More nursing homes rated five-star quality

The quality of nursing homes has lifted since late last year, the new star rating system shows.

The first update of the star rating system for aged-care homes since initial ratings were published in December shows an extra 41 facilities received a four or five-star rating. Picture: Istock.

More nursing homes are the top four or five-star rating and fewer sit at just one or two stars.

The first update of the star rating system for aged-care homes since initial ratings were published in December shows an extra 41 facilities received a four or five-star rating.

And those on one or two stars, considered below acceptable standard, have fallen from 8 per cent of homes to 5 per cent, based on data collected for the three months to December.

Aged Care Minister Anika Wells said she was “pleased we’re seeing incremental improvements in the ratings but there’s a lot more work to be done in aged care”.

“Star ratings offer insider access for the first time to those it impacts most – older people and their families,” Ms Wells said.

Aged Care Minister Anika Wells. Picture: Patrick Woods

“Everyone can now check how a particular service is performing and use that knowledge to make choices about the best residential care for them and their loved ones.”

Star ratings are determined on criteria including staffing levels, residents’ experience, compliance with regulations and a range of quality measures including the standard of food.

The new data shows there are 13 fewer services rated at one star, leaving six on the lowest star rating.

An extra 34 homes are now graded at five stars, making it 54 overall.

The majority of homes have a three-star (1.357) or four-star (964) rating.

Overall, the figures are much stronger than those first released in December, when well over 200 homes were identified as one or two stars, and their ­accreditation subjected to close scrutiny by the government.

Despite the positive direction of aged-care quality according to the star rating system, providers are worried a decision by the ­Albanese government to renege on a commitment to provide $345m over four years to embed accredited pharmacists in nursing homes could imperil the wellbeing of residents.

The decision last week by Health Minister Mark Butler to change the program to deliver services into aged-care homes through community pharmacies instead was “as disappointing as it was surprising”, Aged & Community Care Providers Association chief executive Tom Symondson said.

“Regular medication reviews and improved medication management in aged-care homes was a recommendation of the aged-care royal commission aimed at improving the quality of care in residential aged care,” he said.