An Aged Care Assessment is scheduled by appointment through the Australian government’s My Aged Care, in which a nurse, and potentially a social worker, will visit you at your home to determine whether you are eligible for government funding, as well as what level of care you will need.
The outcome of your assessment will be mailed to you outlining the level of Home Care Package funding approved to support you with home care.
Home Care Packages have four levels – the level of funding depends on how much help you need at home. The Home Care Package level you receive will be based on the discussion you have with the ACAT representative.
Here’s what’s typically involved in an Aged Care Assessment?
- How long does it take?
An Aged Care Assessment can take between 2 weeks up to 16 weeks depending on your location. However, under special circumstances, such as in an emergency, it can be pushed to within two days. The assessment usually takes no longer than around an hour and you will receive the full report about two weeks after.
- What do they assess?
The Aged Care Assessment representative will talk to you about your health, wellbeing and life situation in order to determine an accurate outcome. The areas they look at include:
- Physical needs
A nurse will assess your general physical health to determine whether you require any mobility support.
- Medical needs
They will also look at your medical history, including any current medication, recent health scares or hospital admissions, which will give an indication as to what level of medical assistance will be required.
- Psychological needs
The team will discover your levels of stress or depression and determine if your psychological needs are being met or whether you will need extra psychological care.
- Social needs
During the assessment, you will be asked about your social life, whether you would like to engage in more activities, and if your psychological state might highlight the need for more social time.
- Any special needs
If you have any other needs such as wheelchair or oxygen requirements, the team will take special note in order to produce the final outcome of your assessment.
What should you ask during an assessment?
The assessment team will want as much information from you as possible, but it’s also important that you have a full understanding of the process and what support you’ll be receiving. Therefore, it might be helpful to you to ask the following questions:
- What types of home care services will help meet my needs?
- How long will it take for me to access support services?
- What costs are involved and what funding will I receive?
The Aged Care Assessment should not be viewed as a test, but more of an introduction or guide to getting to know about the home care support available to you. Don’t be nervous, as it’s all about understanding your needs and developing a care plan that will provide you with the right support and services to enable you to stay living at home for life.
For more information about the Aged Care Assessment or if you need help understanding what it’s about, feel free to contact us anytime.
If you don’t have a Home Care Package, Care Connect will help you through the process of application and assessment.