Smart Continence governance and systems means that all checks and balances are in place for the best continence care
All residential aged care service providers need to:
- Provide dignified and optimum care for all consumers
- Meet the Aged Care Quality Standards
- Provide staff with adequate training, resources, regular feedback and evaluation
- Optimise consumer safety
- Reduce complaints
- Minimise the risks associated with poor continence care
the key components of good continence care
The key components of good continence care are a well-conducted continence assessment and ongoing care planning. Providers should have screening processes in place to identify consumers with incontinence and other bladder and/or bowel
dysfunctions, particularly as symptoms are likely to be underreported.
The model has mapped out how continence care should be provided in residential care to meet the Aged Care Quality Standards. CSC defines best practice continence care, which will strengthen Provider’s efforts to meet and exceed the Aged Care Quality Standards. This will further support broader aged care reform.
All Commonwealth subsidised aged care services are required to comply with the Aged Care Quality Standards which comprise:
- Consumer dignity and choice
- Ongoing assessment and planning with consumers
- Personal care and clinical care
- Services and supports for daily living
- Organisation’s service environment
- Feedback and complaints
- Human resources
- Organisational governance
THE CONTINENCE CARE DECISION SUPPORT TOOL
The individuals needs may change over time and each of the four different types of continence care plans are developed, implemented and evaluated in response to resident differences of stages of health and wellbeing:
- Preventative Continence Care Plan
- Restorative Continence Care Plan
- Maintenance Continence Care Plan
- End-of-Life Continence Care Plan
the continence organisational audit tool
The Continence Care Organisational Audit Tool is being developed for managers and quality assessors to regularly evaluate continence care practices and performance indicators, to ensure they meet the Aged Care Quality Standards.
This model is a key project to pivot the aged care industry towards best practice care and ensure equitable and appropriate access to quality clinical care. It is an integral part of the Foundation’s advocacy for a much-needed National Strategy on Incontinence, which has been missing from the Australian Government’s agenda. Ongoing advocacy for reform in continence care in residential aged care is critical to the mission of the Foundation.
CSC will help transform the implementation of safe, high-quality care within the aged care sector. Our work now focuses on advocating for funding and adoption of the model by residential aged care services across the sector.
- Each consumer is supported in ways that meet their physical, social, mental, emotional, cultural and spiritual needs, enhancing their overall quality of life
- Supported and content consumers whose continence care is dignified and respectful
- Person-centred through informed shared decision making
- Optimises consumers functional abilities
- Regular opportunities for feedback and assessment
- Continence care is safe, timely and responsive
benefits to providers
- Ability to meet and exceed the Aged Care Quality Standards
- Have a distinct market advantage as a high-quality service provider
- Optimise your reputation for person-centred Continence SMART Care
- Performance is measured, transparent and made available to staff and consumers
- Policies and processes drive organisational improvement and cultural change
- Improved delivery of care and services
- Improved systems to monitor and track change