Seminars in Ageing: The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety survey insights

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety survey insights

Presenter: A/Prof Frances Batchelor, Anabelle Peck & Dr Joan Ostaszkiewicz, NARI

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About the presentation

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety (ACRC) has been investigating how older Australians are cared for in order to improve aged care services.

The ACRC commissioned the National Ageing Research Institute (NARI), in partnership with Ipsos and the Social Policy Research Centre (SPRC) of the University of New South Wales to undertake two studies investigating quality of care 1) for people living in residential aged care facilities; and 2) for people accessing home and respite care services. In particular, both study’s aims were to investigate: 1) the rate and reasons that incidents of sub-standard care go unreported; 2) satisfaction with care; and 3) views on quality of life. 

Giving aged care residents a voice: undertaking a nationally representative survey on quality of care (A/Prof Frances Batchelor)
A key principle underpinning the research in the residential aged care sample was the need to give older people living in residential aged care the opportunity to respond to the survey without any involvement from the aged care provider. Frances’ presentation will reflect on the practical, ethical, cultural and legal aspects involved in undertaking a face to face survey of a random sample of aged care residents.

Exploring the impact of COVID-19 on home and respite care clients (Anabelle Peck)
Interviews in the home and respite care sample commenced shortly after the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. A series of open-ended questions were integrated into the interview to assess the impact that COVID-19 was having on home and respite care recipients’ needs and circumstances. Anabelle’s presentation will explore key experiences and issues for home and respite care clients relating to COVID-19, with particular focus on the implications for policy and practice associated with the provision of care and support for older people during a pandemic. 

Update on the Royal Commission and NARIs input to the Counsel Assisting’s recommendations (Dr Joan Ostaszkiewicz)
This brief presentation will provide an overview of the Counsel Assisting’s final submissions to Royal Commission on 8 October 2020 and NARI's response

About the presenters

Associate Professor Frances Batchelor is a Principal Research Fellow and Director of the Clinical Gerontology Division. She is also a Research Lead for the Melbourne Ageing Research Collaboration. As a research and clinical physiotherapist she has over 30 years of experience in community, hospital and aged care services and completed her PhD at the end of 2010 entitled “Falls Prevention After Stroke”. Her current research interests are falls prevention, balance and gait assessment and treatment, healthy ageing, the role of technology in ageing, and health and aged care practice. She has over 40 publications and has been successful in obtaining over $6 Million in research funding. Associate Professor Batchelor’s career is focused on collaborative approaches to research, policy and practice change to improve the lives of older people.

Anabelle Peck is a Research Assistant in the Clinical Gerontology Division at NARI, where she works across projects exploring aspects of aged care service delivery, and educational interventions for improving pain management in residential aged care. Her research interests include aged care system policy and reform, and person-centred models of care for older people. These interests are supported by her experience working in the aged care sector, and in the area of public policy development.

Dr Joan Ostaszkiewicz is a Registered Nurse with clinical and academic expertise in gerontological nursing education and research. Joan leads a program of research that aims to improve the quality of care for older people who require aged care services. Her research output includes; (i) a framework to promote dignity-protective continence care, (ii) a workforce model of care for the residential aged care, (iii) national resources for continence management in residential aged care facilities, (iv) evidence-based resources on continence care in acute, and sub-acute care settings, (v) a Grounded theory about providing continence care in residential aged care facilities.

Further information: [email protected]

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