How does an accreditation program in residential aged care inform the way residents manage their healthcare and lifestyle?

Our study examined how accreditation informs the way Australian aged care facility residents manage their healthcare and lifestyle in residential aged care. Residents did not draw direct links between accreditation programs and their quality of life, yet accreditation standards implicitly underpinned aspects of quality of life that were important to them. There are opportunities for accreditation programs to more fully utilise resident perspectives to improve their care and quality of life. More overt connections between accreditation standards and issues that are important to residents could promote partnerships with staff, and support enhanced quality of life and a resident-centred focus of care. Furthermore, residents’ perspectives and experiences may contribute to refining accreditation programs, to ensure they align more with community expectations.