I'd like to shine a little spotlight on this wonderful service and to remind everyone of your rights when navigating the Aged Care system.

Aged Rights Advocacy Service (ARAS) has been supporting older people in South Australia to uphold their aged care and human rights since 1990. ARAS is the South Australian member of the Commonwealth funded Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN). ARAS advocates can assist you or an older person you know to access and interact with the community or residential aged care service providers.

Accredited at Certificate level of the Australian Service Excellence Standards

To read more about how they can assist:
https://www.sa.agedrights.asn.au/about-us/overview

Charter of Aged Care Rights

The Charter of Aged Care Rights provides the same rights to all individuals, regardless of the type of Australian Government funded care and services they receive.

The Charter applies to individuals once they start receiving Australian Government funded aged care, including:

*residential care
*home care packages
*flexible care
*services provided under the Commonwealth Home Support Programme and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program.

Providers have responsibilities to support individuals to understand the new Charter.

Providers must:

*give the individual a copy of the new Charter signed by the provider
*assist the individual to understand the Charter
ensure that the individual or their legal representatives have been given a *reasonable opportunity to sign a copy of the Charter.

Charter of Aged Care Rights

I have the right to:

1. safe and high-quality care and services
2. be treated with dignity and respect
3. have my identity, culture and diversity valued and supported
4. live without abuse and neglect
5. be informed about my care and services in a way I understand
6. access all information about myself, including information about my rights, care and services
7. have control over and make choices about my care, and personal and social life, including where the choices involve personal risk
8. have control over, and make decisions about, the personal aspects of my daily life, financial affairs and possessions
9. my independence
10. be listened to and understood
11. have a person of my choice, including an aged care advocate, support me or speak on my behalf
12. complain free from reprisal, and to have my complaints dealt with fairly and promptly
13. personal privacy and to have my personal information protected
14. exercise my rights without it adversely affecting the way I am treated

To download the Charter of Aged Care Rights, please visit our publications page
https://www.sa.agedrights.asn.au/resources/publications

To view Charter of Aged Care Rights explainer videos, please visit our videos page
https://www.sa.agedrights.asn.au/resources/videos

Or you can request a printed copy of the Charter of Aged Care Rights booklet by calling ARAS on (08) 8232 5377 or the Aged Care Advocacy Line 1800 700 600 (toll free)