New Aged Care Complaints Commissioner appointed

MS RAE Lamb has recently been appointed Commissioner for Aged Care Complaints.

The appointment is the result of recommendations from both the 2009 Walton Review and the Productivity Commission's 2011 Caring for Older Australians paper.

The Commissioner and her team will be responsible for investigating complaints related to Government subsidised residential or home-based aged care services.

The complaints may be linked to the level and quality of care provided, choice of activities provided, perceived discrimination, catering, communication or the physical environment.

Any person can make a complaint to the new Commissioner, including care recipients, family members, friends, staff, volunteers, or professionals.

The Complaints helpline - 1800 550 552 - is staffed 9am to 5pm weekdays and the Commissioner can also be contacted via http://www.agedcarecomplaints.gov.au.