Skip to main content

Aged care laws in Australia have now changed. The new Aged Care Act 2024 and Aged Care Rules 2025 now apply. While we complete updating of our website, including draft guidance and other materials, to align with the new laws, providers are advised to refer to the new Act and Rules for any required clarification of their obligations and legal responsibilities. Thank you for your patience.

Quality Standards Resource Centre

The Quality Standards Resource Centre helps extend understanding of the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards, which take effect from 1 November 2025. The Resource Centre will be updated to reflect key changes made to the draft strengthened Standards. You can search for resources by using keywords, or filtering by standard, outcome, audience and theme. Before using the Resource Centre, please read the terms of use.

Displaying 21 to 25 of 25 result(s)
/quality-standards/cognitive-impairment-and-dementia-care-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-people

Cognitive impairment and dementia care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Guidance
Published date

This resource is a best-practice guide to cognitive impairment and dementia care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people attending primary health care. It combines clinical evidence with cultural principles, addressing health promotion, prevention, detection, and management of dementia, while also providing culturally informed recommendations on end-of-life care and support for carers within the context of primary care services.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Person-centred care, Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
1: The Individual, 3: The Care and Services
Outcomes
1.1: Person-centred care, 3.2: Delivery of funded aged care services, 5.6 Cognitive impairment  
Cognitive impairment and dementia care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
/quality-standards/health-care-people-cognitive-disability

Health care for people with cognitive disability

Discussion paper
Published date

This resource addresses the challenges people with cognitive disabilities face when accessing healthcare, such as communication barriers, limited access to quality services, over-prescription, and restrictive practices. It invites feedback on how to improve care quality and ensure the human rights of those with disabilities are upheld, incorporating considerations for different cultural and demographic groups.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Delivering comprehensive care and services
Standard
5: Clinical Care, 3: The Care and Services
Outcomes
5.6 Cognitive impairment  , 3.2: Delivery of funded aged care services
Health care for people with cognitive disability
/quality-standards/mental-health-and-wellbeing-dementia-and-mental-health

Mental health and wellbeing - Dementia and mental health

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource examines mental health challenges in people living with dementia, covering complexities in diagnosing conditions like depression and anxiety. It provides evidence-based insights on therapeutic approaches, including music and cognitive therapies, and offers tools to aid aged care providers in supporting mental health in dementia care.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Assessment and planning, Delivering comprehensive care and services, Clinical safety
Standard
3: The Care and Services, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
3.1 Assessment and planning, 3.2: Delivery of funded aged care services, 5.5: Safety of clinical care services, 5.6 Cognitive impairment  
Mental health and wellbeing - Dementia and mental health
/quality-standards/dementia-friendly-environments-dining-areas-kitchens-and-eating

Dementia-friendly environments - Dining areas, kitchens and eating

Guidance
Last Updated

This resource provides guidelines for creating dementia-friendly dining and kitchen spaces, emphasising sensory engagement, personalised meal experiences, and a home-like environment. It includes practical adjustments for lighting, noise, seating, and social interaction to enhance dining enjoyment.

This resource was developed by a state/territory government or organisation and therefore its applicability and usefulness may be limited.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Delivering comprehensive care and services, Environment, Food and nutrition
Standard
4: The Environment, 5: Clinical Care, 6: Food and Nutrition
Outcomes
4.1b: Environment – services delivered other than in the individual’s home, 5.6 Cognitive impairment  , 6.4: Dining experience
Dementia-friendly environments - Dining areas, kitchens and eating
/quality-standards/dementia-enabling-environments

Dementia enabling environments

Guidance

The Dementia Enabling Environments website, developed by Alzheimer's WA, provides guidance and resources to help create enabling environments for a person living with dementia. It includes design principles for different environment types, include home and residential aged care facilities.

This resource was developed by a state/territory government or organisation and therefore its applicability and usefulness may be limited.

Author
External resource
Key Theme
Delivering comprehensive care and services, Environment
Standard
4: The Environment, 5: Clinical Care
Outcomes
4.1a: Environment – services delivered in the individual’s home, 4.1b: Environment – services delivered other than in the individual’s home, 5.6 Cognitive impairment  
Dementia Enabling Environments