To be able to evaluate the proportion of aged care homes that provide high standards of care, researchers like myself need access to data. We need data on quality indicators such as pressure sores, medication errors, weight loss, falls, infection rates admissions to hospitals, staffing levels and training. However, these data are not publicly available.
Who decided that data on residents’ safety and wellbeing in aged care homes must be kept top secret? To answer this question, we need to go back more than 20 years when the Aged Care Act 1997 was drafted. John Howard’s Coalition government proved a turning point for aged care policy in Australia.
Dr Sarah Russell,
My name is Janet Lawrence I would like you to know that I certainly support your views. My current doctoral study is on aged care so I would like to catch up with you. I did email you two days ago but you may have been busy.
Please feel free to call me on 0404000993 or janet@alacchealth.edu.au
Looking forward to hearing from you. Alternatively, please give me your contact details and a time convenient time to catch up with you.