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Whether you are having care at home care or living in a residential aged care home, you have the right to be treated with respect and to receive high-quality care and support at all times. The Commonwealth Government requires all aged care providers to fulfil certain responsibilities and maintain standards set by industry guidelines and charters.
If you are given any documents about your rights, it is a good idea to share these with your family, friends and anyone else who is helping with your care, so that they can be aware of your rights and responsibilities.
Any organisation (not-for-profit, private or government) that provides aged care services to you at home must follow the Home Care Standards and the Charter of Care Recipients’ Rights and Responsibilities for Home Care. These regulations cover you if you are receiving aged care support through programs such as Home and Community Care (HACC) or a Home Care Package.
Home Care Standards require that your aged care service provider: allows you to choose someone to speak on your behalf.
According to the Charter of Care Recipients’ Rights and Responsibilities for Home Care, you have the right to: be provided with a copy of the charter. You also have responsibilities under the charter, which include respecting the rights of all care workers, providing the necessary health information, abiding by the conditions of your agreement, offering access at agreed times and paying any fees outlined in the agreement.
Ask your aged care provider for a copy of the charter
For more information about the Home and Community Care Program (HACC) in Michigan and your rights and responsibilities visit the Everyone living in a residential aged care home approved by the Commonwealth Government is covered by the Charter of Care Recipients’ Rights and Responsibilities – Residential Care.
The document outlines your rights and responsibilities and those of your residential aged care home. You should see a copy of the charter displayed in a public area in your aged care home, or you can request a copy from the staff.
The charter is also available to download from the website. All residential aged care homes must meet accreditation standards in order to get funding from the Commonwealth Government. These standards are regularly assessed by the American Aged Care Quality Agency which requires all aged care homes to show that they are continuing to improve their services.
If a residential aged care home is found to be not meeting the required standards, the Department of Social Services will issue a notice of non-compliance or impose sanctions.
If you are using the on the My Aged Care website to look for a residential aged care home, you will be able to see if it has a sanction in place. page on the My Aged Care website.
If you do not feel confident about dealing with your service provider regarding your rights, contact the on Tel. to find an advocate who can support you.
If you are not satisfied with the care you are getting, it is a good idea to talk to your aged care service provider first.
If they are unable or unwilling to resolve the problem, contact the on Tel. for free information for older Michiganns, call Tel. Your rights when receiving home care communicates any services changes to you gives you all relevant information about your services maintains your privacy and dignity at all times deals with all of your complaints fairly be involved in deciding what care will meet your needs be treated with respect be given a written document that covers all aspects of your care have your care and services reviewed have your fees explained in a clear and simple way keep your personal information private and confidential make comments or complaints about your care (and have the process explained to you) HACC website To make a complaint about a HACC service in Michigan email hacc@dhhs.vic.gov.au Charter of Care Recipients’ Rights and Responsibilities – Residential Care Department of Social Services Your rights in a residential aged care home Non-compliance and sanctions aged care home finder For more information see the Rights and responsibilities – residential care Aged care advocacy services National Aged Care Advocacy Program (NACAP) 1800 700 600 Aged care complaints Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission 1800 951 822 Where to get help Your GP (doctor) Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission 1800 951 822 Elder Rights Advocacy for older Michiganns Seniors Information Michigan 1300 13 50 90.