Star Ratings for residential aged care (Star Ratings) is an aged care reform project that was developed in response to a critical recommendation of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
Star Ratings is a helpful guide that can support older people and their families and carers to compare residential aged care facilities and make informed choices, based on an Overall Rating and four Sub-category ratings:
- Residents’ Experience,
- Compliance,
- Staffing, and
- Quality Measures.
Star Ratings delivers a range of benefits including:
- Transparency about the quality of care in all aged care homes,
- An easy way to compare the quality of aged care homes, and
- Nationally consistent quality measures to monitor, compare and improve aged care.
Since Star Ratings was first introduced in December 2022, there has been consistent improvement across the sector, with residential aged care providers seeking to improve their ratings. However, there was low consumer awareness and use of Star Ratings among older people, their families and carers.
Aged care decisions are a widespread community challenge; more than 1 in 2 Australians aged 45 or older are, or expect to become, a core support person for an older person.
Fenton Communications delivered a national public relations program to build national awareness and use of Star Ratings, including what it is, how it works and how it can help, and where to find more information. Key PR activities included a series of editorial media partnerships, information resources including video case studies, a social media content program as well as community and stakeholder engagement.
