SA’s 10 aged care homes where ‘improvements are needed’ under new federal ratings system

Ten aged care homes in SA have been rated a poor one or two stars out of five by the watchdog and told to lift their game. See the list and what they have to say.

Ten South Australian residential aged care facilities scored two stars or less in the federal Department of Health and Aged Care’s new star rating system, indicating “improvements are needed”.

Star ratings were introduced in December 2022 in the wake of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety which recommended the system based on measurable information to help older Australians and their families to compare the quality and safety performance of different services.

Aged care homes receive a rating between 1 and 5 stars to indicate the quality of care across four key areas of performance.

Outcomes in these four areas form an overall Star Rating.

The star ratings represent:

1 Significant improvement needed

2 Improvement needed

3 Acceptable

4 Good

5 Excellent

The four areas assessed to make up the overall Star Rating are residents’ experience, compliance, staffing and quality measures.

RESIDENTS’ EXPERIENCE

This is based on surveys by independent teams and is updated annually.

The Residents’ Experience Rating considers how residents feel about the quality of care they receive in their aged care homes. It is based on surveys from residents gathered by an independent team. It looks at their experiences of safety, treatment from staff, food standards and feelings of independence and belonging.

The Residents’ Experience rating contributes 33 per cent to the overall Star Rating.

COMPLIANCE

The Compliance Rating looks at whether an aged care home is meeting government regulations and standards. The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission checks aspects of care including quality, safety, financial matters, and management.

An aged care home with a 1-star rating means that a decision such as a sanction has been made in response to a high level of risk to people receiving aged care. The Compliance Rating contributes 30 per cent to the overall Star Rating.

STAFFING

The Staffing Rating looks at the amount of care being provided by nursing and personal care staff in an aged care home. It tells you whether aged care homes are meeting their care requirements in relation to the total minutes of nursing and personal care being provided to each resident each day, and the care from a registered nurse to each resident each day.

The Staffing Rating contributes 22 per cent to the overall Star Rating.

QUALITY

The Quality Rating is based on quality and safety of care across five key areas – pressure injuries, physical restraints, unplanned weight loss, falls and major injuries, and medication management, and is updated quarterly. It contributes 15 per cent to a facility’s overall rating.

Gawler Grande Views. Picture: Emma Brasier.

These are the facilities listed with an overall rating of two stars or less as of May 3 by the federal Department of Health and Aged Care. All were contacted for comment.

Gawler Grande Views

For-profit facility at Gawler East with 126 private rooms

Overall Star Rating 1

Residents’ experience 3

Compliance 1

Staffing rating 2

Quality measure 3

No response to a request for comment.

St Joseph’s House at Port Pirie

Catholic not-for-profit facility for 67 residents providing residential aged care including dementia, respite and palliative care services

Overall Star Rating 2

Residents’ experience 4

Compliance 2

Staffing rating 2

Quality measure 5

No response for a request for comment.

Barmera Residential Aged Care Facility

Government facility for 50 residents run by the Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network

Overall Star Rating 2 (Has since received an overall star rating of 3)

Residents’ experience 3

Compliance 2

Staffing rating 3

Quality measure 4

Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network chief executive Wayne Champion said: “We have been focused on improving care delivery by engaging in trusting, respectful relationships with residents and acknowledging their unique life experiences, beliefs and traditions.”

Hills Mallee Southern Residential Aged Care Facility

Government facility run by the Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network

Overall Star Rating 2

Residents’ experience 3

Compliance 2

Staffing rating 2

Quality measure 3

Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network chief executive Wayne Champion said: “Our staff worked hard to support the five residents of the Hills Mallee Southern Residential Aged Care Facility during their move last month to the Aminya Residential Aged Care Facility. The competition between the Hills Mallee Southern Residential Aged Care Facility and Aminya made both services unsustainable.”

Warrina Park Residential Aged Care at Paradise

Not-for-profit facility with 52 single rooms with ensuites and a dedicated 14-bed Memory Support Unit run by Warrina Homes

Overall Star Rating 2

Residents’ experience 2

Compliance 3

Staffing rating 2

Quality measure 2

Warrina Homes chief executive Andrew Curle said: “Warrina Homes Inc is taking all appropriate steps to maintain quality care and Warrina Park RACF is currently fully compliant across all the Aged Care Quality Standards. We are further working on all of the variables that impact our Star rating and are confident in our systems, our staff and our care.”

Serene Residential Care Services at Lockleys. Picture: Supplied

Serene Residential Care Services at Lockleys

For-profit facility with 43 beds run by Bluedawn Healthcare

Overall Star Rating 2

Residents’ experience 3

Compliance 2

Staffing rating 3

Quality measure 1

No response to a request for comment

Estia Health at Kensington Gardens

For-profit facility run by Estia Health

Overall Star Rating 2

Residents’ experience 3

Compliance 3

Staffing rating 1

Quality measure 2

An Estia Health spokesman said more than 95 per cent of Estia Health homes have a star rating of 3 or higher. “We are committed to continuous improvement so that all our aged care homes are 3 or more stars including at our home in Kensington Gardens,” a statement says.

“With regard to our home in Kensington Gardens, the current overall rating is being partially driven by a star rating of 1 for staffing per the care minutes requirement that comes into effect on 1 October 2023. We can confirm our overall nursing minutes at the home are at the required level however they comprise a mix of registered nurses and enrolled nurses which is similar to many residential aged care homes in South Australia. While enrolled nurses play a key role in delivering specialist/skilled nursing care, there are expected to be more RNs at the home by 1 October, 2023. More broadly, our overall care minutes at the home do not materially differ from the requirements from 1 October 2023.”

North Eastern Community Aged Care Home at Campbelltown

Not-for-profit facility for 84 residents which is part of the private North Eastern Community Hospital

Overall Star Rating 2

Residents’ experience 2

Compliance 3

Staffing rating 2

Quality measure 3

Facility chief executive Cara Miller said: “The North Eastern Community Hospital applauds the Star Rating system that builds transparency and compliance. We are committed to our strategy to heighten the standards of care for our residents.”

Resthaven Paradise

Part of the not-for-profit Resthaven group associated with the Uniting Church.

Overall Star Rating 2

Residents’ experience 3

Compliance 2

Staffing rating 2

Quality measure 4

Resthaven spokeswoman Julie Johinke said the group is working hard to make improvements at the site. “Resthaven is committed to providing quality aged care services and we hope to have the issues resolved in the near future,” she said.

Para Hills Residential Care at Para Hills West

For-profit facility for 60 residents.

Overall Star Rating 2

Residents’ experience 3

Compliance 2

Staffing rating 2

Quality measure 1

No response to a request for comment.