One of the first steps in accessing government funded aged care services is preparing for an assessment through My Aged Care. We’ve provided some easy to follow advice in our aged care guide below.
You can call the MyAged Care team on 1800 200 422 to discuss your needs and check if you’re eligible for support. You can also apply online here.
Preparation and support
Once you have phoned the team at My Aged Care you may be referred for an assessment. This will enable the team to gain a better understanding of the support you require. The assessor will contact you to arrange a time to visit you at your home.
Preparing for your Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) assessment will ensure the assessment outcome is accurate and best suited to your needs. Give some thought to the support that you require and your current support network – family, friends and neighbours. For example:
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Does your neighbour mow your lawn?
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Do your children assist with cleaning the house?
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Does your friend drive you to appointments?
Types of Assessments
There are two types of assessments to work out what kind of support you may need.
Regional Assessment Service (RAS) for the Commonwealth Home Support Programme
If it sounds like you just need a little bit of support to maintain your independence then My Aged Care might advise that a Regional Assessment Service (RAS) will come and visit you and suggest a support package through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme. This support can include:
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support with showering, cleaning, cooking, shopping, transport, or gardening
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assistance with medication
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joining a social group. These groups include fitness, holiday excursions and men’s clubs
ACAT Assessment for a Home Care Package
If it sounds like you need a higher level of support then the contact team may advise that an ACAT assessor can assess your eligibility for a home care package. Home Care Packages provide assistance for people with more complex needs.
The package level assigned to you is based on your needs. Further information on the support services available with these packages can be found here.
Tips for your meeting
You should have the following information and documentation handy for your meeting:
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Identification, such as passport or driver’s license
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Medicare card
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Contact details and relevant information from your general practitioner or healthcare professional
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Information about aged care services you are interested in
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You may also like to have a support person present
Your assessment outcome
You can work with the assessor to create your support plan. This can include:
The support plan will detail the services you require to maintain your independence and achieve your goals.
Find out more
If you’d like to know more about an assessment for a home care package or the ACAT assessment process you can contact the MyAged Care team on 1800 200 422.
You can also contact the team at Rise if you have any suggestions to include in our aged care services guide: contact@risenetwork.com.au Further information on Aged Care Services at Rise is available here.