Grey Power September 2019

10
NZ GREYPOWER MAGAZINE » SEPTEMBER 2019
Health and Disability Standards Review
Aged Care National Advisory Group
chair ROY REID gives some insight
into a formal Government review of
Health and Disability Standards.
In recent weeks I have
attended two scoping
meetings organised
by the Health Certification
Section of the Ministry
of Health. Two sections
of the standard are currently
being reviewed and
the meetings considered
what changes should be
considered to the existing
standard. The objective
is to update the standard
to reflect current practices
and develop specialist
standards that meet the
changing models of care.
The standard being reviewed
is the Health and
Disability Service Standard-Home
and Community
Support Services and
Aged Residential Care sections.
The existing standard
was written in 2008
and is to be reviewed to
reflect the changes in
practice that have been
introduced since their
adoption. The Act requires
the Minister to
consult from time to time
on whether the service
standard should continue
unamended, be amended
or be replaced by a new
service standard.
The providers of care
services who are contracted
to provide care are audited
on the standard.
Home and Community
Support Services
Consumers Rights
All people receiving care
are entitled to their values,
dignity and culture
being recognised and supported
and their choices
respected, and their rights
are upheld. It is important
that the rights of a person
are respected and listened
to by providers.
People receiving care at
home are entitled to retain
their privacy, dignity, confidentiality
and independence.
A person’s ethnic
values and beliefs must
be recognised and upheld,
this refers to Maori,
Pacifica and other ethnic
groups in the community.
Communication between
the provider and
client must be clear and
easily understood. It is
important that the provider
informs the client if
they are unable to visit at
the scheduled time.
Carers not arriving is a
major problem, more so in
rural areas where there is
a shortage of care workers
and relief workers are often
not available at short
notice.
Freedom from abuse
or neglect. It is very important
that a consumer
is not subjected to any
form of discrimination,
harassment, or abuse of a
sexual, physical, psychological
or financial nature.
This standard applies
equally to both the carer
and client.
With the provision of
care at home. the consumers’
property, belongings
and finances must be respected
at all times. The
consumer’s right to be
able to complain should
be clearly understood,
respected, and upheld at
all times.
Consumers have a right
to receive a service that is
compliant with the legislation,
and is managed in a
safe and effective manner.
It is expected that the
provider will have welltrained
and competent
Roy Reid
staff to provide a service
that meets the clients
needs. Both parties must
clearly understand issues
of health and safety requirements.
Consumers should
have a clear plan of the
times and the services
that will be provided to
help them remain living in
their own home. This covers
personal care as well
as home care. The services
provided need to be reviewed
on site by a regular
assessment to ensure that
all needs are being provided.
Please remember that
it is Government policy
to assist people to remain
living at home for as long
as possible, so we expect
that support is provided
for that to occur.
Aged Residential Care
This section of the standard
includes similar
standards for human
rights, ethnic rights and
communication as in
home care.
Residents must be able
to maintain a link with
family and community is
most important. The review
needs to strengthen
the wording of this standard,
as well as the need
to be able to make a complaint
without fear of discrimination.
The use of restraints
should be minimised
wherever possible.
Infection prevention
and control should be
managed to minimise the
risk of infection to all residents,
staff and visitors.
The proposed review
is timely and will ensure
a safe provision of care in
the home and to those in
aged residential care.
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