is why keeping up with new rules and regulations can be challenging for aged care facilities from a business perspective.
Let’s discuss how you can future-proof your aged care facility and continue to care for your nursing home residents within your evolving sector.
Ongoing changes in the Australian aged care sector
The Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS) and the National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program (NQIP) constantly update their guidelines and the mandatory report requirements approximately every three months for aged care facilities.
This can pose challenges for managers of aged care facilities and nursing homes, as it requires them to remain vigilant about the updates and constantly adjust their systems and processes accordingly.
For Aged Care Facility managers and facility owners, the evolving rules and regulations can mean:
- Extra time to constantly identify and interpret industry updates
- Greater admin and paperwork requirements
- More updates to your current software and processes
- Hiring new staff to meet the new requirements
This is often in addition to the current tasks and responsibilities in aged care – which can already be tedious and time-consuming, to begin with.
Unfortunately, if an aged care organisation doesn’t find a way to effectively adapt to these updates, it can lead to:
- Higher costs
- Inefficiencies
- Compliance concerns
- Service delivery issues
- Or, worst case, a sanction
How can your aged care facility respond to these ongoing changes?
Here are five tips that can help you be more proactive with the changing aged care guidelines:
-
Constantly review your strategic plan.
The best way to prepare for changes is to plan. A comprehensive plan that includes your goals and action plans to address new government guidelines in aged care will help you anticipate and respond to updates accordingly.
-
Include making your facilities adaptable in the plan.
Another way to future-proof your aged care facility is to make sure that your premises are designed to accommodate the constantly changing needs and preferences of your residents, as well as the changes in government requirements.
-
Adopt a comprehensive aged care system.
In a panel discussion during the AHW 2023, industry experts highlighted the need for aged care facilities to invest in innovation. So, in addition to a future-proofed facility, you also want technology that will cover all of your aged care reports and requirements, including:
- A clinical management (CMS) system
- A medication management (EMMS) system
- A customer relationship management (CRM) system
- Service delivery
- Team coordination
- Team coordination
- Communications
- Compliance and more
This will empower your aged care facility to keep up with all the updates – today and long into the future.
-
Always put your residents first.
With resident-centred care, the goal is to focus on continually fostering a welcoming, safe and engaging environment for your residents. As the Government also prioritises resident-centred care, doing this will always keep you one step ahead as guidelines change.
-
Get the entire community involved.
The last step is to go beyond your residential aged care facility. Community involvement, such as education and outreach programs, social events and connections with healthcare providers in your area, will keep your facility prepared for changes both in the community and the requirements for aged care set by the Government.
When it comes to responding to updates and keeping up with the changing needs of your home’s residents, there are steps that you can take to future-proof your aged care facility.
These are just some of the steps that you can take to future-proof your aged care facility. Of course, there are more specific action steps that you can take depending on your organisation’s unique needs and circumstances.
At the end of the day, it’s all about delivering top-quality care – even and especially when the needs of your residents and the entire industry change.
Do you want more advice to help future-proof your aged care facility?
Acredia is your supportive and dedicated partner. We are a comprehensive aged care system provider.
We are happy to discuss how we can help you navigate the complex nature of ongoing requirements in aged care so you never have to worry.
It can be challenging for aged care managers to respond to constant updates in the rules and regulations while running an entire facility. So, if you want to discuss your needs or if you have any more questions about future-proofing your nursing home as guidelines change, contact out team today.Â
