The Department of Health posted an update on 12 July 2019 re: the new Charter of Aged Care Rights, timeframes for implementation and providers responsibilities.
The provider has to:
- give consumers a signed copy of the Charter
- assist consumers to understand the Charter
- ensure that consumers, or their authorised person, are given a reasonable opportunity to sign a copy of the Charter.
The purpose of requesting the consumer’s signature is to allow them to acknowledge they have received the Charter, had assistance to understand it and understand their rights. Consumers are not required to sign the Charter and can commence, and/or continue to receive care and services, even if they choose not to sign the Charter.
The Charter applies to consumers once they start receiving Australian Government funded aged care, including:
- residential care
- home care packages
- flexible care
- services provided under the Commonwealth Home Support Programme and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program.
The timeframes for implementing these new requirements into Home Care are:
- 1 July 2019 – all requirements apply to new care recipients of all aged care programs.
- 30 September 2019 – a copy of the Charter must be sent to all existing CHSP care recipients.
- 31 December 2019 – all requirements apply to existing consumers of home care.
- 30 June 2020 – existing CHSP care recipients must be helped to understand the Charter and be given a reasonable opportunity to sign a copy of the Charter.
If you are interested in discussing the new Charter of Aged Care Rights and how to make the signing of this Charter more efficient, contact Debra Ward via the Care Collaborator web page: www.carecollaborator.com.au, email debra@carecollaborator.com.au or mobile 0438 020 728.
