ACAT and ACAS Assessments

Key points:

• What is an ACAT or ACAS assessment?
• How do I get assessed?
• What do I need during an assessment?
• What are the next steps?

What is an ACAT or ACAS assessment?

To access Government subsidised aged care services you will need to be assessed to determine what kind of care will best meet your needs. The Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) and Aged Care Assessment Service (ACAS) are staffed by doctors, nurses, social workers or other health professionals and they will meet with you to work out how much and what sort of help you require.

The service is known as ACAT across Australia, except for in Victoria where it is called ACAS.

There is also the sister-service Regional Assessment Service (RAS), but this is only for the lowest level of Government-funded home care support packages.

It’s a good idea to seek an assessment if you are finding it harder to live at home independently or have increased needs due to a newly diagnosed medical condition.

How do I get assessed?

To start the ACAT, ACAS or RAS assessment process you need to register with My Aged Care – the agency which looks after all Government funded aged care programs.

This can be done by contacting the customer service centre on the My Aged Care phone number 1800 200 422 or fill out the online form.

All you need for the registration is to answer a few basic questions and to have your Medicare Card nearby.

Before looking into a My Aged Care assessment you might like to check whether you are eligible by reading our guide here.

An ACAT referral can also be done by a family member or friend, doctor, social worker or other health professional.

What do I need during an assessment?

For an ACAT or ACAS assessment, which is done in person after your My Aged Care registration is complete, you will need:

•  your Medicare card and a form of identification, for instance, Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) card, driver’s licence, passport, or healthcare card;
• notes or referrals from your doctor;
• prepared questions and information about aged care that you wish to discuss with the assessor so you have a better understanding about services;
• contact details for your doctor and any other health professionals you see regularly;
• information on support you receive from others or from the community.

You may also like to have a support person present for the assessment and should arrange a translator or Auslan interpreter if you need one. According to information on the My Aged Care website,  these assessments are completed at your own home.

The assessor will talk with you at home to determine whether you may be eligible for a Home Care Package provided in your own home, respite care or residential care in a nursing home, transition care services after a hospital stay, or Short Term Restorative Care.

What are the next steps?

After your assessment the assessor will discuss the results with you and the options that are available to you to get the help you need. They can also provide you with information to help you with your decision when looking for a service provider that can provide the best care for you.

Talk to an independent aged care consultant today about sorting out your queries by calling 1300 903 627 or read more about getting an aged care assessment here.

Related information you might find useful

ACAT and ACAS

Assessing your needs

The steps to aged care

Placement consultants