Australia Adds New Quality Indicators for Aged Care

The Australian government plans to introduce three new staffing quality indicators to its National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program, increasing the total from 11 to 14 by April 2025. These indicators will focus on the roles of enrolled nursing, allied health, and lifestyle assistants, ensuring better monitoring of care quality in residential aged care facilities. Providers will be required to submit data every three months, with the first reporting deadline set for July 2025. In North Dakota, a similar initiative called the Nursing Facility Incentive Program aims to enhance care quality in nursing facilities by providing financial incentives based on performance metrics. This $12 million program, which addresses issues like urinary tract infections and antipsychotic drug usage, reflects a broader trend in health care to emphasize quality outcomes and patient experience. Collectively, these efforts highlight a growing commitment to improving care standards in aged care facilities across Australia and the U.S.