Respect for the needs of individuals and groups with specific needs is embedded within a human rights approach to ageing and health. It is also embedded within the Aged Care quality Standards, particularly standard 3: each consumer is treated with dignity and respect, with their identity, diversity and culture valued.
By embedding diversity in the design and delivery of aged care, the Aged Care Diversity Framework released in 2017 seeks to support all people to access safe, equitable and quality aged care, while enabling consumers and carers to be partners in this process.
The four diversity action plans have been developed to directly support government, aged care providers, consumers, families and carers address barriers and challenges affecting the ability of specific groups to access mainstream and flexible aged care services:
- Diverse Older people (shared actions recognising commonalities across groups)
- Older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
- Older people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds
- Older Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and gender diverse, and Intersex peoples.
The Inclusive Health and Ageing website provides community care providers with resources and information to ensure diversity and inclusion are considered in practice.
Communication with the older person is important in order to determine what would be right for them. This can be particularly important when dealing with care issues arising at the end of life. The What Matters Most resources from Palliative Care Australia can be useful to guide conversations about a persons’ needs. If required, the Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) can arrange for an advocate to support an older person to understand and exercise their rights.
This section provides guidance and resources in advance care planning and palliative care delivery for older Australians who are living in the community or in aged care facilities and who may have specific needs.
Page updated 29 July 2022