The much anticipated independent Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission has officially opened its doors, launching its one-stop quality and safety website and the single new contact number for aged care concerns and queries today. The Commission has been set up in the wake of a series of scandals involving the mistreatment of elderly residents, which sparked a royal commission into the sector. The revelations of the abuse and neglect of residents at the Oakden aged care faci

Families and carers of people with dementia may be faced at some time with the problem of what to do if the person begins to wander. Wandering is quite common amongst people with dementia and can be very worrying for those concerned for their safety and well-being. The person’s failing memory and declining ability to communicate may make it impossible for them to remember or explain the reason they wandered. There are many reasons why a person with dementia may wander, includ

Quality Health Care has adopted consumer directed care (CDC) principles across all of its home care services. Consumer directed care is a way of providing services that allows individuals to make choices about the types of services they want, and who should provide them. The government has included CDC principles in Aged Care laws (User Rights Principles 2014) to ensure older people’s rights are protected. The six principles are: Consumer choice and control Rights Respectful

Australia's older generation (those aged 65 and over) continues to grow and is projected to more than double by 2057. Population projections for Australia suggest that there will be four million people aged between 65–84 years old by 2022 and as many as eight million people by 2056. Many older people wish to remain in their homes and be supported in the community for as long as they are able. The ageing of the population creates both pressures and opportunities for Australia'

Research increasingly shows us the importance of remaining socially active as we get older. Being active in this way can have significant positive benefits for a person’s physical well-being as well as their mental health. In this story, we hear how Melissa, a Quality Health Care community worker supported Edna to reconnect with an old friend and the impact this had on her outlook and quality of life. When Edna’s husband passed away she retreated into her own world and hardly

Getting older brings its share of challenges, and at times you may find it difficult to stay mentally healthy and strong. If feelings like sadness or worry are preventing you from getting the most out of life, help and support is available. Your mental health is a central part of your overall wellbeing. If you don't have good mental health, it's possible you also don't have good self-esteem or you don't feel confident and able to face life and its challenges. Being mentally h

An active lifestyle is important at any age but particularly as we grow older. Regular exercise helps boost energy, maintain independence and manage symptoms of illness or pain. Not only is exercise good for your body—it’s also good for your mind, mood, and memory. Whether you are generally healthy or managing an illness, there are plenty of ways to get more active, improve your confidence and boost your fitness. Starting a regular exercise routine can be challenging and you