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Disclaimer: The new Aged Care Act will commence from 1 November 2025 and replaces existing aged care legislation. The Aged Care Rules 2025 will support the Aged Care Act and provide further information on how the Aged Care Act will work.

We are publishing this resource in draft form to assist providers people to prepare for the new Act. This content remains draft and will be updated after the Aged Care Rules come into force.

Last updated - Version 0.4

This document was updated on 06 August 2025. Learn what has changed.

What is the outcome that needs to be achieved?

What is the outcome you need to achieve? 

The provider must ensure that individuals who experience cognitive impairment (whether acute, chronic or transitory) receive comprehensive clinical care services that optimise clinical outcomes and are aligned with their clinical needs, goals and preferences.

The provider identifies situations and events that may lead to changes in behaviours.

Updates to guidance

An updated version of the strengthened Standards was published by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing on 18 February 2025. Please see here for more information Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards – February 2025 | Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.

The Commission is currently updating our guidance content to reflect these changes. Please ensure you check back regularly.

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5.6.1

The provider identifies and responds to the complex clinical care needs of people with delirium, dementia and other forms of cognitive impairment by:

  1. identifying and mitigating clinical risks
  2. delivering increased care requirements
  3. being alert to deterioration and underlying contributing clinical factors.
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5.6.2

The provider collaborates with individuals with cognitive impairment and supporters of individuals to understand the individual and to optimise clinical care outcomes.

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5.6.3

The provider implements processes to:

  1. identify and minimise situations that may precipitate changes in behaviour
  2. identify and respond to clinical and other identified causes of changes in behaviour.