How to use aged care ratings in your search: Northern Sydney
Key Points
The government Aged Care Star Ratings offer an unbeatable opportunity to compare aged care provider quality.
We have organised the data to help with your search by preparing a map showing providers by location and also showing their overall star rating
We have also compiled a listing of aged care providers for every aged care region in NSW that will give you a snapshot of quality and costs.
By looking at aged care star ratings each quarter, we can also highlight providers that are improving or deteriorating in quality.
In this example, we look at the aged care providers in the Northern Sydney Region.
Get a clear view with our map for NSW
The location of an aged care provider plays a pivotal role in decision-making. For instance, if one spouse remains at home, they might need to visit the other at an aged care facility daily. Thus, considering the day-to-day logistics is as crucial as ensuring the best quality of care.
Additionally, it could be beneficial for the elderly parent(s) to be situated close to their children or at a location that's convenient for multiple family members.
For such scenarios, presenting this information via a map becomes the most intuitive approach.
We've developed a map that instantly showcases providers based on their overall quality rating. By selecting a provider, users can access essential details such as pricing, facility size, and a direct link to their myagedcare listing. Furthermore, users have the option to determine travel time to the facility by using the direction link.
Take control of a large amount of information
The Northern Sydney Region, which we use to provide an overview of providers, is based on government groupings.
This region boasts more than 100 aged care homes, and as of June 2022, the occupancy rate stood at approximately 85%.
For a more detailed breakdown of aged care regions and pertinent statistics, please visit the Australian Government Aged Care Data website.
We've compiled the rating information released in August into a sortable list. Additionally, we have incorporated a direct link to MyAgedCare, allowing you to verify the rating information or get in touch with the provider directly.
Furthermore, we've included Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD) details for easy reference. This information can also be swiftly verified by navigating to the "Rooms and Costs" tab on MyAgedCare.
The linchpin of the Aged Care Star rating system is the “Overall Star Rating.” This rating encapsulates four pivotal metrics of residential aged care provider performance: Resident Experience, Compliance, Staffing, and Quality Measures.
Nevertheless, the ability to sort data according to other metrics also provides invaluable insights, which we'll delve into below.
Keep track of Gainers and Losers
There is only 1 Aged Care home ranked “Excellent” by the Aged Care Star Rating System - and that is Willoughby Retirement Community Hostel.
There are 4 providers that are assessed as “Improvement Needed” - Uniting Kari Court St Ives, Brian King Gardens, Arcare Warriewood, Peter Cosgrove House and BUPA Seaforth.
Staffing is a big issue - however the higher cost providers doing well
A substantial number of providers are rated at the lowest staffing level, termed "Significant Improvement Needed."
This trend aligns with observations of aged care providers nationwide.
Notably, providers with the highest staffing ratings often coincide with those charging higher RADs.
Quality Measures - confronting but important reading
An example of Quality Measures as listed via myagedcare
Quality Measures encompass information from various areas, such as pressure injuries, physical restraint, unplanned weight loss, falls, other major injuries, and medication management. This data is benchmarked against national averages.
All this information is clearly presented for each provider on their respective listings on MyAgedCare.
While the overall rating is crucial, the individual data is equally significant. Both are accessible to residents and prospective residents through the Government's Aged Care Star Ratings system.
In the Northern Sydney Region, five providers have been flagged as "Improvement Needed" in their Quality Measures. These are Sirius Cove Nursing Home, Lansdowne Gardens on Wycombe, BUPA St Ives, Montana Aged Care Facility in Mosman, and the Donald Coburn Centre in Castle Hill.
What is changing?
This is crucial to note: every quarter, the Government publishes a summary of Star Ratings information. This allows us to track which providers are improving or declining in their quality ratings.
Shifts in overall ratings are noteworthy, but more dramatic changes, such as a decline of more than one star, are especially significant.
In the Northern Region, the trend is positive: more aged care homes improved by gaining an overall star than those that experienced a decline.
Noteworthy mentions include Narrabeen Glades Care Community, which experienced a significant leap in Quality Measures by gaining 3 stars, jumping from a 1-star to a 4-star rating.
However, it's concerning to observe that out of the 5 providers labeled with an "Improvement Needed" rating for quality measures, 4 saw a drop of one star, leading to their current status. This revelation is crucial for families with loved ones in these homes; the quality standards, as evaluated by the Government Star Rating, have decreased. Most notably, BUPA St Ives witnessed a steep decline, dropping from a 4-star rating to just 2 stars.
What next?
The Government Aged Care Star Ratings system offers an unparalleled metric for assessing the quality of aged care homes. It stands as the premier source of information for Australians in their search for quality aged care.
Moreover, fluctuations in Star Ratings serve as a vital tool for monitoring the evolution of aged care quality in specific regions.
We will continue to update our tools to help Australians track and understand aged care home quality in their area.