Refer your patient for an assessment

Assessments for aged care services

Accessing government-subsidised aged care support requires you to have an assessment in your home or aged care facility. These assessments are free and are used to determine which type and level of aged care support and funding are right for you.

There are two types of assessment:

• A Regional Assessment Service (RAS) assessment - for those who need lower-level support; or
• An Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) assessment - for those who need high level support or regular help.

An assessment identifies your needs to see if you are eligible to access government-subsidised aged care support.

If you need help throughout the process, our friendly team is available to answer your questions and help guide you. Just get in touch.

How do you register for an assessment?

You can register for an assessment by contacting our team.

You can also register directly with My Aged Care, the national aged care portal.

You will need to provide your Medicare number and answer some initial questions.

My Aged Care will ask you about your needs. If you are eligible, they will refer you for a face-to-face assessment to understand your care needs and refer you to the right government-subsidised support and services.

Regional Assessment Service (RAS) assessments

A Regional Assessment Service (RAS) assessment is a comprehensive face-to-face assessment for those who are looking for lower-level support to stay living in their own home or to help recover after hospitalisation or medical condition.

A Regional Assessment Service (RAS) assessment will look at your home and care support needs.

Why get a RAS assessment?

You need to have a RAS assessment to access government-subsidised funding for support through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP).

What happens at the RAS assessment?

A RAS team member will visit you at home. They’ll work with you to identify your strengths, any areas of concern, and your goals.

Your assessor will do this as an ‘active’ assessment, which means they look at your:

• Daily tasks – they’ll want to see how you are handling them now, and where you are finding things difficult
• Carers and community – to understand your support system and needs
• Goals and aspirations – to assess what’s important to you
• Health and wellbeing – to discuss any health concerns.

The assessment should take between 45 minutes and 2 hours.

During the assessment, your assessor will discuss options for service providers in your area so that you can choose the right care for you. This is your decision to make. If you want us to provide these services, you'll need to let your assessor know this is your preference.

What happens after the RAS assessment?

Your RAS assessor will develop a home support plan.

This plan is tailored to your individual needs. It sets out the types of services – short term or ongoing – that will best help you live independently.

If you need nursing or allied health support, your assessor will refer you to a service provider who will assess your specific needs and develop a tailored care plan with you.

If you wish for us to be your service provider, let your assessor know during your assessment and they can request us as your provider on your behalf.

What can you do to help the RAS assessment?

The assessment process is important for getting you the support you need. Don't hesitate to ask questions at any time during the process.

You can have a friend, relative or carer present during the assessment. If required, you can also ask My Aged Care for an interpreter to be there.

Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) assessments

An Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) assessment is a comprehensive assessment for people who are looking for help to stay at home or require higher levels of health services and home support.

Remember, our team is here to help answer questions and guide you through the assessment process if you need it.

Why get an ACAT Assessment?

You will need an ACAT assessment to find out if you are eligible for:

• A Home Care Package for support at home
• Residential aged care
• Transition care
• Residential respite care
• Restorative care to regain or maintain your independence
• Additional support services.

What will the ACAT assessor do?

A member of the ACAT team will make time to visit you for your assessment. Depending on your circumstances, this might be at home, in a hospital or over the phone. The assessment should take between 45 minutes and two hours.

The assessor will have a copy of the information you gave to My Aged Care.

What sort of questions will the ACAT assessor ask?

During the assessment, the ACAT assessor will ask you about your health, home and day-to-day activities. This could include:

• Which medications you are taking?
• What type of support do you have in place?
• What social and cultural activities you like to do?
• How you handle daily activities around your home?
• Do you have problems with your memory?

The ACAT assessor may also ask to speak to your GP or specialist.

What can you do to help the ACAT assessment?

The assessment process is important for getting you the support you need. Make sure you share your goals and preferences with the ACAT assessor and don't hesitate to ask questions at any time during your assessment.

You can have a friend, relative or carer present during the assessment. If required, you can also ask My Aged Care for an interpreter to be there.

You can also let your assessor know if you have a preferred provider. If you would like us to deliver your services, make sure you let your assessor know.

When will you know the ACAT assessment outcome?

You won’t know the outcome of your ACAT assessment straight away. The assessor will take the information back to the ACAT to determine the type of support you need. You'll receive a letter from My Aged Care that confirms the level and priority of support you have been approved for.

If this support is through a Home Care Package, you will be automatically placed in the national queue to access your package. More information about the national queue is available from My Aged Care.