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Getting an assessment
- What is an assessment?
- What will happen at an ACAT assessment?
- What should I do before the assessment?
- What happens at the assessement?
- What happens when the assessment is finished?
- Will the assessment cost anything?
- What do I do next?
- What if I am unhappy with the result of my assessment?
What is an assessment
An assessment is a consultation with a member of your local Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT or ACAS in Victoria) (more information) to help you find out:
- the type of help you need, and
- what help is available.
What will happen at an ACAT assessment?
One or two members of the ACAT team will visit you and ask you questions so they can work out what kind of care will suit you best. These questions are designed to work out just how much help you need with your daily activities.
The team member will discuss with you whether:
- community help will enable you to keep living at home, or whether
- your care needs would be better met through an aged care home.
What should I do before the assessment?
- You might want to ask a family member, friend or carer to be present during your assessment.
- It’s helpful to make a list of your current medication before the assessment.
With your approval, your doctor may tell the ACAT member about your medical history.
What happens at the assessment?
Every assessment is different, as everybody’s circumstances are individual. However, at each assessment the ACAT member will ask questions about the types of daily living activities you may need help with, your general state of health and any specific health issues you may have. Your answers will help the ACAT member identify and recommend the best services for your needs.
What happens when the assessment is finished?
At the end of the discussion, the ACAT will explain the assessment results and what they believe is the best type of care to suit your needs.
They may leave a copy of a written assessment with you, or post it to you. This assessment will show whether you are eligible to enter an aged care home (residential care (more information)) or to receive publicly-funded help at home (community care (more information)) packages such as Community Aged Care Packages (CACP) (more information), Extended Aged Care at Home (EACH) (more information) and Extended Aged Care at Home Dementia (EACH D) (more information). You should keep your copy of the assessment document – it is your approval for care. Your ACAT member may also refer you to services or leave you with other information about local services that may be able to help out.
Will the assessment cost anything?
No. Aged Care Assessment Teams are funded by the government and you will not be charged for visits by team members.
What do I do next?
If you have been assessed by an ACAT as eligible to enter an aged care home, you may choose to start looking for one, and applying for homes that suit your needs. If you have been assessed as eligible for community care, the Community Care Finder might be useful for you.
Next step: Find an aged care home using the Aged Care Home Finder
Next step: Find community care services using the Community Care Service Finder
What if I am unhappy with the result of my assessment?
- You should tell the person in charge of your ACAT if you disagree with the assessment. You will be sent a letter explaining how you, or someone acting on your behalf, can appeal against an ACAT decision.
- If the ACAT assessment is that you are eligible for care, you are not obliged to obtain that care if you do not wish to.
- Your ACAT assessment is only valid for 12 months if you are not in care, as your care needs may change and you require an approval for different care services.
