In October 2024 the Australian Government set new minimum standards for the amount of direct care provided to older people living in residential aged care homes. Service providers must now deliver an average of 215 minutes of direct care for each resident. This care can be provided by a mix of registered and enrolled nurses, assistants in nursing, and personal care workers.

Aged care providers that deliver specialised homeless programs and services may need an alternative staffing mix to meet the complex needs of those residents with a history of homelessness. We currently have limited evidence indicating what mix of skills is most appropriate.

AHA has been engaged by the department to research the mix of staffing skills and the programs provided in specialised homeless residential aged care services to determine if they meet the care needs of people with a history of homelessness. We will also explore if the type of funding is appropriate and make recommendations for future implementation and monitoring.

For this evaluation, AHA is:

• interviewing and surveying sector stakeholders, managers and staff, and residents
• scanning the residential aged care environment to understand what specialised homeless services are currently being delivered
• reviewing the literature to explore the evidence underpinning good practice for care of residents with a history of homelessness
• analysing data to understand provider and resident demographics.

The final evaluation report will inform policy and funding decisions for specialised homeless services in residential aged care.