Quality Standards Resource Centre

This resource provides information on the impact of dementia on oral health, outlining key issues such as increased risk of poor oral health, the effects of medications, and the importance of maintaining dental care routines. It offers practical tips for toothbrushing, denture care, and dental visits to support those living with dementia.

This resource outlines best practices for documenting patient information related to medication history and adverse drug reactions. It provides guidance on obtaining the best possible medication history (BPMH), reconciling medications at care transitions, and recording known allergies. The resource helps aged care providers ensure accurate medication management, reduce errors, and prevent harm from adverse drug events. 

This resource may apply to healthcare contexts outside of aged care. Please consider the applicability of this resource to your care setting.

This guide covers medication management in aged care, addressing the use of multiple medications, reviewing prescriptions, and the role of multidisciplinary teams. It outlines principles for safe medication practices, deprescribing, administering medication, managing adverse events, and conducting medication reviews. It also provides guidelines for storage, disposal, and modification of medications.

This guide addresses polypharmacy in aged care, focusing on identifying inappropriate prescribing and reviewing all medications, including prescription, over-the-counter and complementary and alternative medicines. It includes recommendations for reducing medication use through deprescribing, ensuring medication safety, and regular review of renal and hepatic functions. Tools such as Beers Criteria and other screening frameworks are provided to support optimal medication management in older adults.

This guide focuses on deprescribing in aged care, aiming to reduce unnecessary or potentially harmful medications. It provides a framework for reviewing medication, assessing risks and benefits, developing tapering plans, and involving multidisciplinary teams. It provides recommendations including; patient-cantered communication, establishing written plans for medication withdrawal, and monitoring outcomes to improve quality of life.

This resource provides information on the Home Medicines Review (HMR) program, designed to support the safe and effective use of medicines for patients at home. It outlines the process, eligibility criteria, program variations, claiming and payments, rural loading allowance, and guidance for pharmacists and healthcare providers involved in medication reviews

This fact sheet outlines the requirements for enrolled nurses (ENs) in Australia regarding the administration of medicines. It details the education and qualifications needed to administer medications, the specific conditions under which ENs may administer intravenous medicines, and guidance on removing any limitations from their registration. The document also emphasises adherence to legislation, policies, and safe practices.

This page provides information on the intent of the Residential Medication Management Review and Quality Use of Medicines (RMMR) Program. It outlines its purpose, participation requirements, claiming and payment processes, frequently asked questions, program rules, and extra available downloads.

This discussion paper explores strategies to improve medication management in aged care, including reducing inappropriate prescriptions and promoting non-pharmacological interventions. It reviews current interventions' effectiveness, highlights the use of psychotropic medications, and identifies areas for improving practices through multifaceted and multidisciplinary approaches for better resident outcomes and healthcare quality. 

This resource may refer to information that will be updated from 1 November 2025 to align with the new Aged Care Act and Quality Standards. 

This resource outlines support for health service organisations to provide safe, high-quality care for people with cognitive impairment, especially during COVID-19. It includes new intellectual disability resources, fact sheets, posters, and guidance aligned with the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards to improve patient outcomes and care experiences. 

This resource may refer to information that will be updated from 1 November 2025 to align with the new Aged Care Act and Quality Standards.

This resource provides a range of materials developed to improve the safety and quality of healthcare for people with cognitive impairment or at risk of delirium. It includes guides, fact sheets, and standards for consumers, clinicians, and health service organisations, supporting the implementation of best practice and quality care. 

This resource may refer to information that will be updated from 1 November 2025 to align with the new Aged Care Act and Quality Standards.

This resource outlines the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care's Delirium Clinical Care Standard, which aims to improve the prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of delirium. It includes 8 evidence-based quality statements and indicators for safe care. The standard helps clinicians and healthcare organisations manage cognitive impairment, with relevance to both hospital and aged care settings. 

This resource may refer to information that will be updated from 1 November 2025 to align with the new Aged Care Act and Quality Standards.

This resource provides information on a free translation service for government-subsidised aged care providers, enabling communication in languages other than English. It helps aged care providers reach diverse communities, including culturally and linguistically diverse individuals, First Nations people, and those who are Deaf or hard of hearing, supporting culturally inclusive care. 

This resource may refer to information that will be updated from 1 November 2025 to align with the new Aged Care Act and Quality Standards.

This resource outlines the Dementia Training Program, which offers accredited education and professional development for aged care workers and health professionals. The program provides free training, tailored onsite services, and an online portal, focusing on advanced dementia care, behavioural management, and reducing restrictive practices. It aims to enhance care quality for people living with dementia. 

This resource may refer to information that will be updated from 1 November 2025 to align with the new Aged Care Act and Quality Standards.

This resource is a guide for consumers about the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care's Psychotropic Medicines in Cognitive Disability or Impairment Clinical Care Standard.  The resource includes 8 quality statements about the health care consumers should receive to support the correct use of psychotropic medicines. 

This resource may refer to information that will be updated from 1 November 2025 to align with the new Aged Care Act and Quality Standards.

This collection of resources is related to the guiding principles for medication management.The guiding principles aim to promote the quality use of medicines when moving between different health care settings and health care providers. The collection includes the guiding principles and the corresponding glossary, user guide and fact sheet. This resource may apply to healthcare contexts outside of aged care. 

This resource may refer to information that will be updated from 1 November 2025 to align with the new Aged Care Act and Quality Standards.

This handbook provides tools to support medicine management in multimorbidity and polypharmacy. The Department of Health and Aged Care commissioned the University of South Australia to develop the handbook. 

This resource may refer to information that will be updated from 1 November 2025 to align with the new Aged Care Act and Quality Standards.

This resource provides guidance on high-risk medicines, including safety alerts, notices, and best practices for safe prescribing, dispensing, and administration. It includes information on insulin and anticoagulant safety, monitoring tools, and best practice recommendations to improve medication safety and reduce harm from high-risk medications across healthcare settings. 

This resource may refer to information that will be updated from 1 November 2025 to align with the new Aged Care Act and Quality Standards.

This resource provides guidance for aged care services on how to support people living with dementia to eat and drink well. It highlights innovative approaches such as creating familiar, enjoyable meals, reducing mealtime interruptions, and offering 24-hour access to nutritious foods. These strategies help address challenges like malnutrition and dehydration. 

This resource may refer to information that will be updated from 1 November 2025 to align with the new Aged Care Act and Quality Standards.

This resource provides information on identifying and reporting adverse events related to medicines, vaccines, and medical devices. It outlines who can report, how to submit a report, the importance of these reports for safety monitoring, and the steps taken by the TGA in response to reported safety concerns. 

This resource may refer to information that will be updated from 1 November 2025 to align with the new Aged Care Act and Quality Standards.