Questions about aged care assessments
How do I apply for aged care services?
You have a few options. You can either call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 to talk about your needs, your health or aged care professional can make an online request on your behalf, or you can apply online.
Depending on your needs, you will be referred for an assessment. Once referred, an assessment organisation will call you to confirm your needs based on the information you have provided and arrange a time to complete your assessment.
What happens when I apply for an assessment?
During the application, whether you call or apply online, you will be asked about your current situation and the help you require. You’ll also need to provide details about yourself (you’ll need your Medicare card for this step).
The process should take around 15-20 minutes.
Depending on your needs, you will be referred for an assessment. An assessment organisation will call you within 2 to 6 weeks to confirm your needs based on the information you have provided. They will then arrange a time to complete your assessment.
Are there different types of assessment?
Yes. There are 2 types of assessment: home support and comprehensive.
Based on the information you provided when you requested/applied for the assessment, if it sounds like you need low-level support in your home, you may be referred for a home support assessment. This means you will likely be assessed for services under the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP). If so, you will usually find this out during your assessment.
If it seems like your care needs are greater than what CHSP can provide, a comprehensive assessment may be recommended. The types of care that a comprehensive assessment can assess you for include:
- help at home
- short-term care
- aged care homes.
What is an assessment organisation? Who are aged care needs assessors?
Assessment organisations are responsible to carry out assessments when you are looking for aged care services.
Aged care needs assessors are professionals who are qualified to conduct aged care assessments for home support and comprehensive assessments. They can be clinical or non-clinical assessors.
They assess the needs of older people for government-subsidised aged care services for different types of care both at home or in an aged care home.
What happens in an assessment?
The assessor will visit you at home* to talk with you about your situation, health, lifestyle, and how you’re going with completing daily tasks around the home. This will help them to recommend the right services for your needs.
You can choose to have a family member or friend present during your assessment.
The assessor may discuss service providers in your area who could help you and send a referral directly to the provider of your choice. Assessors can also provide you with booklets, brochures or online resources about the aged care services they recommend at the assessment. It’s also your chance to ask any questions. For example, you could raise any concerns you have related to receiving services including cultural considerations.
* Assessors usually visit you in your home to do the assessment. Sometimes assessments need to happen in other places (hospital or clinic) or ways (phone or video) depending on your situation.
What do I need to have ready for an assessment?
You should ensure that you have:
- ID proof – your Medicare card, and one other form of ID such as DVA card, driver’s license, health care card, or passport
- medical and care information – referrals, contact details, and support information
- any support people you may need present, such as a family member, a trusted friend, or a translator
- any questions or information you want to discuss about the care you may receive.
Does an assessment cost me anything?
No. The assessment is free of charge. The aged care service resources that your assessor gives you after the assessment includes information about aged care service fees.
How long does it take to find out if I’m eligible for services?
Based on your needs and situation, if you’re eligible for services through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP), you will usually find out at your assessment.
If your needs and circumstances are more complex or involve being assessed for short-term care options and/or aged care homes, your assessor will need some time to review the information. They will then make a recommendation to the assessment organisation who will decide on the outcome. You or your representative will receive a letter to let you know if you’re eligible for services. This is usually sent within 2 to 6 weeks after your assessment.
What happens once I’m assessed as eligible for services?
If eligible, your assessor can help you to find services in your area and connect with service providers. For most services, they can refer you directly to local providers so you can discuss your care needs and arrange services. Alternatively, they can provide you with a referral code and you can choose to find services yourself. Our Find a provider tool can help you look for services in your area.
If you are seeking home care services, you will be placed on the National Priority System (NPS) to wait for your Home Care Package to be assigned to you. You will receive a referral code when your package is assigned to you.
If you need any support after your assessment, call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422.
Will the services I want be available?
Whether – and when – you can access a service will depend on the availability of service providers in your area. In the case of Home Care Packages, it also depends on the national wait time for your package. You can call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 for advice on Home Care Package wait times, and for help with finding available providers.
I just want one specific service. Do I need to have an assessment?
If you would like to access government-funded services, you do need an assessment. Depending on your income, the costs of the services approved by the assessor are subsidised to make the help you need more affordable.
If you don’t want to take part in an assessment, you may prefer to use an aged care provider that isn't government-funded. You will need to pay the full cost of your care for these services.
If you need urgent assistance for aged care support, call My Aged Care 1800 200 422 to discuss your specific situation. Some essential aged care services are permitted on a strictly short-term basis before an assessment or without an assessment.
I’m a health / aged care professional. How can I make a referral?
You can use the Make a referral tool on this website to request an assessment for a patient or client. Or, if you are a GP in a participating clinic, you may be able to make a referral directly from your practice management system.
Why are RAS and ACAT references no longer being used?
From 9 December 2024, a new Single Assessment System comes into effect. This new system simplifies and improves how you access aged care services by providing a single assessment pathway.
As a result, assessments previously provided by Regional Assessment Services (RAS) are now called ‘home support assessments’, and assessments previously provided by Aged Care Assessment Teams (ACAT) are now called ‘comprehensive assessments’. Further, ACAT and RAS organisations are now called assessment organisations.