Standard 1 underpins the way that providers and workers are expected to treat older people and is relevant to all standards. Standard 1 reflects important concepts about dignity and respect, older person individuality and diversity, independence, choice and control, culturally safe care and dignity of risk. These are all important in fostering a sense of safety, autonomy, inclusion and quality of life for older people.

The intent of Standard 2 is to set out the expectations of the governing body to meet the requirements of the Quality Standards and deliver quality care and services.

Standard 3 describes the way providers must deliver care and services for all types of services being delivered (noting that other Standards describe requirements relevant to specific service types).

The intent of Standard 4 is to ensure that older people receive care and services in a physical environment that is safe, supportive and meets their needs. Effective infection prevention and control measures are a core component of service delivery to protect older people, their family, carers and workers.

Standard 5 aims to support providers to improve the quality and safety of clinical care delivered through Commonwealth subsidised aged care services. It provides a nationally consistent statement about the quality of clinical care older people can expect when receiving aged care services.

Access to nutritionally adequate food is a fundamental human right. Food, drink and the dining experience can have a huge impact on a person’s quality of life. As people age, they may lose their appetite or experience conditions that impact on their ability to eat and drink. As such, it is particularly important that providers engage with older people about what and how they like to eat and drink, deliver choice and meals that are full of flavour, appetising and nutritious (including for older people with texture modified diets), and support older people to consume as much as they want and exercise dignity of risk.

When people move into a residential service, the residential community becomes a central feature of their lives. It is critical that older people feel safe and at home in the residential community, have opportunities to do things that are meaningful to them and are supported to maintain connections with people important to them.